Windows 10: Dell Inspiron - Disable TouchPad when Ext mouse attached - Need help!!

Dell Inspiron 17 - 5748 Laptop, running Windows 10, version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.844)
(Bought in 2014 so fairly old but functioning OK)

Can anyone help me set the TouchPad to 'disable when External Mouse is attached' please? This function was available prior to re-installing Win 10, to the most recent update.

There is the option of disabling the TouchPad in the properties but, should the mouse not be available, I'd have to rely on keyboard navigation to get it switched on again, which I don't want to have to do.
I've contacted Dell but they've not been able to help.

Usually, on a laptop, there is a Function key to disable/enable the TouchPad but I can't see one on the keys. I can't believe there is no way to disable/enable the TouchPad without going into properties and actually turning it OFF!
Looking on Google, there have been a lot of people asking this question but I haven't managed to find a solution. Many thanks. I appreciate any help

:)

 

I want to disable touchpad on Dell laptop


Hello everyone,
My laptop's touchpad works and I don't want it to, because I prefer a mouse. It's a Dell Inspiron 11 3000 series on windows 10 OS.

What I have tried that hasn't worked:

• start<settings<devices<mouse & touchpad<additional mouse options. This opens a window called Mouse Options which has 5 tabs up top, none of which involve the touchpad. The Hardware tab shows 2 devices: the mouse itself, and the USB. No touchpad there.
• windows key+x<mobility center. No touchpad to be found.
• various function keys. No options for touchpad on/off.
• device manager<mice and other pointing devices. Again, only the mouse and usb show up. It appears the touchpad is working without a driver, which is a little spooky.

Any other suggestions? I could try downloading a third party driver, but that seems like a step in the wrong direction.
Thanks

 

I want to disable touchpad on Dell laptop


These 7 steps allowed me to disable my touchpad (Dell laptop, Windows 10):

1. Win Start button
2. Type in "device manager"
3. Select Device Manager to open it
4. Click down arrow to left of "Mice and other..." to expand
5. Right click Dell Touchpad
6. Disable device
7. Yes

 

Unable to disable touchpad in Dell Inspiron 13-5378

I have an Dell Inspiron 13-5378 laptop. I'd like to disable its touchpad since I have an external mouse I can use. I Googled for "disable touchpad" and have tried the following so far:

• Going to Device Manager, selecting Mice and other pointing devices, and disabling both of the HID-compliant mouse entries I see
  
  • Disabling the first one appears to have no effect, as my touchscreen still works. Disabling the second one disables my mouse.
    
  • There is also a PS/2 Compatible Mouse entry, but I'm scared to touch it because I can only uninstall, not disable it, and I don't know what it does because I only have 1 mouse plugged in.
    
• Running main.cpl to get to Mouse Properties, going to Hardware > Properties > Change settings... yields the same issues: I can disable the first 2 "HID-compliant mouses" but can only uninstall the last one.
  

Any suggestions on what to do?