How to Reinstall Your Touchpad After Accidentally Uninstalling It from Device Manager
This guide will walk you through the steps to reinstall the touchpad driver on your Windows laptop if it was unintentionally removed.
The touchpad driver is essential as it creates an interface between your laptop’s touchpad hardware and the operating system. If this driver is uninstalled or becomes damaged, the touchpad will stop functioning. There are instances when users may need to uninstall a driver manually. Typically, Windows should install the missing driver automatically upon system restart. However, this has not been the case for some users who have mistakenly uninstalled the touchpad driver via Device Manager.
Mistakenly Uninstalled Touchpad from Device Manager
There are users who have inadvertently removed the touchpad driver through Device Manager and are now facing challenges in reinstalling it. Reports indicate that the “Scan for Hardware Changes”function in Device Manager has been ineffective for these users. Additionally, their laptops have not reinstalled the driver even after a reboot.
To resolve these issues, consider the following options:
- Obtain the latest touchpad driver from the official manufacturer’s website
- Utilize manufacturer-provided software to reinstall the touchpad driver
- Perform a system restore
- Reset your laptop to its factory settings
I will provide detailed explanations for each of these solutions below:
1] Obtain the Latest Touchpad Driver from the Manufacturer’s Website
Your laptop’s manufacturer will have all compatible drivers available on their official site. You can easily download and install any missing drivers from there. Simply visit your computer manufacturer’s website, locate the drivers section, and search for your specific laptop model by entering its model or serial number. When the touchpad driver is downloaded, double-click the installer file to initiate the installation process.
If the driver comes as an INF file, you can easily install it via Device Manager.
2] Use the Manufacturer’s Dedicated Software
Many laptop manufacturers offer specialized software that assists in troubleshooting issues and keeping the system up to date. Depending on your laptop brand, you can download and install such software. Some common examples include:
- HP Support Assistant
- Dell SupportAssist
- MyASUS app
- Lenovo System Update
Run a system diagnostic check (if available) to determine if the issue can be remedied. This software can also help you find the latest driver updates.
3] Restore Your System
I once uninstalled the ELAN touchpad driver from my HP Notebook. When I used the “Scan for hardware changes”feature, Windows installed a HID-Compliant Device driver, and while the touchpad began working, I discovered that all my gesture controls were lost. Thankfully, I had created system restore points, which permitted me to revert to the previous state and restore the ELAN touchpad driver. Windows typically creates these restore points whenever changes are made to the Registry or if software is installed or uninstalled. You should check if there are restore points available from earlier dates. If you find one, this may resolve your issue.
Utilizing a previous restore point will also reinstall your touchpad driver automatically.
4] Reset Your Laptop
If you do not have any restore points available, you might need to reset your laptop to factory settings without losing data. This action can also restore the touchpad driver. To perform this reset while preserving your files, choose the “Keep my files”option.
If none of these methods yield results, reaching out to your laptop manufacturer’s customer support may help resolve your issue.
How Can I Fix the Touchpad Not Appearing in Device Manager?
If your Touchpad is not visible in Device Manager, it likely indicates a missing driver. Navigate to the Action menu and select the “Scan for hardware changes”option. This should prompt Windows to reinstall the missing touchpad driver. If this does not work, downloading the latest driver directly from your manufacturer’s official website is advisable.
How Do I Roll Back My Touchpad Driver?
The process for rolling back a driver in Windows 11/10 is consistent across all devices. Open Device Manager and access the properties of your touchpad driver. Then, navigate to the Driver tab and click on the “Roll Back Driver”option. Follow the prompts provided. If the “Roll Back Driver”button is inactive, consider alternative methods to address the issue.
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