Touchpad Scroll Not Working on Windows 10: Troubleshooting Guide

Is your touchpad scroll not working on Windows 10? This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you rely on your laptop for everyday tasks. Fortunately, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve this issue. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the most common causes and solutions to get your touchpad scrolling smoothly again.

Common Causes of Touchpad Scroll Issues

Before diving into the solutions, it’s essential to understand the potential reasons behind the problem. Here are some of the most frequent culprits:

  • Driver Issues: Outdated, corrupted, or incompatible touchpad drivers are a primary cause.
  • Touchpad Settings: Incorrect configuration of touchpad settings within Windows or the manufacturer’s software.
  • Hardware Problems: In rare cases, the touchpad itself may be faulty.
  • Windows Updates: Recent Windows updates can sometimes interfere with device drivers.
  • Accidental Disabling: The touchpad might be accidentally disabled via a keyboard shortcut.
  • Conflicting Software: Certain software can conflict with the touchpad driver.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Touchpad Scrolling

Here’s a step-by-step guide to resolve your touchpad scrolling problem:

1. Restart Your Computer

As simple as it sounds, restarting your computer can often resolve temporary software glitches that may be causing the issue. This is always the first thing you should try.

2. Check if the Touchpad is Enabled

  • Using Keyboard Shortcuts: Many laptops have a function key (usually F6, F7, F9, or F10) that toggles the touchpad on and off. Look for a touchpad icon on one of the function keys and press it while holding down the ‘Fn’ key.
  • Windows Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
    • Ensure the Touchpad toggle is set to On.

3. Update Your Touchpad Driver

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a major cause of touchpad issues. Here’s how to update them:

  • Device Manager:

    • Press Windows Key + X and select Device Manager.
    • Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
    • Right-click on your touchpad device (e.g., Synaptics, ELAN) and select Update driver.
    • Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search for and install the latest driver.

  • Manufacturer’s Website: If Windows doesn’t find a suitable driver, visit your laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g., Dell, HP, Lenovo) and download the latest touchpad driver for your specific model. Install the downloaded driver.

4. Roll Back the Touchpad Driver

If the issue started after a recent driver update, rolling back to a previous version might help:

  • Device Manager:
    • Follow the steps above to access your touchpad device in Device Manager.
    • Right-click on the touchpad device and select Properties.
    • Go to the Driver tab.
    • If the Roll Back Driver button is available, click it and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Uninstall and Reinstall the Touchpad Driver

Completely removing and then reinstalling the driver can resolve more persistent issues:

  • Device Manager:
    • Follow the steps above to access your touchpad device in Device Manager.
    • Right-click on the touchpad device and select Uninstall device.
    • Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the generic touchpad driver.
    • If the generic driver doesn’t work well, download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website.

6. Check Touchpad Settings

Incorrect touchpad settings can also prevent scrolling from working properly:

  • Windows Settings:

    • Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
    • Adjust the scrolling settings. Ensure that Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them is enabled if you want that functionality.
    • Click on Additional settings (this will open the Mouse Properties window).

  • Mouse Properties:

    • In the Mouse Properties window, look for a Device Settings or similar tab (this tab is usually added by the touchpad driver). This tab may have options to enable or disable scrolling, adjust scrolling speed, and configure other settings.
    • Ensure that scrolling is enabled and adjust the settings to your preference.

7. Run the Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Windows includes a built-in troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix hardware problems:

  • Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters.
    • Select Hardware and Devices and click Run the troubleshooter.
    • Follow the on-screen instructions.

8. Update Windows

Make sure your Windows 10 is up to date. Updates often include bug fixes and driver improvements that can resolve compatibility issues.

  • Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
    • Click Check for updates and install any available updates.

9. Check for Conflicting Software

Some software can interfere with touchpad functionality. Try temporarily disabling or uninstalling recently installed programs to see if they are causing the problem.

10. Reset Windows 10 (as a Last Resort)

If none of the above steps work, you may need to reset Windows 10 to its factory settings. This will remove all your personal files and settings, so be sure to back up your data first.

  • Settings:
    • Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
    • Click Get started under Reset this PC and follow the on-screen instructions.

Conclusion

Fixing a touchpad that won’t scroll on Windows 10 can be a straightforward process if you follow these steps. Start with the simplest solutions, like restarting your computer and checking the touchpad settings, and then move on to more advanced troubleshooting, like updating or reinstalling the drivers. By systematically working through these steps, you should be able to restore your touchpad’s scrolling functionality and get back to using your laptop efficiently.