Chromebook Touchpad Not Working — How to Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Press the Search key + Shift + P to toggle the touchpad on — it may have been accidentally disabled. If the cursor is frozen, do an EC reset: hold Refresh + Power for 10 seconds. For erratic movement, go to Settings → Device → Touchpad → adjust speed and enable/disable tap-to-click.

Affected Models

All Chromebook models (Acer, ASUS, HP, Lenovo, Samsung)
Chrome OS 100 and later

Common Causes

Touchpad accidentally disabled via keyboard shortcut
Chrome OS input service crash freezing the cursor
Touchpad sensitivity setting too low
Liquid damage or debris under the touchpad surface
Chrome OS flag or extension interfering with input

How to Fix It

Toggle the touchpad with a keyboard shortcut

Press Search + Shift + P (on some models it is Search + Shift + T). This is the Chromebook shortcut to enable or disable the touchpad. If it was accidentally toggled off, one press restores it.
EC reset

Hold Refresh + Power for 10 seconds. This restarts the Embedded Controller that handles input hardware and clears a frozen touchpad state.
Check Settings → Device → Touchpad

Settings → Device → Touchpad. Ensure touchpad speed is not at minimum and that Tap-to-click and Tap-dragging are set to your preference.
Test in Guest Mode

Sign out → Browse as Guest. If the touchpad works in Guest Mode, a Chrome extension or user setting in your profile is interfering. Disable extensions one by one.
Powerwash (factory reset)

Settings → Advanced → Reset Settings → Powerwash. This resets Chrome OS to factory state and resolves any software corruption affecting input. Your data is stored in Google Drive and will sync back.

When to Call a Professional

If the touchpad is physically cracked or swollen (often caused by a swollen battery pushing up from below), stop using the Chromebook and take it for repair immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chromebook touchpad clicks but cursor doesn't move — what does it mean?

The touchpad hardware is working (clicks register) but the motion sensor is frozen. Do an EC reset (Refresh + Power for 10 seconds). If the cursor is still frozen, test in Guest Mode to rule out a profile issue.

Chromebook touchpad jumps around or acts erratic — how to fix?

Erratic movement is usually caused by moisture, debris, or a palm rejection failure. Clean the touchpad surface with a dry microfibre cloth. Go to Settings → Device → Touchpad → enable Palm rejection if available.

Chromebook touchpad stopped working after an update — how to fix?

A Chrome OS update can reset input driver settings. Do an EC reset first. If the touchpad remains unresponsive, go to Settings → Device → Touchpad and check the settings were not changed by the update.