Chromebooks are exceptional portable devices for getting simple computer tasks done. Acer makes a wide range of Chromebooks for students and professionals. The Chromebooks offer robust construction and long battery life.
Using an external mouse with a Chromebook is not popular, and most people depend heavily on touchpads. So when the touchpad stops working, it can ruin your day. There are many things you could do to fix your Acer Chromebook touchpad problem.
This tutorial will guide you to learn ways to fix your Acer Chromebook touchpad, thereby alleviating your frustration.
Acer Chromebook Touchpad Not Working: Likely Causes
If your Acer Chromebook touchpad has stopped working, below are some of the possible causes of this problem:
- The touchpad is turned off
- Outdated or corrupted driver
- Dust trapped under the touchpad
- Malfunctioning software
- Wrong or inappropriate settings
Acer Chromebook Touchpad Not Working: DIY Fixes
You can use simple twerks and tricks to fix your Chromebook touchpad not working. There’s a great workaround and an excellent diagnostic step for a touchpad that’s malfunctioning.
If you can use a touchscreen(if applicable) or an external mouse to navigate, the problem is touchpad-specific and does not affect the entire Chromebook. Follow the simple methods below to fix the problem.
1. Enable Chromebook Touchpad
You might have disabled your Chromebook by mistake while operating it. Your Chromebook has function keys that can switch off the touchpad, and you may inadvertently use these keys. If that’s the case, you only need to enable the touchpad again with these simple steps:
- On your touchpad, search for the Fn key
- Also, locate the touchpad icon. It usually has the touchpad logo on it. It’s between the F6 or F7 key
- Press the Fn key and the touchpad icon simultaneously.
This function should enable your touchpad, and it should start working again.
2. Use Esc Key
If the function keys couldn’t fix your Chromebook, repeatedly pressing the Esc key might. Your Chromebook touchpad might not respond because you’re loading a page that’s making the Chromebook freeze or malfunction.
Repeatedly pressing the Esc key will stop loading the current page and get your touchpad to start functioning again.
3. Restart Your Chromebook
Restarting or rebooting your device is a universal troubleshooting method that fixes the most technological problem and could also fix your touchpad. When you reboot your Chromebook, you give it time to reboot and load programs correctly, thus fixing some bugs or malfunctions.
However, note that the reboot process means you’ll completely reboot your Chromebook and not just close the lid or put it to sleep. You can restart your Chromebook with the following steps below:
- Please search for the Time icon located at the bottom-right corner and click on it to open the Quick panel menu
- Click the shutdown button to power off your Chromebook
- Please wait for a few seconds and restart it
Alternatively, you can press and hold the refresh key, then click the power button to turn off your Chromebook. Leave it idle for a minute before turning it back on.
4. Clean The Touchpad
If restarting the touchpad doesn’t fix it, you should try cleaning it. Touchpads can become sticky over an extended period and might stop working if not cleaned regularly. Dirt or dust might have been trapped inside or under the touchpad, thus affecting performance. In that case, A good cleaning should fix this problem.
It’s similar to physically cleaning your laptop. Grab a soft or microfiber cloth and gently clean the touchpad, ensuring there’s no dust, oil, or dirt left on it. Alternatively, compressed air can puff out dirt trapped under the touchpad.
5. Do A Drum Roll
In combination with the cleaning method, you can also drumroll your fingers on the touchpad to loosen specks of debris and dirt out of the touchpad.
The official Google support page also recommends this method to troubleshoot a malfunctioning touchpad. So, drum your fingers on the touchpad for about ten seconds to loosen dirt and unwanted materials.
6. Adjust Touchpad Settings
You might need to adjust some simple touchpad settings on your Chromebook. Some features such as Tap-to-Click, Reverse Scrolling, Tap Dragging, Touchpad’s Speed, and Acceleration might have been set to the wrong configuration. Modifying these settings might get your touchpad working again. You can change the settings as follows:
- Go to the Settings menu on your Chromebook
- Select Device option
- Locate the Touchpad option and select it
- Adjust the Touchpad Speed with the slider to change the sensitivity
- Ensure you disable the Reverse Scrolling feature
- Ensure you enable features such as Tap-to-click, Tap Dragging, and Touchpad Acceleration.
- Close the window and check if your touchpad is now working correctly.
7. Change User Profile
Sometimes, a touchpad dysfunctionality might be limited to one profile, and changing the user profile might provide means of using it. You can try to sign out of the user profile and use a different account or use the Guest mode to check if your touchpad will work.
Therefore:
- Press the Time icon in the bottom-right corner of your Chromebook
- Press the “Sign out” button
- Click on the “Browse as Guest” option on the lock screen at the bottom corner of the screen.
Use the “Guest mode” and see if the touchpad will work. If it does, you should delete the Chromebook problem user account and create a new one. However, ensure you backup your files and data before deleting the account.
8. Update Chrome OS
Your Acer Chromebook touchpad might now be functioning adequately because of bugs in the Chrome OS. You should consider updating the Chrome OS to the latest version available and check if the problem will be resolved. Follow the steps below to update your Chromebook OS:
- Go to the Settings menu
- Click on About Chrome OS
- Look for the “Check for Updates” button and click on it.
- Install the available update and restart your Chromebook.
9. Reset Your Chromebook
At this point, you should consider resetting your Chromebook. The reset will not affect essential files but will restart hardware peripherals such as the touchpad and keyboard. It will also clear temporary data, themes, extensions, and homepage but will not affect saved passwords. Hopefully, after the reset, your touchpad will be working directly again. Follow the steps below to reset your Chromebook:
- Go to the Settings menu
- Select the Advanced option, then click on Reset settings
- Select Restore settings to their original defaults in the right panel
10. Call A Professional
If, after the reset, your touchpad isn’t working, perhaps the component is faulty or spoiled. Consider calling a professional for repair or contact your manufacturer support for further diagnosis.