How to turn on the touchpad on the Xiaomi laptop: 5 working ways

The touchpad on Xiaomi’s laptop isn’t just a mouse replacement, it’s a key control that makes you feel comfortable. If the touchpad suddenly stops responding to touch, it could be due to software failures, disabled settings, or hardware issues. Unlike classic mechanical mice, the touchpad requires you to adjust drivers and system settings correctly, especially on Windows 10/11 devices.

In this article, we will look at all the possible reasons why the touchpad on Xiaomi RedmiBook, Mi Notebook Pro or other models may not work, and provide step-by-step instructions for turning it on. From the simplest methods (hot keys) to complex ones (reinstall drivers manually) you will find a solution even for non-standard situations, and if the problem is in the hardware, we will show you how to check this without going to the service center.

1. Check basic settings: whether the touchpad is enabled in Windows

The first thing you need to do is make sure that the touchpad is not disabled at the operating system level. In Windows 10/11, the touchpad can be deactivated accidentally (for example, by pressing hotkeys) or after a system update.

  1. Open β€œOptions” through the Start β†’ Cog menu or press Win + I.
  2. Go to the Devices section β†’ Touch panel.
  3. Make sure that the slider Enable the touch panel is in the "On" position.

If there is no slider or the Touchbar section is missing, it may mean that the touchpad driver is not installed or is not working correctly, in which case, go to the driver section.

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On some Xiaomi models (e.g. RedmiBook 15), the touchpad is turned off when connected. USB-To avoid this, check the box Do not turn off the touchpad when you connect the mouse in the settings.

It is also worth checking the Device Manager:

  1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
  2. Turn the mouse branch and other pointing devices.
  3. Find a device called TouchPad, Synaptics, or ELAN. If there's a yellow exclamation point burning next to it, the driver needs to be updated.

2 Hot Keys: How to Turn on a Touchpad on Xiaomi in 5 Seconds

Laptop manufacturers often prescribe keyboard combinations to quickly control the touchpad. On Xiaomi devices, it's usually a combination of Fn + F6 or Fn + F10, but the exact combination depends on the model. Here's how it works:

  • πŸ”Ή Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro and Mi Notebook Air – Fn + F6.
  • πŸ”Ή On the RedmiBook. 14/15/16 β€” Fn + F10 (key indicator - touchpad icon).
  • πŸ”Ή Xiaomi Mi Notebook Enhanced Edition – Fn + F3.

If the combination does not work, try the following:

  1. Hold Fn and press all function keys (F1–F12) in turn – one of them should turn on the touchpad.
  2. Check if the Fn key is locked (some models have a separate Fn Lock button).
πŸ“Š What model of Xiaomi laptop you have?
Mi Notebook Pro
RedmiBook 14/15/16
Mi Notebook Air
Another model
I don't know.

Important: On Xiaomi laptops from 2020 to 2023, the Fn + F6 combination may conflict with the aircraft mode. If the touchpad does not turn on, turn off the aircraft mode (Fn + F2) first.

3. Update or reinstall touchpad drivers

If the touchpad doesn't respond to touch, and Windows doesn't, the problem is probably the drivers, the touchpad driver can go off after a system update, a software conflict, or a virus attack. Here's how to restore it:

Method 1: Automatic update via Device Manager

  1. Open Device Manager (Win + X β†’ Device Manager).
  2. Find the mouse branch and other pointing devices.
  3. Right-click on a device called TouchPad, Synaptics or ELAN and select Update Driver.
  4. Select Automatic Search and wait for the process to be completed.

Method 2: Manual installation from the official website

If the automatic update does not help, download the driver from the Xiaomi website:

  1. Go to the support page of Xiaomi.
  2. Select a laptop model (e.g. RedmiBook 15).
  3. In the Drivers section, find a file called TouchPad Driver or Synaptics/ELAN Driver.
  4. Download and install the driver, following the instructions of the installation wizard.

Download the driver from the official Xiaomi |Create a system recovery point |Disable the antivirus during installation |Reboot the laptop after installation-->

Laptop modelType of touchpadDriver reference
Xiaomi Mi Notebook ProSynapticsOfficial website
RedmiBook 14/15ELANOfficial website
Mi Notebook AirSynapticsOfficial website

If after installing the driver, the touchpad still does not work, try rolling back the driver:

  1. In Device Manager, right-click on the touchpad.
  2. Select Properties β†’ Driver β†’ Reverse.
  3. Confirm the action and restart the laptop.

4. BIOS settings check: Is the iron touchpad enabled

In rare cases, the touchpad may be disabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings, which is true if you have recently updated your firmware or reset your BIOS settings.

  1. Restart your laptop and press F2 or Del (depending on the model) when you start to log into the BIOS.
  2. Go to Advanced (Advanced Settings) section.
  3. Find the Internal Pointing Device, TouchPad, or PS/2 Mouse option.
  4. Make sure the value is set to Enabled.
  5. Save the changes (F10) and restart the laptop.
What to do if the BIOS does not have touchpad settings?
If your BIOS doesn’t have Internal Pointing Device, it means that the touchpad is controlled exclusively at the OS or driver level, in which case, go back to the driver section or check the hardware health of the device.

⚠️ Note: Do not change other settings in BIOS, If you're not sure what they're doing, the wrong settings can make it impossible to boot the system.

5. Hardware problems: how to check the touchpad for physical malfunctions

If all the software methods have been tried and the touchpad still doesn't work, the problem may be in the hardware.

  • πŸ”§ Check the touchpad plume. Over time, the contacts may oxidize or move away. If you're technically savvy, you can gently open the bottom of the laptop and check if the plume is connected to the motherboard.
  • πŸ’§ If water or other liquids were spilled on the touchpad, it could have caused a short circuit, which requires professional cleaning.
  • πŸ”¨ Check for mechanical damage, cracks on the surface of the touchpad or dents can disrupt sensors.

For self-diagnosis:

  1. Connect the outside. USB-If it works, the problem is definitely the touchpad or its drivers.
  2. Boot a laptop with a Live-CD Linux (like Ubuntu) if the touchpad runs on another OS, it's Windows or its drivers that are to blame.

⚠️ Note: Disassembly of Xiaomi laptop can lead to loss of warranty if the device is warranty service.If not sure of their abilities, contact the service center.

6. Windows Reset and Other Radical Techniques

If the touchpad stopped working after a Windows update or new software installation, it can help to reset the system or restore to the previous point, these are extreme measures, but they often solve problems with drivers and software conflicts.

Method 1: Restore the system

  1. Open the Control Panel β†’ Restore β†’ Start system recovery.
  2. Select the recovery point created before the touchpad problem occurs.
  3. Confirm the action and wait for the process to be completed.

Method 2: Reset Windows with file saving

If the recovery didn’t work, try resetting Windows:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Update and Security β†’ Recovery.
  2. Click Start under Return the computer to its original state.
  3. Choose Save My Files (to avoid losing data).
  4. Follow the instructions of the reset master.

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Windows reset is a last resort.Be sure to back up important files to an external drive or cloud before the procedure.

7. Alternative solutions: if nothing helps

If all of the above methods have not worked, consider the following options:

  • πŸ–±οΈ Use an external mouse. It's a temporary solution, but it allows you to continue working until the touchpad is repaired.
  • πŸ”„ Update. BIOS. Sometimes manufacturers make firmware that fixes the touchpad problems. BIOS From Xiaomi and update it according to the instructions.
  • πŸ“ž If the touchpad is not working due to a physical malfunction (for example, a damaged plume), self-repair can aggravate the problem.

For Xiaomi models that support Linux (such as the Mi Notebook Pro X), you can try installing a distribution like Ubuntu or Fedora. In some cases, the touchpad works on Linux even when Windows fails.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

πŸ”Ή Why Xiaomi touchpad is running with delays or misses clicks?
This may be due to: Outdated drivers (update them through Device Manager); conflict with another pointing device (turn off the external mouse); contamination of the touchpad surface (wipe it with soft cloth); sensitivity settings in Settings β†’ Devices β†’ Touchbar.
πŸ”Ή Can I turn on the touchpad on Xiaomi via the command line?
Yes, but it requires knowing the exact device name. Try: devcon enable "ACPI\SYN1E00"* devcon enable "ACPI\ELAN*" If the devcon command is not recognized, download it from an official Microsoft source.
πŸ”Ή The touchpad works, but the gestures (scroll, zoom) don't recognize?
The problem most often is Windows settings or drivers: Open Settings β†’ Devices β†’ Touchbar. Make sure Scroll, Scaling and Other Gestures are enabled. If there are no options, upgrade the touchpad driver to the latest version.
πŸ”Ή After Windows update, the touchpad stopped working?
Possible Solutions: Remove the touchpad driver in Device Manager. Restore the system to the point created before the update. Remove the latest Windows update through Settings β†’ Update and Security β†’ View Update History β†’ Remove Updates.
πŸ”Ή Where to find the original drivers for the Xiaomi touchpad, if they are not downloaded from the official website?
Alternative sources: Microsoft Update Catalog (check the touchpad model); Synaptics website (if the touchpad of that manufacturer); ELAN site (for ELAN touchpads); XDA-Developers Forum (section on Xiaomi); Careful: download drivers only from trusted sources to avoid viruses!