When a touchpad on a Xiaomi laptop stops working, it often takes the user by surprise, especially if there is no external mouse at hand.This is a common problem that can be caused by both accidental hotkey locking and a software glitch in the operating system. Before panicking or carrying the device into service, it is worth checking a number of basic settings that often go wrong on their own.
In most cases, a few simple steps that do not require deep technical knowledge are enough to restore the touchpad to work. Modern models such as the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro or RedmiBook have specific drivers and utilities that can conflict with Windows updates. Understanding the nature of the lock is the first step to successfully solving the problem.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all possible reasons why the touchpad may not respond to touch, and provide step-by-step instructions for eliminating them. We will look at both software methods through system settings and hardware ways to unlock through functional keys.
Quick unlocking with hot keys
The most common reason for the touchpad to be turned off is by accidentally pressing the key combination that blocks the input device. On Xiaomi and Redmi laptops, this function is usually performed by the F9 or F10 key, which shows the crossed-out touchpad, and if you hit this key, the system perceives this as a command to completely shut down the sensor.
To reactivate, you have to press the same key. However, in many modern models, the function keys work in two modes. If a simple press does not help, try to press the Fn key and simultaneously press the touchpad lock button, which force the function series to switch mode.
Sometimes the system may stick in locking due to a software failure of the keyboard controller, in which case a single press may not work. Try pressing the Fn + F9 combination (or your corresponding model) several times in a row at intervals of one second, which will help reset the lock flag state in the input buffer.
It is important to note that on some Xiaomi Air modifications, the lock indication can appear on the screen as a small icon. If the icon appears when you press it, but the touchpad does not come to life, the problem lies deeper, in the drivers or system settings of Windows.
Setting up touchpad parameters in Windows
Windows 10 and 11 have advanced input device settings that can override hardware commands. If the hotkeys don't work, check to see if the touchpad is software-enabled in the settings section. → Parameters → Devices → Touch panel.
In the window that opens, find the Touch Bar switch, which should be in the "On" position. If the switch is active but the cursor is not moving, try turning it off and turning it back on, and this action initiates a reboot of the device driver without having to restart the entire laptop.
Also in this section there is an important option: "Do not change the operation of the touchpad when you connect the mouse." USB-If you have a mouse, and the touchpad doesn't work, you might want to check the checkmark that turns off the touchpad when you have an external mouse, and that's a common resource-saving adjustment that sometimes doesn't work properly.
For owners of older versions of Windows or specific drivers, settings may be in the control panel. Go to Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Mouse. There may be a separate tab with the brand name, such as Synaptics or ELAN, where you can also find the device's power button.
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If the switch in Windows settings is gray and not pressed, it is a sure sign that the device driver is missing or is crashing.
Working with drivers in Device Manager
If the software settings are fine but the touchpad is not functioning, the driver is probably the problem. The driver is the software that allows the operating system to interact with the hardware. To check, go to Device Manager. This can be done by right-clicking the Start button and selecting the appropriate option.
In the hardware list, look for the "Mice and Other Pointing Devices" section. Open it. If you see a device with a yellow exclamation mark or the name "HID-compatible mouse" with an error, the driver is damaged, and the touchpad may be hidden in the "User Interface Devices (HID)" section.
Right-click on the touchpad device (often called ELAN Touchpad, Synaptics or simply HID-compliant mouse) and select "Delete Device." Don't worry, after the reboot, the system will try to restore the driver automatically. If this does not help, the driver will have to download from the official website.
For manual installation, download the current driver from the Xiaomi support site for your particular model. When installing, make sure that there are no errors in the process. Once you have completed the installation, be sure to reboot the laptop completely, not just log out.
☑️ Driver diagnostics
Use of the Xiaomi Settings utility
Xiaomi laptops are equipped with a special utility Xiaomi Settings (or Mi Support), which manages specific hardware functions that are not available in the standard Windows panel «_master_» Touchpad switch that is ignored by the system, and you can find the program by searching the Start menu.
In the utility interface, go to the input device or system settings section, and there may be a separate switchboard for turning on/off the touchpad. Sometimes, after a Windows update, the settings in this utility are reset and the touchpad is locked at the level. BIOS-controller controlled by the program.
If the utility doesn’t start or doesn’t work properly, try reinstalling it. Download the latest version from the official repository. Note that Xiaomi Settings often requires the latest version of the.NET Framework installed and the latest BIOS updates to work properly.
In some cases, resetting the utility itself helps, by removing it through Install and Remove Programs, restarting the laptop, and reinstalling it, which will clear the configuration cache that may have been damaged by previous system updates.
What to do if Xiaomi Settings is not in the system?
Comparison of models and specificity of drivers
Xiaomi’s different line of laptops use different touchpad controllers, which affects how they are set up. Understanding the differences between models helps to find a solution faster if standard methods don’t work.
| Laptop model | Type of controller | Hot key | Features of the driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air | ELAN / Synaptics | Fn + F9 | Requires an ELAN driver for multi-touch |
| Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro | Precision Touchpad | Fn + F10 | Integration with Windows Hello |
| RedmiBook 14/15 | Windows Precision | Fn + F10 | Frequent updates through the Update Center |
| Xiaomi Book Pro | OLED Touch (opt.) | Screen menu | Depends on the BIOS version |
As you can see from the table, the Pro series models are more likely to use the Precision Touchpad standard, which is deeply integrated into Windows, which means that problems with them are solved mainly through OS settings. At the same time, the Air series often relies on proprietary ELAN drivers, which are more sensitive to version conflicts.
If you have a RedmiBook, check out BIOS updates. The manufacturer often releases patches that fix touchpad and keyboard work. You can check the BIOS version in the Xiaomi Settings utility or in the command line by entering the systeminfo command.
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Knowing the exact model of the touchpad controller allows you to download the correct driver, which solves 90% of problems with the incorrect operation of the sensor.
Additional methods and BIOS verification
In rare cases, the touchpad can be turned off at the BIOS level. This happens if the laptop has undergone a setting reset or a motherboard firmware update. To check this, log into the BIOS by pressing the F2 key when the laptop is turned on.
In the BIOS interface (often looking like a gray or blue menu), look for the Advanced or Peripherals section. Look for the Internal Pointing Device or Touchpad. Make sure it has Enabled opposite it. If Disabled is available, change it to included and save the F10 key settings.
It's also worth checking for physical damage. If a laptop has recently been dropped or liquid spilled on it, the touchpad plume may have moved away. In Xiaomi Mi Notebook models, access to the plume often requires removing the bottom cover. A careful reconnection of the plume can bring the device back to life.
If none of the software methods worked, and you can see the BIOS device, but you can't see it on Windows, then maybe the touchpad itself failed, and then you can only replace the component in an authorized service center.