How to turn on the touchpad on Xiaomi laptop: all the ways from simple to complex

The touchpad on Xiaomi’s laptop is not just a mouse replacement, it’s a key control, especially when you’re on the go or working in cramped conditions. However, many users are faced with a situation where the touchpad suddenly stops responding to touch. The reasons can vary from accidental hotkey shutdown to driver failure or hardware failure. In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn on the touchpad on Xiaomi Mi Notebook, RedmiBook and other series, from basic to advanced, including diagnostic problems.

It is important to understand that the algorithm of actions depends on the operating system (Windows 10/11 or Linux), the model of the laptop and even the version of the BIOS. For example, on the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro X 15 2023 touchpad can be turned off due to conflict with the drivers of Synaptics, and on RedmiBook 14 II – due to the peculiarities of power management. We will not limit ourselves to template tips like “reboot laptop”, but will offer specific solutions taking into account these nuances.

If you’re reading this article on the Xiaomi laptop itself, which doesn’t have a touchpad, use Tab, Enter and arrows to navigate the menu. For convenience, we’ve highlighted critical points that are often missed in standard instructions — like how to reset touchpad settings through Windows Input Devices or what to do if the BIOS doesn’t see the touchpad.

1. Hot keys: the fastest way to turn on a touchpad

On most Xiaomi laptops, the touchpad is turned off by a keyboard combination, which is done to prevent accidental touches during typing. Usually this is due to a combination of Fn + F6 (or F7, depending on the model), and the touchpad icon with the crossed finger should be displayed on the key.

How to check:

• 🔍 Find the Fn button on the keyboard (usually in the lower left corner) and the keys F1–F12 top-row.
• 🖱️ Look at the icons: the desired key will be with the image of the touch panel (sometimes with a cross).
• 🔄 Press Fn. + [So if you have a touchpad, check the response, if the light on the key is on/out, the touchpad is on.

On some models (e.g. Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air), the combination may be different. If Fn + F6 didn't work, try:

• 🔹 Fn + F3 (rare, but found on older versions)
• 🔹 Double tap on top left corner of touchpad (on some RedmiBooks)
• 🔹 Fn + Space (experimental function on firmware 2022)+)

⚠️ Attention: If the combination Fn + F6 Not working, check if the Fn key function is disabled BIOS. To do that, press Fn. + Esc – this switches the mode of operation of the functional keys.

2. Verification of Windows settings: drivers and device parameters

If the hotkeys didn't work, the problem may lie in the operating system settings. In Windows 10/11, the touchpad is managed through Device Settings and Task Manager. Follow the step-by-step instructions:

Step 1. Check the inclusion of the touchpad in the parameters:

1. Open the Start. → Parameters (⚙️) → Devices → Touch panel.
2. Make sure the Touch Bar switch is in the On position.
3. If the option is not available, click on the Additional Settings and check the sensitivity settings.

Step 2: Update or reinstall the driver:

• 🔧 Open Device Manager (right-click on Start button) → Device Manager).
• 🖱️ Deploy the Mouse tab and other pointing devices.
• 🔄 Find a device called TouchPad, Synaptics, or ELAN, Right-click and select Update Driver.
• 🌐 Select Automatic Search – the system will find the current version.

If automatic search didn’t help, download the driver manually from Xiaomi’s official website (Support → Laptops → Your model). For RedmiBook 15 2023, for example, you need a Synaptics driver v19.5.35.55 or later.

3. Touchpad setting in BIOS/UEFI: if Windows can't see the device

If the touchpad doesn’t respond even after the drivers update, the problem may be at the BIOS level. This is true for Xiaomi laptops, where the touchpad is connected via the I2C or PS/2 interface – their work depends on the built-in software settings.

How to get into the BIOS on Xiaomi:

1. Turn off the laptop.
2. Press the F2 key (or Del on some models) and turn on the power.
3. Wait for the blue screen to appear with the BIOS menu.

What to look for in the BIOS:

• 🔍 Go to the Advanced section → Internal Pointing Device.
• 🔄 Make sure the setting is set in Enabled.
• 💾 Save the changes (F10 → Yes, and restart.

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi laptops with BIOS version 1.0.7+ (2021 and later) may not have a clear setting for the touchpad. BIOS Load Default Settings and check the device.

4.Diagnostics of hardware problems: when the touchpad does not turn on at all

If none of the software methods worked, it could be a physical malfunction of the touchpad or a connection to it.

Step 1. Check the connection of the plume:

• 🛠️ Turn off the laptop and disconnect the battery (if it is removable).
• 🔧 Remove the bottom cover (a screwdriver will be required). PH00).
• 🖱️ Find the touchpad plume – it’s usually connected to the motherboard next to the battery and marked as TOUCHPAD or TP.
• 🔄 Carefully disconnect and reconnect the plume. Make sure the lock is snapped.

Step 2: Multimeter Testing (for advanced users):

• 📊 Check the voltage on the plume contacts (should be) 3.3V or 5V model-wise).
• 🔍 Examine the plume for damage (fractures, oxidation).

Xiaomi laptops often use a touchpad from Synaptics or ELAN. If you see bloating or traces of liquid on visual inspection, the device should be replaced. The average cost of a new touchpad for RedmiBook is 1,500-2,500 rubles (2026).

5. Including touchpad on Linux (Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora)

Linux users on Xiaomi laptops often find that the touchpad does not work out of the box due to the lack of proprietary drivers.

Basic commands for diagnosis:

# Checking the detection of touchpad


xinput list




Enable the device (replace the "ID" with a real number from the list)



xinput enable ID




Viewing the properties of the touchpad



xinput list-props ID

If the touchpad is not determined:

• 🐧 Install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics (for Synaptics) or xserver-xorg-input-libinput (for Synaptics) ELAN):

sudo apt update


sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

For Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro with ELAN touchpad, you may need to manually configure the configuration file:

sudo nano /usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf

Add a line to the InputClass section:

Option "Tapping" "on"

⚠️ Attention: On distributions with the core 5.15+ (Ubuntu 22.04, Fedora 36+) Xiaomi touchpads are supported out of the box via libinput.If the device doesn't work, check the output of the dmesg command | grep -i Touch – There may be initialization errors.

Resetting and reinstallation of the system: last resort

If all previous methods failed, there are two radical options: resetting Windows to factory settings or a clean reinstallation of the OS. This is true if the problem is caused by deep driver conflicts or damage to system files.

Windows 10/11 reset without data loss:

1. Open Options → Update and Security → Recovery.
2. Select Return the computer to its original state → Save my files.
3. Follow the instructions (it will take about 30-60 minutes).

Clean Windows installation:

• 💿 Create a bootable flash drive from the official Microsoft website (Media Creation Tool).
• 🔄 Boot from the flash drive (in) BIOS Select the boot priority – Boot Menu → USB).
• 📛 When installed, remove all partitions on the disk and create new ones (this ensures there is no “junk” from the old system).

Once reinstalled, install the drivers from Xiaomi’s official website (Support → Laptops → Your Model → Drivers) first. Start with Chipset, then TouchPad and Management Engine.

💡

Resetting or reinstalling Windows is a last resort. Before you do, make sure to check the touchpad in Linux Live mode (like Ubuntu), if the device doesn't work there, the problem is hardware, not software.

FAQ: Frequent questions about touchpad on Xiaomi laptops