How to Fix an Unresponsive Touchscreen on Windows Laptops

A touchscreen that stops responding can be frustrating, especially if you rely on it for navigation. Whether it’s due to a software glitch, driver issue, or hardware malfunction, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to fix an unresponsive touchscreen on your Windows laptop.

1. Restart Your Laptop

The first and simplest step is to restart your laptop. This can fix minor software glitches affecting the touchscreen.

Click the Start menu and select Restart.
If the touchscreen is completely unresponsive, hold the Power button for 10 seconds to force a shutdown.

2. Clean the Screen

Sometimes, dust, dirt, or grease can interfere with the touchscreen’s sensitivity.

Use a soft, lint-free cloth slightly dampened with water.
Avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the screen.

3. Enable and Disable Touchscreen in Device Manager

Re-enabling the touchscreen driver can refresh its functionality.

1. Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen and select Disable.
4. Wait a few seconds, then right-click it again and select Enable.

4. Update Touchscreen Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers can cause the touchscreen to stop working.

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Human Interface Devices.
3. Right-click HID-compliant touch screen and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.

5. Calibrate the Touchscreen

If your touchscreen is responding inaccurately, recalibrating it may help.

1. Open the Control Panel and search for Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input.
2. Click Calibrate and follow the on-screen instructions.

6. Run Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has a built-in troubleshooting tool to detect and fix touchscreen issues.

Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Hardware and Devices > Run the troubleshooter

7. Check for Windows Updates

Installing the latest Windows updates can resolve compatibility issues.

1. Open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.

8. Perform a System Restore

If your touchscreen stopped working after a recent update or software installation, try restoring Windows to a previous state.

1. Open Control Panel > Recovery > Open System Restore.
2. Select a restore point before the issue started and follow the on-screen instructions.

9. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above solutions work, the touchscreen hardware may be faulty.

Test if the touchscreen works in BIOS (some laptops allow this).
Contact your laptop manufacturer for repair or replacement options.

Conclusion

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to fix an unresponsive touchscreen on your Windows laptop. If the issue persists, it may require professional repair.

For more troubleshooting guides, visit Microsoft Windows Support.