Laptop touchpad not working (Asus and HP)

My laptop's touchpad isn't working.

The cursor doesn't move when using the touchpad, or the touchpad doesn't respond to taps, clicks, or gestures.

Check the touchpad enable shortcut, Windows touchpad settings, and the manufacturer's touchpad software, since the exact tool differs between Asus and HP.

1. 1Check for a touchpad toggle shortcut - look for a touchpad icon on the function key row and press Fn + that key (commonly F9 or F10 on Asus, varies on HP), since this can accidentally disable the touchpad.
2. 2Confirm the touchpad isn't disabled in Windows: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, and make sure it's toggled on.
3. 3Asus: open MyASUS (or the ASUS touchpad/Precision Touchpad settings) to confirm the touchpad is enabled and not misconfigured.
4. 4HP: open HP Support Assistant or Settings > Devices > Touchpad to confirm it's enabled.
5. 5If a mouse is connected (wired or Bluetooth), disconnect it - some laptops automatically disable the touchpad while a mouse is attached.
6. 6Restart the laptop.
7. 7Contact IT if the touchpad is still unresponsive after these steps - this may indicate a hardware fault.