How to Enable or Disable Touchpad in Ubuntu Linux

Disabling the touchpad on an Ubuntu laptop stops the mouse cursor from jumping around while you type. A touchpad is the flat, touch-sensitive pad below the keyboard that lets you move the pointer without a separate mouse.

Most laptops have a quick keyboard shortcut, such as pressing the Fn key alongside F9, to turn the pad on or off instantly. If your keyboard lacks this shortcut, you can switch off the touchpad directly through the Ubuntu settings menu under Mouse & Touchpad.

How to turn off laptop touchpad when using Ubuntu Linux

Managing the touchpad on Ubuntu takes only a few moments through either the main settings panel or Touchpad Indicator. Open the Activities overview, type ‘Settings’, and select the application to locate the hardware controls. This central hub consolidates system configuration, allowing users to silence the trackpad whenever an external mouse takes over.

Most configuration options live in a single centralized panel. System Settings handles everything from creating new user accounts to applying updates from the System Settings panel.

To get to System Settings, open the Activities overview and start typing Settings.

Alternatively, click on the System menu at the top-right corner of the top bar on your desktop.

On the System menu, select Settings, as highlighted below.

In the Settings app, click on the Mouse & Touchpad tile.

A dedicated switch appears for the touchpad hardware. Slide it to On to enable it, or slide it back to Off to deactivate the surface.

Alternatively, installing a third-party utility named Touchpad Indicator provides another method for controlling the pointer hardware.

Touchpad Indicator lets you disable the touchpad on demand and automatically disables the touchpad while typing and when a mouse is plugged in.

To install Touchpad Indicator, open a terminal and run these commands:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao
sudo apt update
sudo apt install touchpad-indicator

Once installed, search for and open the app from the Activities overview, then click on the Top bar and select the app's icon.

On the Actions tab, you can choose different settings to control the touchpad on your device.

That completes the setup process. The Settings app can now be closed.

Conclusion:

• Disabling or enabling the Touchpad on laptops running Ubuntu Linux is a straightforward process through the System Settings panel or using a third-party app like Touchpad Indicator.
• The Touchpad can be toggled on and off easily, allowing users to disable it when using an external mouse or to prevent accidental movements while typing.
• Users can choose between the System Settings method or installing the Touchpad Indicator app based on their preferences and specific needs.
• The step-by-step instructions and accompanying visual aids make it simple for users to follow along and successfully manage their Touchpad settings in Ubuntu Linux.