How to open the on-screen touchpad in Windows 11

Enable the Virtual Touchpad

Taskbar settings let you enable the virtual touchpad in Windows 11 so a trackpad icon always stays ready in your system tray 🔔. Right-click any empty space on your taskbar 🖥️, open Taskbar settings, and turn on the toggle for the touchpad item in the taskbar corner. This adds the shortcut button you need to open the on-screen trackpad anytime.

1. Right-click any empty space on your taskbar 🖥️ (the horizontal bar at the bottom of your screen) and select Taskbar settings.

   

2. Scroll down to the Taskbar 🖥️ corners items section.

   

3. Locate Touchpad in the list.
4. Click the toggle switch next to Touchpad to set it to On.
5. Look at the bottom right corner of your taskbar 🖥️ to confirm that the new touchpad icon now appears next to the clock and system tray 🔔 icons.

Open the Virtual Touchpad

Clicking the touchpad icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar 🖥️ opens the virtual touchpad in Windows 11 instantly. A translucent rectangle appears on your desktop that lets you control your mouse cursor using touch gestures just like a physical laptop trackpad. You can drag the window anywhere on your screen or close it by clicking the X button.

1. Click the Touchpad icon in the bottom right corner of your taskbar 🖥️.
2. A translucent rectangle representing the virtual trackpad appears on your screen.
3. Click and drag anywhere inside the borders of the virtual touchpad window to reposition it on your screen.
4. Place one finger inside the touchpad area and slide it around to move your mouse cursor across the screen.
5. Tap the virtual left mouse button or right mouse button located at the bottom of the touchpad window to perform clicks.
6. Click the X button in the top right corner of the virtual touchpad window to close it when you finish.

Disable the Virtual Touchpad

Taskbar settings let you disable the virtual touchpad shortcut in Windows 11 to clean up your system tray 🔔 when you no longer need the on-screen trackpad. Right-click an empty area on your taskbar 🖥️, open Taskbar settings, expand the taskbar corner items category, and switch the toggle next to the touchpad option to off.

1. Right-click an empty area on your taskbar 🖥️ and select Taskbar settings.
2. Expand the Taskbar 🖥️ corners items category.
3. Find Touchpad in the menu.
4. Click the toggle switch next to Touchpad to switch it to Off.
5. Verify that the touchpad icon immediately disappears from your taskbar 🖥️ corner.

Configure Touch and Mouse Settings

Open Settings ⚙️ by pressing the Win and I together, click Bluetooth 🔷 & devices in the left sidebar, and select either Touch or Mouse to adjust your preferences.

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Bluetooth & devices in the left sidebar.
3. Select Touch to adjust your touchscreen preferences, or select Mouse to change cursor speeds and primary button assignments.

Troubleshooting Virtual Touchpad Issues

System File Checker scans your computer to fix troubleshooting virtual touchpad issues when the on-screen trackpad fails to open or respond in Windows 11. Open the Start menu, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt, select Run as administrator, type sfc /scannow, and press Enter to repair damaged system files.

1. Open the Start menu, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt in the search results, and select Run as administrator.
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter on your keyboard.
3. Wait for the system scan to complete and verify any reported repairs.
4. Restart your computer before attempting to open the virtual touchpad again.

Managing Precision Touchpad Settings via Registry Editor

Press the Windows key and R together, type regedit, press Enter, and navigate to the correct path to adjust your hardware parameters. Incorrect changes can cause system instability, so proceed carefully.

1. Press the Windows key and R on your keyboard at the same time to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type regedit and press Enter to open Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following location in the left sidebar: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad
4. Double-click any available DWORD value in the right pane to modify its data according to your configuration requirements, then click OK.
5. Close the Registry Editor window and restart your computer to apply the changes.

What to do next

You should now see the virtual touchpad icon in your taskbar corner and be able to open the on-screen trackpad whenever necessary. Next, you can explore customizing other input devices or setting up custom touch gestures for your touchscreen display.