A non-responsive touchpad on your Acer Aspire 5 15 turns your laptop into a desktop, forcing you to rely on an external mouse. Whether the cursor is frozen, taps don't register, or two-finger scrolling is gone, the issue is almost always software-related and fixable at home.
Toggle the Touchpad with the Function Key
Accidentally disabling the touchpad is incredibly common. On the Aspire 5, look at the top row of keys. You'll see a key, often F6 or F7, with a small icon of a touchpad with a line through it. Press the Fn key and that function key simultaneously to toggle the touchpad back on. You can also check in Windows by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and ensuring the main toggle is switched on.
Perform a Full Restart
If the touchpad stopped working after waking from sleep or a recent update, a simple restart is the fastest fix. This reloads all the drivers, including the one for your touchpad. Use your keyboard to navigate: press the Windows key, then use the Tab key to highlight the power icon, press Enter, and select Restart.
Disconnect Any External Mouse
Windows has a setting that can automatically disable the built-in touchpad when it detects an external mouse. Unplug any USB mouse or disconnect a Bluetooth mouse. Your touchpad should spring back to life immediately. To stop this from happening again, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and look for an option like "Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected" and make sure it's enabled.
Update Your Touchpad Driver
Outdated or corrupted drivers are a prime culprit. Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager. Expand the section called Mice and other pointing devices. Right-click on your touchpad (it might be listed as an ELAN, Synaptics, or Precision Touchpad device) and choose Update driver. Select "Search automatically for drivers." For the best results, I'd also visit the official Acer support site, enter your Aspire 5's exact model number, and download the latest touchpad driver from there.
Clean the Touchpad Surface
Over time, oils from your fingers, dust, or minor moisture can interfere with the touchpad's sensors. Power off the laptop. Gently wipe the touchpad surface with a dry, soft microfiber cloth. For stubborn grime, you can slightly dampen the cloth with water. Make sure the surface is completely dry before turning the laptop back on.
Check the Touchpad Setting in BIOS
The touchpad can be disabled at a deeper system level. Restart your Aspire 5 and immediately press the F2 key repeatedly as it boots up to enter the BIOS. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Main" tab. Look for an option labeled "Internal Pointing Device" or "Touchpad." Ensure it is set to Enabled. Save and exit (usually F10).
Reinstall the Touchpad Driver Completely
If updating didn't work, a clean reinstall might. Go back to Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices. Right-click your touchpad driver and select Uninstall device. Check the box that says "Attempt to remove the driver software for this device" if it appears. Restart your laptop. Windows will install a basic driver upon reboot. Afterwards, install the specific driver from Acer's website for full functionality.
Use Acer Care Center for Diagnostics
Your Acer Aspire 5 comes with a useful tool pre-installed called Acer Care Center. Search for it in the Start menu. Open it and look for a "Checkup" or "Diagnostics" section. It can run tests on your system's hardware components and might identify an issue with the touchpad controller or suggest critical updates you've missed.
Check for Physical Issues
If none of the software fixes work, and the touchpad is completely dead even in the BIOS screen, there could be a hardware problem. The ribbon cable connecting the touchpad to the motherboard can become loose, especially if the laptop has been dropped or bumped. In my experience, this is less common than a software glitch, but it does happen. This type of fix requires opening the laptop chassis, so it's best handled by a professional repair technician.
