How to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected

These tutorials will show you step by step how to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected on a laptop with Windows 10 and 11.


How to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected on Windows 10

ASUS

  1. Double-click on the 'ASUS Smart Gesture' icon located in the system tray.
    ASUS Smart Gesture system tray icon
  2. In the next window, you click on Mouse Detection.
    Mouse Detection settings in ASUS Smart Gesture
  3. Check the checkbox next to the Disable touchpad when mouse is plugged-in option.
    Disable touchpad when mouse is plugged-in on an ASUS laptop
  4. Click Apply in the bottom right corner of the window.
  5. Click OK.
    Save Mouse Detection setting in ASUS Smart Gesture

Your laptop's touchpad will automatically disable whenever an external mouse is connected.

On most laptops, you can also disable the touchpad by pressing the FN (function) key and one of the F keys on the keyboard. For example, on my Asus laptop, pressing the FN + F9 keys on my keyboard disables the touchpad.

Keyboard shortcut to disable the touchpad on an ASUS laptop

HP

  1. Right-click on the Windows start menu button.
  2. Click Settings.
    Open settings in Windows 10
  3. Click Devices.
    Open Devices settings in Windows 10
  4. Click on Mouse in the left menu.
    Open Mouse settings in Windows 10
  5. Click on Additional mouse options in the upper right corner.
    Additional mouse options in Windows 10
  6. In the next window, you click on ELAN.
  7. Check the Disable when external USB pointing device plug in option.
    Disable touchpad when mouse is plugged-in on an HP laptop
  8. Click Apply at the bottom of the window.
  9. Click OK.
    Save Mouse Properties settings

Your laptop's touchpad will automatically disable whenever an external mouse is connected.

On most laptops, you can also disable the touchpad by pressing the FN (function) key and one of the F keys on the keyboard. For example, on my Asus laptop, pressing the FN + F9 keys on my keyboard disables the touchpad.

Keyboard shortcut to disable the touchpad on an ASUS laptop

How to disable the touchpad when a mouse is connected on Windows 11

  1. Right-click on the Windows start menu button.
  2. Click Settings.
    Open Windows 11 settings
  3. Click on Bluetooth & devices in the left menu.
    Open Windows 11 Bluetooth and devices settings
  4. Click on Touchpad.
    Open Windows 11 touchpad settings
  5. Click on Touchpad to view more options.
    More Windows 11 touchpad settings
  6. Uncheck the Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected option.
    Disable the Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected option in Windows 11

Your laptop's touchpad will automatically disable whenever an external mouse is connected.