To fix your laptop's touchscreen, begin by confirming the feature exists, then proceed through software and hardware checks like cleaning the screen, managing drivers, updating system components, configuring settings, and resetting calibration.
Troubleshooting a non-functional touchscreen on your laptop involves a series of systematic steps, ranging from simple physical checks to more advanced driver and software configurations. By following a structured approach, you can often identify and resolve the issue. Based on common solutions, including those found on resources like ASUS support, here’s a guide to help you get your touchscreen working again.
Essential Troubleshooting Steps for Your Laptop Touchscreen
Before diving into complex fixes, start with the basics. These initial steps address the most common causes of touchscreen issues.
1. Confirm Your Device Has a Touchscreen Function
Not all laptops come equipped with touch capabilities. The very first step is to verify that your specific laptop model was manufactured with a touchscreen. Check your laptop's specifications or documentation. If it doesn't have a touchscreen, then the issue isn't a malfunction but rather a missing feature.
2. Clean the LCD Screen
Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. Dirt, smudges, or debris on the screen can interfere with touch recognition.
- Turn off your laptop.
- Use a soft, lint-free cloth (like a microfiber cloth) specifically designed for electronics.
- Gently wipe the screen.
- For stubborn marks, you can slightly dampen the cloth with water or a screen cleaner designed for LCDs, but never spray liquid directly onto the screen.
Ensure the screen is completely dry before turning the laptop back on.
Software and System Fixes
If cleaning doesn't help, the problem likely lies within the laptop's software or drivers.
3. Enable and Reinstall the Touchscreen Driver in Device Manager
The touchscreen functionality is controlled by a specific driver in Windows. It might be disabled or corrupted.
- Open Device Manager. You can usually find it by searching in the Windows search bar.
- Expand the Human Interface Devices category.
- Look for an entry related to the touchscreen, often listed as "HID-compliant touch screen".
- Right-click on it.
- If it's disabled, select Enable device.
- If enabling doesn't work or it was already enabled, right-click again and select Uninstall device.
- Do not check the box that says "Delete the driver software for this device".
- Restart your laptop. Windows should automatically detect the hardware and reinstall the driver.
4. Update and Confirm BIOS / Windows Packages / Drivers
Outdated system software, Windows updates, or drivers can cause compatibility issues.
- Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for and install any pending updates.
- Update Drivers: While Windows Update handles many drivers, specific hardware drivers (like chipset or graphics drivers) might need to be updated via your laptop manufacturer's support website. You can also use Device Manager to check for driver updates (right-click the device > Update driver).
- Update BIOS: Updating the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) can sometimes resolve hardware compatibility issues. This is a more advanced step and should be done carefully by downloading the correct BIOS version from your laptop manufacturer's support site and following their specific instructions. An incorrect BIOS update can cause serious problems.
Visit your laptop manufacturer's official website (like ASUS support mentioned in the reference) to find the latest drivers and BIOS updates for your specific model.
5. Configure the Touch Display
Ensure Windows is set up correctly to recognize your touch display.
- Search for "Tablet PC Settings" in the Windows search bar and open it.
- Click the Setup button under "Configure your pen and touch displays".
- Follow the on-screen prompts. You'll be asked to touch the screen to identify it as the touch display.
6. Reset Touch Calibration to the Default Settings
Calibration ensures the touch input corresponds accurately to the position on the screen. If calibration is off, the touchscreen might seem unresponsive or inaccurate.
- Search for "Tablet PC Settings" in the Windows search bar and open it.
- Click the Calibrate button under "Configure your pen and touch displays".
- Click the Reset button to revert to the default calibration settings.
These steps, based on common troubleshooting practices and resources like the ASUS support page, cover the most frequent causes of touchscreen malfunctions. If after attempting these solutions your touchscreen still doesn't work, there might be a hardware issue requiring professional service.
