sodcalculator

10 Tech How-To

Two Finger Scroll Not Working on Windows 10: Fix It Fast

Guide 10-38568 · Updated · Step by step

Two-finger scrolling on your laptop’s touchpad is one of those features you don’t think about until it stops working. This guide walks you through the most common fixes, from enabling the setting in Windows to updating or reinstalling your touchpad driver, so you can get back to smooth, natural scrolling.

What You’ll Need

  • Your Windows 10 laptop with the touchpad issue
  • Administrator access to the PC (to install drivers)
  • An internet connection (for driver downloads)
  • An external mouse (optional, but helpful for navigation if the touchpad is acting up)

Step-by-Step

  1. Check the basics first. Some laptops have a physical switch or a function key (often F7 or a key with a touchpad icon) that disables the touchpad. Press that key once and see if the touchpad responds. Also, make sure you don’t have a Bluetooth mouse connected that might be taking priority.
  2. Open Windows Settings. Click the Start button (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner, then click the gear icon (Settings). Alternatively, press the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
  3. Go to Devices. In the Settings window, click on “Devices.” This is where Windows manages all your connected hardware, including the touchpad.
  4. Select Touchpad from the left menu. You’ll see a list of categories on the left side. Click “Touchpad.” If you don’t see this option, your touchpad driver might be missing or outdated, which we’ll address in step 8.
  5. Verify scrolling is enabled. On the Touchpad settings page, look for a section called “Scroll and zoom.” Make sure the toggle for “Drag two fingers to scroll” is turned On. If it’s off, click it to turn it on. If it’s already on, toggle it off and on again to reset the setting.
  6. Check the scrolling direction and sensitivity. While you’re in the Touchpad settings, scroll down to “Scrolling direction.” Try changing it from “Down motion scrolls down” to “Down motion scrolls up” and then back again. This can sometimes force the touchpad driver to refresh. Also, ensure the scroll sensitivity isn’t set to “Most sensitive” if you’re experiencing erratic behavior.
  7. Restart your computer. This sounds simple, but a restart clears temporary glitches in the touchpad driver. Save your work, then click Start > Power > Restart.
  8. Update or reinstall the touchpad driver. If the above steps fail, the driver is likely the culprit.
    1. Right-click the Start button and select “Device Manager.”
    2. Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category.
    3. Look for your touchpad. It might be listed as “HID-compliant touch pad,” “Synaptics TouchPad,” “ELAN Input Device,” or similar. Right-click it and select “Uninstall device.” Check the box that says “Delete the driver software for this device” if it appears, then click “Uninstall.”
    4. Restart your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall a generic driver. Test two-finger scrolling.
    5. If that doesn’t work, go to your laptop manufacturer’s support website (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc.), find your specific model, and download the latest touchpad driver from the “Drivers & Downloads” section. Install it and restart again.
  9. Check for Windows Updates. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update, and click “Check for updates.” Install any pending updates, as they often include driver fixes.
  10. Run the hardware troubleshooter. Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters. Select “Hardware and Devices” and run the troubleshooter. Windows will scan for problems and may offer a fix.
  11. Check your manufacturer’s touchpad software. Many laptops come with dedicated software like “Synaptics TouchPad” or “ELAN Smart-Pad.” Search for it in your Start menu. Open it, find the “Scrolling” or “Multi-Finger” section, and ensure two-finger scrolling is enabled there. This software can override Windows settings.
  12. Check for conflicting software. If you recently installed any mouse or touchpad customization tools, they might be interfering. Try uninstalling them temporarily to see if the issue resolves.

Common Mistakes

  • Enabling the wrong setting: Toggling “Scrolling” in the mouse properties (Control Panel) instead of the touchpad-specific settings. These are separate controls.
  • Not restarting after a driver update: Driver changes often require a full restart to take effect, not just a shutdown and power-on.
  • Assuming the touchpad is broken: A software glitch is far more common than a hardware failure. Try all the software fixes before considering a hardware issue.
  • Using the wrong driver: Downloading a driver for a different model of your laptop can cause more problems. Always match the exact model number.

Tips

  • If you have an external mouse plugged in, Windows might disable the touchpad automatically. Check the touchpad settings for a checkbox like “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected.”
  • Keep your touchpad clean and dry. Oils and moisture can affect its sensitivity.
  • If you’re using a Precision Touchpad (most modern laptops), the Windows Settings page will show “Your PC has a precision touchpad.” If it doesn’t, you may need to rely on the manufacturer’s software for full control.
  • Consider creating a system restore point before making major driver changes, so you can revert if something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed all the steps and two-finger scrolling still isn’t working, try these additional checks:

  • Check the BIOS/UEFI settings. Restart your laptop and press the key to enter BIOS (usually F2, Del, or Esc). Look for a “Touchpad” or “Internal Pointing Device” setting and make sure it’s enabled. This is a last resort, as BIOS settings can be confusing.
  • Boot into Safe Mode. If the touchpad works in Safe Mode, a third-party application is likely the problem. Boot into Safe Mode (Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup), test the touchpad, and then uninstall suspicious software.
  • Check if the issue is with a specific app. Sometimes, two-finger scrolling works in most apps but not in one particular program. This is an app-specific issue, not a Windows one. Check that app’s settings for a scroll option.
  • Hardware failure: If the touchpad doesn’t respond to any input (no cursor movement, no tapping), it may be a hardware failure. In this case, contact your laptop manufacturer’s support or a qualified technician.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My touchpad settings page is missing entirely. What does that mean?
A: This usually means the touchpad driver is not installed or is corrupted. Go to Device Manager, look under “Mice and other pointing devices,” and if you see an unknown device with a yellow exclamation mark, uninstall it and restart. Windows will try to reinstall it. If not, download the driver from your manufacturer’s website.

Q: Two-finger scrolling works, but it’s too fast or too slow. How do I adjust it?
A: Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad > Scroll and zoom. Under “Scrolling direction,” you’ll find a slider for “Scroll speed.” Adjust it to your preference.

Q: I updated Windows and now my touchpad doesn’t work. What happened?
A: Windows updates can sometimes overwrite or conflict with touchpad drivers. Go to Device Manager, right-click your touchpad, select “Properties,” go to the “Driver” tab, and click “Roll Back Driver” if the option is available. If not, reinstall the driver from your manufacturer’s website.

Q: My touchpad is a Synaptics or ELAN model. Do I need their software?
A: Not necessarily. Windows 10 has built-in support for many touchpads. However, if you want advanced features or if the basic driver isn’t working, installing the manufacturer’s software (e.g., Synaptics TouchPad driver) can help. Check your laptop manufacturer’s website for the correct version.

Q: Can I use two-finger scrolling in a web browser but not in Word?
A: Yes, this happens. Some applications have their own scrolling settings. In Word, check File > Options > Advanced and look for “Mouse” settings. Some apps also require the touchpad to be set to “Precision Touchpad” mode in Windows settings for full compatibility.

Q: I have a desktop PC with a touchpad. Do these same fixes apply?
A: Yes, the same Windows settings and driver troubleshooting steps apply to any touchpad connected to a Windows 10 PC, whether it’s built-in or an external USB device.

Related

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →