How to Fix 'Cannot Use Touchscreen' on Laptops

Have you recently found yourself tapping away at your laptop screen with no response, as though it's suddenly forgotten it’s supposed to react to your touch? It’s like trying to get the attention of someone engrossed in a book; no matter how much you wave your hand, you get no response. Frustrating, right? If your laptop's touchscreen has stopped cooperating, don't worry. Before you consider marching down to the nearest repair shop or starting an email to customer support, there are several tricks you can try to wake that screen back up. Let's dive into some simple solutions to fix a non-responsive touchscreen on your laptop.

1. Check if Touchscreen is Enabled

First things first, let's make sure your laptop's touchscreen feature hasn't been accidentally disabled. It's like checking if the power cord is plugged in before concluding that your lamp is broken. To check this:

• For Windows 10/11: Go to 'Settings' > 'System' > 'Touchscreen'. Make sure it's set to 'Enabled'. If it's not, enable it and see if that solves your problem.

2. Restart Your Laptop

Sometimes, the solution is as simple as turning it off and on again. This age-old trick can work wonders, clearing temporary glitches that might be causing your touchscreen to snooze. Just hit the restart button and see if your laptop decides to acknowledge your touch again once it wakes up.

3. Update or Reinstall Touchscreen Drivers

Drivers are like translators that help your laptop's hardware and software communicate effectively. If the translator starts getting things wrong, communication breaks down. Here's how you can get them back in sync:

• For Windows: Open 'Device Manager' from the Start menu. Under 'Human Interface Devices', find your touchscreen device (it might be listed as an HID-compliant touch screen). Right-click and either update it or uninstall it. If you choose to uninstall, don't panic. Just restart your laptop, and Windows will automatically reinstall the driver.

4. Calibrate Your Touchscreen

If your touchscreen is responding but seems confused about where you're actually touching, calibration is key. It's like teaching your screen to understand your touch language all over again.

• For Windows 10/11: Search for 'Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input' in the Windows search box. Follow the on-screen instructions to recalibrate your screen.

5. Perform a Windows Update

Sometimes, the issue might not be with your touchscreen at all but with Windows needing an update. Keeping your system up to date can fix a myriad of issues, including touchscreen responsiveness.

• Go to 'Settings' > 'Update & Security' > 'Windows Update', and click 'Check for updates'. Install any available updates and restart your laptop.

6. Scan for Malware

Malware can cause all sorts of havoc, including touchscreen issues. Running a full system scan with a reliable antivirus program can detect and remove any malware lurking in your system, potentially restoring your screen's touch functionality.

7. Check for Hardware Issues

If none of the above steps work, it's possible that there might be a physical problem with your touchscreen. This could range from a loose connection inside your laptop to actual damage to the screen itself. While you can check for obvious external damage, internal issues are better left to professionals.

Before you conclude that your touchscreen’s career is over, try these steps. More often than not, the issue can be resolved without needing a repair service. However, if you've tried everything and your touchscreen still refuses to respond, it may be time to contact your laptop's manufacturer or a professional repair service. It could be a sign of a more serious issue that requires professional attention.

Remember, technology, much like humans, has its off days. A little patience and some troubleshooting can go a long way. Happy tapping!