Touchpad unresponsive when using gloves

[Snarfcardler]

My new laptop has the ubiquitous clickpad found on all laptops these days and I find that it won't recognize any contact when I'm wearing gloves.  My older HP laptop had a touchpad with buttons and it worked fine with gloves on.  The new ones seem to be exclusively capacitance based and don't recognize pressure at all.   I've tried touchpad gloves with silver threads in the fingertips but the clickpad doesn't respond to them at all.  

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to make the clickpad recognize pressure?

[Max3Aj]

@Snarfcardler, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
You're correct that modern clickpads, like the one on your HP Pavilion 16-af0000, are capacitive and rely on the electrical conductivity of your skin to function. Unfortunately, gloves—especially those not designed for touchscreen use—can interfere with this conductivity, making it difficult to use the touchpad effectively. Here are some practical solutions to work around this limitation:

Use High-Conductivity Touchscreen Gloves

Not all touchscreen gloves are created equal. Many inexpensive options only have a light conductive thread, which may not be sufficient for touchpads. Consider trying:

• Mujjo Touchscreen Gloves (especially the "Double-Layered" versions)
• The North Face Etip Gloves
• Gloves specifically marketed for laptop use, not just phones.

Look for gloves that have conductive material covering the entire palm and fingers, rather than just the tips.

Adjust Touchpad Sensitivity

While this option may have limited effectiveness, you can try increasing the touchpad sensitivity:

1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
2. Look for options related to Taps or Sensitivity.
3. Set it to Most Sensitive or High Sensitivity. However, keep in mind that capacitive hardware still requires electrical input.

External Touchpad or Mouse

If you frequently need to use gloves (e.g., in a lab or cold environment), consider using:

• An external USB mouse (optical mice work well with gloves).
• A stylus-compatible external trackpad, like Apple’s Magic Trackpad, though you may need to install drivers for Windows.

Try a Stylus Instead

If your laptop's screen is pen-compatible, consider using a stylus on the touchscreen while wearing gloves. This can provide a more precise input method without the conductivity issues of the touchpad.

Hacky Workaround (Not Always Reliable)

Some users have experimented with applying a conductive fabric or strip over the touchpad area and connecting it to their wrist with a conductive strap to bridge conductivity. This is a DIY solution and can be risky, so it's only recommended for advanced users.

❗ What Won't Work

• Pressing Harder: Clickpads do not detect pressure; they only respond to conductivity.
• Disabling “Palm Rejection”: This setting affects accidental input, not gloved input.
• Registry Hacks: There are no settings to make a capacitive pad work with gloves.

By exploring these options, you should be able to find a solution that allows you to use your touchpad effectively while wearing gloves.
 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support