Erratic touchpad HP Spectre 12th gen Windows 11

[RobClow]

For months I have had problems with an erratic touchpad. Sometimes it simply does not work. Other times the cursor jumps all over the screen clicking on things independently.

I've tried deleting the touchpad and reinstalling it.

I've tried to delete and update the drivers.

I've reinstalled Windows 11 keeping just my personal files.

I've deleted all my temporary files and restarted the computer.

I've used the HP diagnostics problem to look for a fix. 

I've tried to get online help. 

After the latest update of Windows 11 the touchpad came back to life for a few days. Everything worked and the cursor was predictable, but then the cursor started jumping around again.

I can use the computer if I turn off the touchpad and use a bluetooth mouse - everything apart from the touchpad is fine then - but it would be great to figure out how to fix this. 

The fact that things work OK when I turn the touchpad off tells me it is definitely a touchpad problem and the fact that it was temporarily fixed after the last Windows 11 update tells me it is most likely a software problem. 

Most of the time I can work around this but I spent a lot of money on a high-end computer. I've had good experiences with HP in the past. It would be great to get it working again.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @RobClow,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It’s frustrating to deal with an erratic touchpad, especially on a high-end HP Spectre. Since you’ve tried various solutions already, let’s delve into a more targeted approach to resolve the touchpad issue:

1. Check Touchpad Settings

• Sensitivity and Gestures: Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and adjust the sensitivity and gestures. Sometimes, changing these settings can alleviate erratic behavior.

2. Update Touchpad Drivers

• Device Manager: Open Device Manager (Win + X > **Device Manager`), find the touchpad under "Mice and other pointing devices", right-click it, and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
• HP Support Website: Visit the HP support website, enter your laptop model, and download the latest touchpad drivers directly from HP.

3. Check for Windows Updates

• Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates. Sometimes, updates include fixes for hardware compatibility issues.

4. Check for Software Conflicts

• Clean Boot: Perform a clean boot to see if a background application is causing the problem:
  1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
  2. Go to the Services tab, check Hide all Microsoft services, and then click Disable all.
  3. Go to the Startup tab and open Task Manager. Disable all startup items.
  4. Restart your PC and test the touchpad.

5. Reinstall Touchpad Software

• Uninstall and Reinstall: In Device Manager, right-click the touchpad device and select Uninstall device. Restart your computer, and Windows should automatically reinstall the touchpad drivers. You can also download and install the latest driver from HP’s website.

6. Check BIOS/UEFI Settings

• BIOS/UEFI Update: Check if there’s a BIOS update available for your HP Spectre. Sometimes, a BIOS update can resolve hardware compatibility issues.
• Touchpad Settings: Access BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F10, or ESC during startup) and check if there are any settings related to the touchpad.

7. Inspect for Hardware Issues

• Physical Inspection: Check if there is any physical damage or dirt on the touchpad. Clean the touchpad gently with a

soft, dry cloth.

• External Factors: Ensure there are no external factors affecting the touchpad, like a protective cover or screen protector.
• Clean Install: As a last resort, you could consider performing a clean installation of Windows 11. Ensure you back up all your important files first. A clean install can resolve deep-rooted software issues.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support