HP Envy Touchpad First Tap Not Working

[Ollie2323]

HP Envy Laptop Windows 11: very often the first tap on my touchpad does not register, just tapping it the second time then registers. Happens about 25% of the time, usually happens when I have not tapped on the touchpad for an extended time (5-10 min). It may be triggered specifically after I use the keyboard then go back to the touchpad, but not every time. I've updated drivers. Laptop is out of the box new. I have adjusted the sensitivity settings to most sensitive as well.

[Garp_senchau]

@Ollie2323, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

1. Update Touchpad Drivers Again (and other system drivers)

Even though you’ve updated the drivers, let's confirm that both the touchpad driver and the system’s other drivers are fully up to date.

• Device Manager:
  1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
  3. Right-click on your touchpad device (likely named something like “Synaptics” or “Windows Precision”).
  4. Click Update Driver, then choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
• HP Support Assistant: Download and install HP Support Assistant from the HP website to ensure all drivers (including system firmware and BIOS) are updated.

2. Adjust Touchpad Settings

If the touchpad sensitivity is already at its highest setting, try experimenting with these settings as well:

• Mouse Settings:
  1. Open Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
  2. Try toggling off settings like Tap to Click and enable it again to see if that makes a difference.
  3. Adjust Touchpad Sensitivity to see if changing it slightly can resolve the issue.
• Advanced Gesture Settings: If there’s an option for advanced gestures (like 3-finger swipes), consider disabling them to see if they are interfering with the initial tap.

3. Disable or Enable "Power Saving" Mode for the Touchpad

Sometimes the laptop’s power-saving settings may cause input devices to not respond properly after periods of inactivity.

• Device Manager:
  1. Go back to Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices.
  2. Right-click on your touchpad device and select Properties.
  3. Under the Power Management tab (if available), uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
  4. Click OK.

4. Disable Fast Startup

Windows 11’s Fast Startup feature may be causing delayed response when resuming from sleep or inactivity. Try disabling it:

1. Open Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
2. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
3. Uncheck Turn on fast startup (recommended).
4. Save changes and restart.

5. Check for Interference from Third-Party Software

Third-party software (like touchpad utilities, utilities for keyboard mapping, etc.) can cause conflicts.

• Try booting into Safe Mode to see if the issue still persists. This will help identify if any background software is interfering.
  • To boot into Safe Mode:
    1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
    2. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
    3. After restarting, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings, and then click Restart.
    4. Select 4) Enable Safe Mode.

If the issue does not happen in Safe Mode, it's likely a third-party program causing the conflict.

[Garp_senchau]

6. BIOS Update

Sometimes a BIOS update is required to fix issues related to hardware recognition, including touchpads. You can check if there’s a new BIOS update available for your HP Envy:

• Visit the HP Support website and search for your laptop’s model.
• Download and install any available BIOS updates, following the provided instructions.

7. Reset the Touchpad to Default Settings

Sometimes, the touchpad settings may become misconfigured in ways that are difficult to diagnose. Resetting them to their default settings may help.

1. Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
2. Look for a Reset to default option and select it.

8. Perform a System File Check (SFC)

Corrupt system files can also lead to erratic behavior with peripherals like the touchpad.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Wait for the scan to complete, and if any issues are found, it will try to repair them.

9. Check for Windows 11 Updates

Sometimes, issues are related to the current Windows build you’re using. Make sure your system is fully updated with the latest Windows 11 updates.

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates and install any pending updates.

[Garp_senchau]

10. Test in a New User Profile

If the issue persists, it may be related to a profile-specific issue.

1. Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add account and create a new user profile.
3. Log in to the new user and see if the touchpad issue persists.

11. Hardware Test (HP PC Diagnostics)

Finally, run an HP hardware diagnostic to check for any touchpad hardware issues:

1. Turn off your laptop.
2. Power it on and immediately press the Esc key.
3. In the menu that appears, press F2 to launch HP PC Diagnostics.
4. Run the Component Test to test the touchpad.

I hope these steps help resolve the issue

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,