How to improve trackpad accuracy on the Windows 10 notebook

The trackpad is one of the essential pieces for a notebook use experience, but not all the models please it. If your laptop component is patchy and you avoid fluid handling of the cursor on the screen, an alternative is to use the Microsoft Precision Trackpad feature to correct the problem. The small software replaces the default drivers installed by the machine manufacturer, optimizing touch sensitivity and allowing the use of gestures in Windows 10.

How to reactivate the notebook's touchpad without a mouse

Before downloading the new drivers from Microsoft you need to find out the manufacturer of the trackpad installed on your computer. Regardless of the notebook brand, the component is usually from ELAN or Synaptics. Learn how to check in Windows 10.

Learn how to set up the notebook's trackpad for improved accuracy

Step 1. Right click on the start symbol and choose "Device Manager";

Access the Windows Device Manager

Step 2. Look for the item "Mouse and other pointing devices" and click on "trackpad" or "touchpad" with the right mouse button. In the menu, select "Properties". On the next screen, check the manufacturer's name.

Then, download the ELAN trackpad drivers;

Discover the trackpad manufacturer

Step 3. Unzip the downloaded ZIP file to an easy-to-find folder. Back to Device Manager, find your trackpad again and now click to update the driver. Choose to install a downloaded driver on your computer;

Update the driver manually

Step 4. Click "Allow me to choose from a list of drivers available on my computer";

Access the downloaded driver on the PC

Step 5. Click "With Disk" and then "Browse" to locate the folder containing the driver;

Search for the unzipped folder

Step 6. Inside the driver folder, select the file "Autorun.inf";

Choose Autorun from the drivers folder

Step 7. Check "Synaptics pointing device" (or a similar name for ELAN driver) and go ahead. If a warning screen appears, give it okay and continue without fear;

Advance to install

Step 8. Restart the computer to apply the changes. Then go to your Windows settings and click on the "Devices" menu;

Access the Windows Devices menu

Step 9. In the "Touchpad" option, verify that Windows now states "Your computer has a precision touchpad".

Confirm that the Microsoft Precision Trackpad is working

Bug fixes

The Precision Trackpad installation method may fail, so it is important to perform a new component driver update, this time in automatic mode - that is, without using a downloaded driver. Depending on the computer model, the driver may also be disabled after returning from sleep.

In these cases, you need to hibernate or restart the PC to regain more sensitivity on the touchpad. In contrast, the hack promises to bring any Windows 10-based notebook the system's gesture commands: smooth scrolling, three fingers upward for expanded view, three down to minimize everything, among others.

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