how to disable tap-on-click (touchpad) on windows

Question

I don't find the settings. I went to the mouse settings, but there aren't any touch-pad related settings. It shows up as a PS2 mouse.

The device manager doesn't show up any further devices so I'm not sure how to install further device drivers. I also don't really know the exact hardware in my PC nor how to find that out.

My question is mostly how to find out myself what to do. I guess I need to install something. Why doesn't it do that automatically?

I tried already Synaptics because that seems like a quite common driver, however, the setup failed with some error, so I guess it is the wrong driver - but again, I'm not sure how to figure that out.

On Linux, I would probably do something like lspci or lsusb - but not sure what I have to do on Windows.

Answer 1

A Windows equivalent to lsusb and lspci is msinfo (actually it's more like hardinfo than what you're used to) hit Ctrl+F and search for pad (as there can be a touchpad, smartpad or trackpad, depending on your hardware) and you'll find the exact hardware you have.

If that fails to give anything, you can take it a step further and can also figure out for yourself which driver is in use and how to change the settings by opening regedit and navigating to HKCU (HKEY_CURRENT_USER) for your own user's settings or HKCM (HKEY_CURRENT_MACHINE), Software, and then it depends on your hardware:

• For a generic driver, navigate to Windows, Currentversion PrecisionTouchPad
• For a Synaptics driver, navigate to Synaptics SynTPEnh, ZoneConfig
• For an Elantech driver, navigate to Elantech, SmartPad
• etc.

There you will find all the settings in a hierarchical tree in the registry and for my machine disabling (=setting values to 0) disabled any and all tapping:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad]
"TapAndDrag"=dword:00000000
"TapsEnabled"=dword:00000000
"TwoFingerTapEnabled"=dword:00000000

Answer 2

In short, there is not a native Windows command that does the same as lspci or lsusb.

Your alternative on windows is msinfo32 and extracting the vendor and product ID, highlighted below, from the Plug and Play device field:

You can then use these to lookup what the device is online, this is what Windows does itself.

A search for the highlighted device ID above tells me its a Cherry CyMotion / eVolution Series Keyboard.

---

If a device looks like the following in msinfo32:

Then the device manufacturer did not apply for a registered Vendor ID thus not allowing Windows, or yourself to deduct what the device might be and Windows has reverted to a default driver.

This is why manufactures, such as ASUS, have a website dedicated to looking up drivers for the built in devices based on the Laptops serial number.

You can read more on the Plug & Play Architecture and Driver support here.

Answer 3

I went through all the steps- Look in Control panel>Mouse. Device Mangler> disable greyed out. Attempt to install correct or missing touchpad drivers (synap or elan = device not found) Tried Reg-edits- nothing applicable. Then it occurred to me to assign the PS/2 mouse (since disable is grey out and un-install, will only re-install on boot) TO MANUAL assign the wrong driver to the PS/2 mouse. Viola- done. :)

Answer 4

Unfortunately I cannot add comments yet so this prohibits me from asking for further information without posting an answer.

If you truly can't see the touchpad settings tab within the "Mouse Properties" dialogue then I assume it's probably built in to some sort of system utility or tool your laptop came with. What make is it?

Please can you also upload the below .NFO config to somewhere like Ge.tt

"Windows key + R -> Type msinfo32 -> Click File and Save -> Upload the .NFO"

Once I get that I might be able to give you a few suggestions of places to look/applications to remove.

EDIT

Following your Msinfo, install the touchpad driver for Windows 8.1 64-bit here. - Install that reboot and see if you can now see the touchpad.

Answer 5

If you have a driver installed for your touchpad, such as a Synaptics driver (most likely), you will find a tab inside the Mouse Control Panel. It should have a section for Tapping. You can disabled it there.

Answer 6

how to disable tap-on-click (touchpad) on windows? I don't find the settings. I went to the mouse settings, but there aren't any touch-pad related settings. It shows up as a PS2 mouse.

I guess they thought the setting was common enough to put in the context-menu of the tray icon instead of in the regular driver settings dialog:

Answer 7

Follow the steps below. I can't post images as I am lacking the reputation points.

this will definitely solve your issue.

1. Download the ELAN smart pad driver for your system from your System Manufacturers Website.

2. If you are unable to find it there. You can get it from here http://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/14513/

3. Download & Install it

4. Now go to the Mouse settings in Control Panel. You will find a new ELAN tab to the far right. There you will be having settings for Enabling or Disabling tap on click as well as many other settings.

Hope this solves your issue. All the Best

Answer 8

For those of us with Elan Smart Pad, there is no option to disable the tap to click feature.

However, there is a fairly simple work-around that requires a quick registry edit.

Here's the steps that worked for me:

1. Push the Windows Key + R and type "regedit" - click ok

2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Elantech/SmartPad

3. Find the file "Tap_Enable" and double click on it

4. Change the value data from 1 to 0

Tap to click will still be enabled until you log out and then log back in. Then tap to click should now be disabled.

Answer 9

Dell Laptop with Synaptics pad under Windows 10. The Dell Mouse settings from the control panel GUI don't work; use regedit to turn off the default tap to click nonsense as follows:

1. Push the Windows Key + R and type "regedit" - click ok

2. Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Synaptics\SynTPEnh\ZoneConfig\TouchPadPS2

3. Find the value "Dual Mode"

4. Change the value data from 1 to 0