How to use the touchpad test
- Trace the pad slowly. Move one finger in long, slow lines from edge to edge, top to bottom, then in circles. Each square in the box fills as the cursor passes. Aim for 80% or more.
- Watch the line. A smooth line is good. A red segment means the cursor jumped a long way in a split second while you were moving slowly.
- Click and tap. Press the pad, then tap it lightly. Then right click: press the lower-right corner, or tap with two fingers.
- Scroll with two fingers up, down, left and right inside the box. The page itself won't move while your cursor is over it.
- Pinch two fingers apart and together. The small square in the corner grows and shrinks with your fingers.
This touchpad tester turns each of the six checks green as that part passes. Press Reset to start over, for example after cleaning the pad or changing a setting.
What this trackpad tester checks
| Check | Good result | Problem sign |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking grid | Smooth lines, the whole box fills | Cursor stops while your finger moves, or red jumps |
| Clicks and taps | Every press counts once | Missed clicks, or one press counted as a double click |
| Two-finger scroll | All four directions count, "smooth" | One direction missing, or scrolling jumps in steps |
| Pinch zoom | The square follows your fingers | No change, or zoom works only one way |
Windows, macOS and ChromeOS keep three- and four-finger gestures for themselves, so no web page can see them, this one included. Test those in your system's touchpad settings.
Touchpad not working? Fixes to try
- It is switched off. Many laptops have a function key with a touchpad symbol, often pressed together with Fn. On Windows 11, check Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Touchpad, including the option to leave the touchpad on when a mouse is connected.
- Driver problems. If the touchpad stopped after an update, install the touchpad driver from your laptop maker's support page, then restart.
- Dirt, moisture or lotion make the cursor wander. Wipe the pad with a slightly damp cloth, dry it, dry your hands and run the test again.
- Palm contact while typing causes random clicks and jumps. Most systems have palm rejection or a tap delay in the touchpad settings.
- Jumpy only while charging? Some chargers with a poor ground disturb the pad. Unplug and test on battery.
- Clicks feel stiff or the pad sits higher than before? A swelling battery underneath can push it up. Stop using the laptop and have the battery checked, because a swollen battery is a safety risk.
Trackpad test on a Mac, and Chromebook touchpads
On a MacBook, run the trackpad test the same way. If taps do nothing, open System Settings › Trackpad and turn on Tap to click. If right click doesn't work, set Secondary click to two fingers or a corner. On a Chromebook, the same options are under Settings › Device. If your touchpad passes this touchpad test online but misbehaves in one app, the problem is that app's settings, not the hardware.
Some people search for a mouse pad test or a mousepad tester when they mean the laptop touchpad. This touch pad test is that tool. For an external mouse, use the Mouse Test, and for the keys around it, the Keyboard Test.
How we tested this tool
We checked this touchpad test in Google Chrome on Windows and at a 375 px phone width by sending it the same events a touchpad produces: pointer movement across the box (the grid reached 100%), a sudden 300-pixel cursor leap (counted as a jump), left, right and middle presses and a double click, two-finger scroll events in all four directions, and pinch events as Chrome reports them (zoom grew to 2.23×). The right-click menu and page scrolling stayed blocked inside the box. We haven't yet logged results from specific laptop models. If you test yours, tell us what you found.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my touchpad not working at all?
It is often just switched off. Press the function key with the touchpad symbol (often together with Fn), then check Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Touchpad on Windows 11. Also check the option that turns the touchpad off when a mouse is connected. If it still doesn't respond, restart and update the touchpad driver from your laptop maker.
Why does my touchpad cursor jump around?
Common causes are a dirty or damp pad, resting your palm on the pad while typing, a charger with a poor ground, and outdated drivers. Clean the pad, dry your fingers and test again on battery power. A cursor that jumps in the same spot every time points to a hardware fault.
Can this touchpad test check three- and four-finger gestures?
No. Windows, macOS and ChromeOS handle three- and four-finger gestures themselves and never pass them to a web page. This test covers what a browser can see: pointer movement, clicks, two-finger scrolling and pinch.
How do I turn on right click with two fingers?
On a Mac, open System Settings, Trackpad and set Secondary click to Click or Tap with Two Fingers. On Windows 11, open Settings, Bluetooth & devices, Touchpad, Taps, and turn on Tap with two fingers to right-click.
Is a touchpad the same as a trackpad?
Yes. Touchpad is the usual word on Windows laptops and Chromebooks, trackpad is Apple's word, and some people call it a mouse pad. They are the same part and this test works for all of them.