Windows 10 and Windows 8 work perfectly with touchscreens. Also, many Windows laptops, 2-in-1 devices, and tablets have built-in touchscreens. However, you can easily enable the touchscreen yourself if it doesn't turn on out of the box.
To learn how to enable touchscreen in Windows 10, this article is for you.
Do you need a touchscreen in Windows 10?
Windows 10 laptops and 2-in-1 devices don't technically require a touchscreen. This means you may encounter situations where you find the touchscreen disabled. This is because disabling the touchscreen can prevent inadvertent data entry. This can happen, for example, by touching items you don't want to touch. That's why some people prefer to do without this feature.
The main reason to enable touchscreen on a Windows 10 device is that it can make certain tasks easier. Touching the screen generally takes less time than moving a mouse and clicking with a small trackpad.
In some cases, a touchscreen and compatible stylus can let you use a Windows 10 laptop, 2-in-1, or tablet in the same way you use a drawing tablet. Alternatively, if you're into graphic design, this is a great way to get extra functionality on your Windows 10 touchscreen device.
How to Enable Touchscreen in Windows 10
To enable touchscreen in Windows 10, you need to access Device Manager through the Control Panel. However, it's a bit faster to access it directly through the taskbar search box. These instructions will work on Windows 10 and Windows 8 computers . However, if you have a Windows 7 computer , the process is different.
So here is how to enable touchscreen in Windows 10:
- Click the search box in the taskbar;
- Enter Device Manager;
- Click Device Manager and the arrow next to Human Interface Devices;
- Tap the HID-compatible touchscreen;
- Click Action at the top of the window, then click Activate Device;
- Finally, make sure your touchscreen is working.
What if you don't see an HID-compliant touchscreen?
If you don't see an entry for an HID-compliant touchscreen in Device Manager, there are two possible reasons. First, Windows doesn't know you have a touchscreen, which can be fixed by scanning for hardware changes. Second, you don't have a touchscreen.
So, if your touchscreen has never worked and you don't see a list of HID-compliant touchscreens, contact your device's manufacturer. Give them your product number and they'll be able to tell you if your device should have a touchscreen or not. Many laptop lines include similar versions with and without touchscreens. However, if you're sure your device should have a touchscreen, here's how to ask Windows to check it:
- If you haven't already opened Device Manager, click the search box on the taskbar;
- Type Device Manager and click on it to open it again;
- Select and click the arrow next to Human Interface Devices to expand the list. Make sure you don't have an HID touchscreen;
- Click Action, then Scan for hardware changes;
- Check the list of human interface devices to see if there is an HID-compliant touchscreen.
If the Windows Setup Wizard detects your touchscreen, check if it's working. If not, skip to the next section to check for driver updates. If it doesn't find your touchscreen, you may have a hardware problem—or your device may not have a touchscreen at all.
How to update your touchscreen driver?
In some cases, you may have a touchscreen that doesn't work even after turning it on. If you see a list of HID-compliant touchscreens in Device Manager - and your touchscreen still doesn't work after turning it on - you might have a driver or hardware issue.
In situations where the touchscreen is not working due to a driver issue, you can fix it by updating the driver. To do this, run Windows Update or contact an experienced professional for special instructions or update tools. Here's how you can update your touchscreen driver to enable the touchscreen:
- If you haven't already opened Device Manager, click the search box on the taskbar;
- Type Device Manager and click Device Manager to open it again;
- Tap the arrow next to Human Interface Devices to expand the list;
- Click on the HID-compatible touchscreen.
- Tap “Update Driver Software” and then “Search automatically for updated driver software.”
- If the Driver Update Wizard finds a new driver, install it;
- Check if your touchscreen is working.
However, if your touchscreen still isn't working, try running Windows Update.
How to enable touchscreen in Windows 7?
Touchscreens work differently in Windows 7 and later versions of Windows. If you have Windows 7, you need to enable the touchscreen through the Pen and Touchscreen menu instead of Device Manager. This menu is accessible through the Control Panel. Here's how to enable your touchscreen if you have Windows 7:
- Click the Start button and then Control Panel;
- Click on Pen & Touch;
- Click on the Touch tab;
- Check the Use your finger as an input device box.
The box must be checked for the touchscreen to work. If it's already tested and your touchscreen isn't working, you may have a hardware or driver issue. Finally, make sure your touchscreen is working.
Conclusion
In this article, we've explained in detail how to activate your touchscreen. Indeed, you have this option in Windows 7, 8, and 10. We hope you found this guide helpful. However, Electronic Depot offers repair services in multiple disciplines, including:
- Macbook repair,
- Support for mobile phones,
- Touch screen repair,
- Water damage coverage,
- Tablet and motherboard repair.
To ensure quality service, please contact us , as we also carry out home visits.
