Few things derail a creative workflow faster than a dead touchpad. You’re mid-project on your ASUS Zenbook, editing footage or tweaking a layout, and suddenly the trackpad or NumberPad overlay refuses to respond. It’s a frustratingly common issue, and it pulls you right out of your zone.
The most common reasons your ASUS Zenbook touchpad or NumberPad stops working include a disabled touchpad setting (often triggered accidentally by a keyboard shortcut), outdated or corrupted drivers, incorrect BIOS configuration, or a loose internal ribbon cable. In most cases, you can fix this yourself in under fifteen minutes without opening the laptop.
This guide walks you through every fix, from the simplest toggle to a full system reset. We’ll cover hardware checks, driver reinstalls, BIOS adjustments, and NumberPad-specific troubleshooting so you can get back to your creative work.
Why Your ASUS Zenbook Touchpad or NumberPad Stops Working
Your Zenbook touchpad and NumberPad overlay rely on a chain of components working together: the hardware itself, a ribbon cable connection to the motherboard, the correct driver software, Windows settings, and BIOS-level configuration. A break anywhere in that chain kills functionality.
Here are the most frequent culprits:
- Accidental keyboard shortcut: Pressing
Fn + F6(orFn + F9on some models) disables the touchpad entirely. It’s surprisingly easy to hit this combo without noticing. - Driver corruption or mismatch: Windows Update sometimes installs a generic Precision Touchpad driver that doesn’t support ASUS’s NumberPad overlay. The overlay then disappears while basic trackpad functions may still work, or everything breaks.
- BIOS setting toggled off: Some Zenbook models have an internal touchpad toggle buried in BIOS/UEFI. A firmware update or battery reset can flip this to “Disabled.”
- Physical connection issue: If you’ve recently had your Zenbook serviced or opened for a RAM/SSD upgrade, the touchpad ribbon cable may not be fully seated.
- Windows configuration conflict: Tablet mode, third-party mouse software, or a connected external mouse can override your touchpad settings.
Understanding the root cause saves you time. Work through the fixes below in order, they’re arranged from quickest to most involved. Most users solve it within the first three sections.
“It’s about the most hideous setting ASUS could possibly come up with… By making [the NumberPad] mandatory unless you install a piece of software to disable it, it renders all ASUS laptops sub-standard.” r/ASUS
Check for Hardware and Connection Issues
Before you touch any software settings, rule out a physical problem. Connect an external USB mouse so you can still control your Zenbook while troubleshooting.
Start by inspecting the touchpad surface. Look for visible damage, cracks, or warping. On ASUS Zenbook 14 and 16 OLED models, the touchpad glass sits flush with the palm rest. Even a slight frame bend from a drop can unseat the digitizer layer underneath.
Next, try a hard restart. Shut down completely (don’t just close the lid), then hold the power button for 15 seconds. This drains residual charge from the motherboard and can reset stuck hardware states. Power back on and test the touchpad immediately.
If you’re comfortable opening your laptop, check the ribbon cable. Power off, disconnect the charger, and remove the bottom panel screws. The touchpad connects to the motherboard via a flat ribbon cable with a ZIF (zero insertion force) connector. Flip up the tiny locking tab, reseat the ribbon, and press the tab back down. This fix is especially relevant if your Zenbook was recently serviced.
For anyone who’d rather not open their machine, skip ahead to the software fixes. But if you’ve tried everything else and nothing works, a loose cable is a very likely answer. One user on the ASUS Community Forum reported that reseating the cable after a screen replacement instantly restored their Zenbook UX3402’s touchpad.
If you frequently work at a desk, consider adding an Logitech MX Master 3S as a reliable backup input device. It pairs over Bluetooth and USB-C, and having a secondary pointing device means a dead touchpad never stops your work completely.
Re-Enable the Touchpad via Keyboard Shortcut or Settings
This is the fix that catches most people off guard. You may have simply disabled your touchpad without realizing it.
Press Fn + F6 on your keyboard. On most ASUS Zenbook models, this toggles the touchpad on and off. Some older models use Fn + F9. You should see a brief on-screen notification confirming the touchpad state. If nothing appears, your function keys may be set to “media key” mode, try pressing F6 alone without Fn.
If the shortcut doesn’t help, check Windows Settings directly. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Make sure the touchpad toggle is set to “On.” While you’re here, also expand the “Taps” section and confirm that “Tap with a single finger to single-click” is enabled. Sometimes a Windows update resets these preferences.
There’s another hidden setting worth checking. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and look for the option “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected.” If this is unchecked and you have any Bluetooth mouse paired (even one that’s powered off but still in your device list), Windows may disable the touchpad.
As one Reddit user in r/ASUS put it:
“I spent two hours thinking my touchpad was dead. Turned out my Bluetooth mouse was paired but in my backpack, and Windows was disabling the trackpad because of it.”
If you’ve confirmed the touchpad is enabled in both the keyboard shortcut and Windows Settings and it still doesn’t respond, the issue is almost certainly driver-related.
Update or Reinstall Touchpad and NumberPad Drivers
Driver problems cause the majority of Zenbook touchpad and NumberPad failures. Here’s how to fix them properly.
Uninstalling the Driver
Open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start button. Expand “Human Interface Devices” and look for entries like “ASUS Precision Touchpad” or “HID-compliant touch pad.” Right-click the touchpad entry and select “Uninstall device.” Check the box that says “Attempt to remove the driver for this device” before confirming.
Also check under “Mice and other pointing devices” for any duplicate or conflicting entries. Remove those too. Once done, restart your Zenbook. Windows will attempt to reinstall a basic driver on reboot. Test the touchpad at this point.
If basic trackpad movement works after the restart but you’ve lost the NumberPad overlay, that’s expected. The generic Windows driver doesn’t support ASUS’s NumberPad feature. You need the ASUS-specific driver.
For ongoing driver maintenance, a tool like Driver Booster can monitor your installed drivers and flag outdated versions automatically. It's especially useful if you run multiple ASUS machines or ProArt workstations and want to keep everything current without manual checks.
Installing the Latest Driver from ASUS
Visit the ASUS Download Center and enter your exact Zenbook model number. Select your operating system (Windows 11 or Windows 10) and navigate to the “Touchpad” or “Pointing Device” category.
Download the latest ASUS Precision Touchpad driver. For NumberPad functionality, also download the “ASUS NumberPad” driver, it’s listed separately. Install the touchpad driver first, restart, then install the NumberPad driver and restart again.
Here’s a comparison of the driver types you might encounter:
| Driver Type | Source | NumberPad Support | Gesture Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generic Windows HID | Windows Update | No | Basic only |
| ASUS Precision Touchpad | ASUS Download Center | No (separate install) | Full multi-touch |
| ASUS NumberPad Driver | ASUS Download Center | Yes | N/A (overlay only) |
| Third-party (Synaptics/ELAN) | Manufacturer site | Varies | Partial |
Always use the ASUS-specific drivers. Generic alternatives break the NumberPad overlay and can limit gesture customization.
Adjust BIOS Settings and Windows Configuration
If fresh drivers didn’t solve your problem, check your BIOS. Restart your Zenbook and tap F2 repeatedly during boot to enter UEFI/BIOS setup.
Navigate to the Advanced tab and look for an “Internal Pointing Device” or “Touchpad” option. Make sure it’s set to Enabled. On some Zenbook Pro and Zenbook S models, this setting exists under a “Special Key Function” submenu. Save and exit BIOS with F10.
BIOS updates can occasionally reset this toggle. If you recently updated your firmware through MyASUS, it’s worth double-checking. ASUS documents this behavior in their official FAQ pages.
Back in Windows, check one more thing. Open Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers. Look for any unknown or errored devices. Right-click and troubleshoot them. Also run the Windows built-in Hardware Troubleshooter via Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters > Hardware and Devices.
Finally, check if a recent Windows Update caused the regression. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update History > Uninstall updates. If the touchpad stopped working on a specific date, uninstall any updates from that date and test again. You can pause future updates temporarily while you wait for a patched version.
Video Credit: ASUS / YouTube
Troubleshoot the NumberPad Overlay Specifically
The NumberPad overlay is a feature unique to ASUS. It turns your touchpad into an illuminated numeric keypad when you long-press the NumberPad icon in the top-right corner of the trackpad. If the touchpad works fine as a pointer but the NumberPad overlay won’t activate, that’s a separate issue.
First, confirm the ASUS NumberPad app is installed. Open your Start menu and search for “NumberPad” or “ASUS NumberPad.” If it doesn’t appear, the software was either never installed or got removed during a system cleanup. Reinstall it from the ASUS Download Center using your model number.
Second, check that the NumberPad driver (different from the touchpad driver) is present in Device Manager. It usually shows under “Human Interface Devices” as “ASUS Number Pad” or similar. If it’s missing or has a yellow warning icon, uninstall and reinstall using the steps from the previous section.
Third, brightness matters. The NumberPad overlay uses built-in LEDs beneath the touchpad glass. Long-press the NumberPad icon to cycle through brightness levels. In bright environments, the lowest setting can be nearly invisible, you might think it’s not working when it actually is.
Fourth, make sure no conflicting software is intercepting touch input. Apps like TouchPad Blocker or third-party gesture tools can prevent the NumberPad from activating. Temporarily disable any such software and test.
For your desk setup, a physical number pad can serve as a great backup. The Logitech MX Keys Mini Wireless Keyboard pairs well with Zenbook workflows and gives you dedicated number keys when the overlay acts up, a practical workaround while you troubleshoot.
Perform a System Reset or Contact ASUS Support
If you’ve exhausted every software fix, two options remain: a Windows reset or professional support.
A Windows reset reinstalls the operating system while optionally keeping your files. Go to Settings > System > Recovery > Reset this PC. Choose “Keep my files” to preserve your creative projects, then select “Local reinstall.” This process takes 30–60 minutes and eliminates any driver conflicts, registry corruption, or software interference causing the touchpad failure.
Before resetting, back up your work. Copy critical project files to an external SSD or cloud storage. A reset won’t always keep application settings, so note your custom configurations for apps like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Photoshop.
If a reset doesn’t restore touchpad functionality, you’re likely dealing with a hardware defect. Contact ASUS Support directly through the MyASUS app or by calling their support line. If your Zenbook is under warranty, ASUS covers touchpad hardware failures at no cost. Provide your serial number and describe the troubleshooting steps you’ve already completed, this speeds up the process significantly.
For Zenbook models still under the standard one-year warranty (or extended ASUS Premium Care), repair turnaround typically runs 5–10 business days. Keep your proof of purchase handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my ASUS Zenbook touchpad not working?
The most common reasons include an accidentally triggered keyboard shortcut (Fn + F6 or Fn + F9) that disables the touchpad, outdated or corrupted drivers, a BIOS setting toggled off, a loose internal ribbon cable, or a Windows configuration conflict such as a paired Bluetooth mouse overriding touchpad input.
How do I re-enable the touchpad on my ASUS Zenbook?
Press Fn + F6 (or Fn + F9 on some models) to toggle the touchpad back on. If that doesn’t work, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad in Windows and make sure the toggle is set to On. Also confirm that “Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected” is checked.
Why is my ASUS Zenbook NumberPad overlay not activating?
If your touchpad works as a pointer but the NumberPad overlay won’t turn on, the ASUS NumberPad app or its dedicated driver may be missing. Search for “ASUS NumberPad” in your Start menu and check Device Manager for the driver. Reinstall both from the ASUS Download Center using your exact model number.
How do I reinstall ASUS Zenbook touchpad drivers?
Open Device Manager, expand Human Interface Devices, right-click the touchpad entry, and select Uninstall device. Check the box to remove the driver, then restart. Next, visit the ASUS Download Center, enter your model number, and install the ASUS Precision Touchpad driver followed by the ASUS NumberPad driver separately.
Can a BIOS update cause the ASUS Zenbook touchpad to stop working?
Yes. BIOS or firmware updates can reset the internal touchpad toggle to Disabled. To fix this, restart your Zenbook, press F2 to enter UEFI/BIOS setup, navigate to the Advanced tab, and ensure the Internal Pointing Device or Touchpad option is set to Enabled. Save changes with F10.
Does ASUS warranty cover Zenbook touchpad hardware failures?
Yes, if your Zenbook is within the standard one-year warranty or covered by ASUS Premium Care, touchpad hardware defects are repaired at no cost. Contact ASUS Support through the MyASUS app or by phone, provide your serial number, and expect a typical repair turnaround of 5–10 business days.
Source:
- Official Guide: How to Fix Touchpad Abnormal Problems
- Zenbook NumberPad 2.0 Driver Conflict after Windows 11 Update
- ProArt P16 Touchpad Driver ‘Code 10’ Fix
- ASUS Precision Touchpad Driver Missing from Device Manager
- Troubleshooting OLED Screen Dimming & Driver Issues on ASUS Laptops
- Driver Booster Support for ASUS I2C and HID Devices
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Susan is a professional writer. She has been a writer for eight years and has always been so fulfilled with her work! She desires to share helpful, reliable, and unbiased information and tips about tech and gadgets. She hopes to offer informative content that can answer users’ questions and help them fix their problems.