Lenovo laptops are popular among Ubuntu users because they are reliable, affordable, and offer great performance. However, some users have reported that their Lenovo touchpad is not working on Ubuntu. This can be a frustrating issue, especially if you rely heavily on your touchpad. This article will provide you with guidance on how to troubleshoot and fix the Lenovo touchpad issue on Ubuntu.
Hardware Configuration
Before we dive into the software configuration, let's discuss the hardware configuration. Some Lenovo laptops come with a switch that can be used to disable the touchpad. Make sure that the touchpad switch is turned on.
Another possible cause of the issue could be a hardware failure. To check if your touchpad is working, you can connect an external mouse. If the external mouse works, the problem could be with the touchpad hardware.
Ubuntu Configuration
Ubuntu is designed to work with a wide variety of hardware, including Lenovo touchpads. There are several common issues that can prevent the touchpad from working on Ubuntu.
Ensure that your system is up-to-date and all the necessary drivers are installed. You can do this through the following command:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
After updating the system, try restarting your laptop and check if the touchpad is working.
Check the touchpad settings on Ubuntu. Go to the "Settings" application, then "Devices" and "Mouse & Touchpad." Ensure that the touchpad setting is turned on and that the cursor speed is set correctly.
If the above solutions don't work, you can try disabling the touchpad and then enabling it again. Open the terminal and type the following command:
sudo modprobe -r psmouse
sudo modprobe psmouse proto=imps
This should disable and re-enable the touchpad. If the touchpad still doesn't work, try a different protocol.
Editing xorg.conf file
If the touchpad still isn't working, try the following:
Open the terminal and type the following command:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
If the xorg.conf file does not exist, create it using the following command:
sudo touch /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Add the following lines to the xorg.conf file:
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
MatchIsTouchpad "on"
Option "TapButton1" "1"
Option "TapButton2" "2"
Option "TapButton3" "3"
Option "VertEdgeScroll" "on"
Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "on"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "on"
Option "HorizTwoFingerScroll" "on"
Option "CircularScrolling" "on"
Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"
EndSection
Save the file and restart the laptop.
This will force the laptop to use Synaptics drivers for the touchpad. If this still doesn't work, try using a different driver or modifying the options to match your touchpad's specifications.
Conclusion
Fixing the Lenovo touchpad issue on Ubuntu should not be difficult. With a few simple steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the problem and get your touchpad working again. Start by checking the hardware configuration of your laptop, then move on to Ubuntu configuration. If all else fails, try modifying the xorg.conf file. If you're not sure what to do, you can always seek help from Ubuntu forums or your local IT support team.
Hardware Configuration
Sometimes, the touchpad switch on Lenovo laptops can be accidentally turned off by the user. To check if this is the issue, look for a switch on the laptop (usually located near the touchpad) that resembles a touchpad with a diagonal line through it. If this switch is turned off, then turning it back on may solve the issue.
Another hardware issue that may cause the touchpad to stop working is a loose or disconnected cable. If you are comfortable with opening up your laptop, you can check to see if the touchpad cable is connected properly to the motherboard. If it appears to be loose or disconnected, try reconnecting it and see if that resolves the issue.
Ubuntu Configuration
Ubuntu comes with a built-in tool called “evtest”, which can be used to verify that the touchpad is being detected by the system. To use this tool, open a terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install evtest
sudo evtest
This will open the "evtest" tool. Use the arrow keys to navigate to the touchpad device and press Enter. If the touchpad is being detected by the system, you should see a list of events that it generates as you interact with the touchpad.
If the touchpad appears to be working, but the cursor is not moving, there may be an issue with Ubuntu's mouse settings. One thing to check is the "mouse acceleration" setting. This setting affects how quickly the cursor moves when you move the touchpad. To adjust it, go to the "Settings" application, then "Devices" and "Mouse & Touchpad". From there, adjust the "Pointer Speed" slider to your preference.
If the touchpad appears to be working, but some of its features (such as scrolling) are not functioning properly, there may be an issue with Ubuntu's driver for the touchpad. One thing to try is to install a different driver. Ubuntu typically uses the "libinput" driver for touchpads, but you can try installing the "xserver-xorg-input-synaptics" driver instead. To install it, open a terminal and type the following command:
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics
Once installed, restart your computer and see if the touchpad functionality has improved.
Editing xorg.conf file
If disabling and re-enabling the touchpad using the above commands does not work, you can try modifying the xorg.conf file. This file contains settings that control how Ubuntu interacts with your hardware.
To modify the xorg.conf file, follow these steps:
Open a terminal and type the following command:
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.confIf xorg.conf does not exist, create it using the following command:
sudo touch /etc/X11/xorg.confIn the xorg.conf file, add the following lines:
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "touchpad"
Driver "synaptics"
MatchIsTouchpad "on"
Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"
Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "off"
Option "VertTwoFingerScroll" "on"
EndSection
- Save the file and restart your computer.
These lines set the driver for the touchpad to "synaptics" and enable two-finger scrolling. If this doesn't work, you can try adding or modifying other options to match the specifications of your touchpad.
In conclusion, by checking the hardware configuration, Ubuntu configuration, and if necessary, editing the xorg.conf file, you should be able to troubleshoot and fix the Lenovo touchpad issue on Ubuntu. Fortunately, once you have solved the issue, you can continue to use your reliable and high-performance Lenovo laptop with Ubuntu without any problems.
Popular questions
- What is the first step to take when troubleshooting Lenovo touchpad issues on Ubuntu?
The first step is to check the touchpad switch on the Lenovo laptop to ensure that it is turned on.
- What is the "evtest" tool and how is it used to troubleshoot touchpad issues on Ubuntu?
The "evtest" tool is a built-in tool in Ubuntu that verifies if the touchpad is being detected by the system. It can be used by opening a terminal and typing "sudo apt-get install evtest" followed by "sudo evtest". From there, users can navigate to the touchpad device and view events generated by interactions with the touchpad.
- What driver does Ubuntu normally use for touchpads and what is an alternative driver to consider using if the touchpad is not working properly?
Ubuntu normally uses the "libinput" driver for touchpads. An alternative driver to consider using is the "xserver-xorg-input-synaptics" driver.
- What is the purpose of the xorg.conf file and how can it be edited to adjust touchpad settings?
The xorg.conf file contains settings that control how Ubuntu interacts with hardware. It can be edited by opening a terminal and typing "sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf" followed by adding or modifying certain lines of code to adjust touchpad settings.
- If none of the aforementioned solutions works, what other resources are available for troubleshooting Lenovo touchpad issues on Ubuntu?
If none of the aforementioned solutions works, other resources available for troubleshooting Lenovo touchpad issues on Ubuntu include Ubuntu forums and local IT support teams.
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FAQs
How do I enable touchpad in Ubuntu 20.04 terminal? ›
Open the Activities overview and start typing Mouse & Touchpad. Click on Mouse & Touchpad to open the panel. In the Touchpad section, make sure the Touchpad switch is set to on.
How do I fix my touchpad on Ubuntu? ›Start by going into Settings and selecting “Mouse & Touchpad.” Depending on the distro, you might not see a separate Touchpad option, which is the case with mine. In this instance, the mouse and touchpad are seen as the same thing. If you do see a Touchpad option below the Mouse section, ensure it's enabled.
Why is my touchpad not responding in Ubuntu? ›Disable runtime power management of the Touchpad device and check if the issue persists. Look for your Touchpad device in /proc/bus/input/devices. The line starts with S: is the path of the Touchpad device, the full path will be something like /sys/devices/platform/i8042/serio1/input/input5/power/control.
How do you fix an unresponsive touchpad on a Lenovo laptop? ›- Search for touchpad and select Turn the touchpad on or off. Use Windows key + S to open search options.
- Make sure the touchpad toggle is set to On. Make sure the Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected option is checked if a mouse is connected. Use the Tab key to select the Touchpad option.