If the touch screen on your HP laptop stopped working in Windows 11, the most common cause is that the touch screen device has been disabled in Device Manager. Other causes include missing drivers, a laptop model that doesn’t have touch at all, or a setting in the BIOS. This guide walks through checking whether your laptop has touch, re-enabling it, updating drivers, calibrating, and when to contact HP.
Quick Answer
Right-click Start and open Device Manager. Expand Human Interface Devices, right-click HID-compliant touch screen, and choose Enable device. Restart if touch doesn’t respond right away.
Step 1: Confirm Your Laptop Has a Touch Screen
- Go to Settings > System > About and check Pen and touch. “Full touch support” means touch hardware is present. “No pen or touch input available” means the model doesn’t have it, or it’s disabled.
- Check your model’s specifications on HP’s support site using the product number on the bottom label.
Step 2: Enable the Touch Screen in Device Manager
- Right-click Start and choose Device Manager.
- Expand Human Interface Devices.
- Find HID-compliant touch screen. A small down arrow on the icon means it’s disabled.
- Right-click it and choose Enable device.
If you see more than one HID-compliant touch screen, enable each. If none appears, click View > Show hidden devices, then Action > Scan for hardware changes.
Step 3: Update or Reinstall the Driver
- Right-click HID-compliant touch screen > Update driver > Search automatically.
- Or choose Uninstall device, then restart; Windows reinstalls it.
- Run HP Support Assistant (or download drivers from HP’s support site) to get touch, chipset and BIOS updates for your model.
- Check Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates for touch or chipset drivers.
Step 4: Check Windows Touch Settings
- In Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touch, make sure touch gestures are on.
- Calibrate: search Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input (Tablet PC Settings), click Calibrate, and follow the prompts. Click Reset if a previous calibration is off.
Step 5: Check the BIOS
Some HP models have a touch screen option in the BIOS. Restart and press F10 at startup (or Esc then F10), look under Advanced or Built-In Device Options for a touch screen setting, enable it, and save. Not all models have this option.
Other Fixes
- Clean the screen: dirt or a damaged screen protector can block touch.
- Disconnect external monitors and chargers to test; interference or display mapping can confuse touch input.
- Fix mapping on multiple displays: in Tablet PC Settings, click Setup to tell Windows which screen is the touch screen.
- Roll back a recent update if touch stopped right after one.
- Run HP’s hardware diagnostics (press F2 at startup) to test the touch screen.
If diagnostics show a hardware failure, contact HP support or a repair shop.
Turn the Touch Screen Off
To disable touch intentionally, use the same Device Manager entry and choose Disable device.
Related: Disable tablet mode in Windows 11.
Related: Enable the touch screen in Windows 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this work on other brands?
Yes. Device Manager steps are the same on any Windows 11 touch laptop; BIOS keys and support tools vary by maker.
Why did touch stop working after an update?
A driver may have been replaced. Update from HP or roll back in Device Manager’s Driver tab.
Summary
- Confirm Pen and touch support in Settings > System > About.
- Enable HID-compliant touch screen in Device Manager.
- Update drivers with HP Support Assistant or Windows Update.
- Calibrate, check BIOS, and run HP diagnostics if needed.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.