Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 Intel Core i7-1260P Touchpad Not Working Fix
Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320: Touchpad Not Working Fix
Root Causes
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Fn + F3 touchpad disable shortcut accidentally activated — the XPS 13 Plus has no physical touchpad button, making accidental disabling easy
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Precision touchpad driver corrupted or replaced by Windows Update with a generic HID driver
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Touchpad disabled in Windows Settings by a connected external mouse auto-disable setting
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Dell BIOS update changing the haptic touchpad initialization behavior on the XPS 13 Plus capacitive keyboard
Fixes
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Toggle touchpad with Fn + F3: Press Fn + F3 on the XPS 13 Plus capacitive keyboard bar to toggle the touchpad on/off. The status is indicated by a small LED near the top of the touchpad. If the LED is off, the touchpad is disabled. This single step fixes the majority of sudden touchpad failures on this model.
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Check touchpad enabled in Settings: Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and ensure the Touchpad toggle is On. Also check if Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is enabled — if disabled, the XPS 13 Plus suppresses the touchpad whenever a USB or Bluetooth mouse is detected.
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Reinstall touchpad driver from Dell Support: Visit Dell Support, enter the XPS 13 Plus 9320 service tag, and download the Touchpad driver (Alps or Synaptics). Install and restart. The XPS 13 Plus uses a haptic touchpad that requires the Dell-specific driver to function.
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Update BIOS: Dell releases BIOS updates for the XPS 13 Plus 9320 that address haptic touchpad initialization. Visit Dell Support for the latest BIOS for your 9320 service tag and install while on AC power. BIOS updates are often the definitive fix when driver reinstalls fail.
“My XPS 13 Plus touchpad stopped clicking and scrolling overnight. Pressing Fn + F3 and seeing the touchpad LED turn on was all it needed — it had been accidentally disabled.” — Rashdan Mohd Noor, UX designer
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author Ryan holds a Computer Science degree and has spent over 15 years troubleshooting Windows hardware and driver issues across major laptop brands. He writes practical, step-by-step guides for everyday users at softwaredriverdownload.com.
Why is the Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 touchpad not working?
The most common cause on the XPS 13 Plus is the touchpad being accidentally disabled via the Fn + F3 shortcut on the capacitive touch keyboard bar. Check the touchpad LED status first. Other causes include Windows Settings having the touchpad toggled off, a precision driver being replaced by a generic HID driver, or a BIOS issue affecting haptic touchpad initialization.
Does the Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 have a physical touchpad button?
No. The XPS 13 Plus 9320 uses a haptic feedback touchpad with no physical click mechanism or dedicated disable button. Clicking is simulated through vibration motors. The touchpad can only be toggled via the Fn + F3 keyboard shortcut or through Windows Settings.
Why does the Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 touchpad feel different from other laptops?
The XPS 13 Plus uses a haptic touchpad that provides simulated click feedback via vibration rather than a mechanical hinge. The touchpad surface is completely flat and does not physically depress. This design requires the Dell haptic driver to be installed for the click sensation to function correctly.
Can I use an external mouse while keeping the XPS 13 Plus touchpad enabled?
Yes. In Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Touchpad, ensure Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected is enabled. By default, Windows may disable the touchpad automatically when it detects an external mouse. Enabling this setting keeps both input methods active simultaneously.
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