Fixing Two-Finger Scroll Not Working on Windows 10

Two-finger scrolling is a convenient feature on Windows 10 laptops that allows you to scroll through documents, web pages, and more with just a swipe on your touchpad. However, when this feature stops working, it can be frustrating. This guide will walk you through several methods to troubleshoot and fix the two-finger scroll issue on your Windows 10 device.

Understanding the Two-Finger Scroll Issue

The two-finger scroll feature may stop working due to various reasons, including outdated or corrupted drivers, disabled touchpad settings, or conflicts with recent Windows updates. Addressing these underlying issues can restore the functionality of this essential feature.

1. Check Touchpad Settings

The first step in troubleshooting the two-finger scroll issue is to ensure that the feature is enabled in your touchpad settings.

Steps:

1. Open Settings:
   • Press Win + I to open the Settings menu.
2. Navigate to Devices:
   • Click on Devices and then select Touchpad from the left-hand menu.
3. Enable Two-Finger Scrolling:
   • Under the Scroll and zoom section, make sure that Drag two fingers to scroll is checked.
   • If it’s not, check the box to enable it.
4. Test the Two-Finger Scroll:
   • After enabling the feature, test the two-finger scroll on your touchpad to see if it’s working.

2. Update or Reinstall Touchpad Drivers

Outdated or corrupted touchpad drivers are often the cause of scrolling issues. Updating or reinstalling these drivers can resolve the problem.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager:
   • Press Win + X and select Device Manager from the menu.
2. Expand Mice and Other Pointing Devices:
   • In Device Manager, expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
3. Update Driver:
   • Right-click on your touchpad device (e.g., Synaptics, ELAN) and select Update driver.
   • Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
   • If an update is found, follow the prompts to install it.
4. Reinstall Driver (If Necessary):
   • If updating the driver doesn’t work, right-click on the touchpad device and select Uninstall device.
   • Restart your computer, and Windows should automatically reinstall the touchpad driver.

3. Roll Back the Touchpad Driver

If the two-finger scroll issue began after a recent driver update, rolling back the driver to a previous version might fix the problem.

Steps:

1. Open Device Manager:
   • Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
2. Locate Your Touchpad Driver:
   • Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section and right-click on your touchpad device.
3. Roll Back Driver:
   • Select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver.
   • Follow the prompts to revert to the previous driver version.
4. Test the Two-Finger Scroll:
   • After rolling back the driver, test the two-finger scroll to see if the issue is resolved.

4. Enable Touchpad via BIOS/UEFI Settings

In some cases, the touchpad might be disabled in the BIOS/UEFI settings, which can affect its functionality in Windows 10.

Steps:

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI:
   • Restart your computer and press the F2, Delete, or Esc key (depending on your device) to enter the BIOS/UEFI settings.
2. Navigate to Touchpad Settings:
   • Look for an option related to the touchpad under Advanced or Integrated Peripherals.
3. Enable the Touchpad:
   • Ensure that the touchpad is enabled. If it’s disabled, change the setting to Enabled.
4. Save and Exit:
   • Save your changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI. Your computer will restart, and the touchpad should now be enabled.

5. Check for Windows Updates

Keeping your Windows 10 system up to date can fix bugs and compatibility issues that might be causing the two-finger scroll to malfunction.

Steps:

1. Open Windows Update:
   • Press Win + I to open Settings.
   • Go to Update & Security > Windows Update.
2. Check for Updates:
   • Click Check for updates and install any available updates.
3. Restart Your Computer:
   • After updating, restart your computer and check if the two-finger scroll is working.

6. Perform a Clean Boot

If the two-finger scroll issue persists, performing a clean boot can help identify if a third-party application or service is causing the conflict.

Steps:

1. Open System Configuration:
   • Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. Enable Clean Boot:
   • In the System Configuration window, go to the Services tab.
   • Check Hide all Microsoft services and click Disable all.
   • Go to the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
   • Disable all startup items.
3. Restart Your Computer:
   • Restart your computer to enter clean boot mode.
4. Test the Two-Finger Scroll:
   • If the feature works in clean boot mode, gradually re-enable services to identify the cause.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the “Two Finger Scroll Not Working” issue in Windows 10 and restore full functionality to your touchpad. Whether it’s adjusting touchpad settings, updating drivers, or checking BIOS/UEFI settings, these methods cover a wide range of potential solutions to this common problem. Regularly updating your system and drivers can help prevent such issues from occurring in the future.