How to Replace a Touchpad on a Laptop

Touchpads are used on laptops to control the cursor without the need for an external mouse, and are especially useful when your workspace is limited. A touchpad can fail for many reasons. Often it is just from repetitive use or using too much pressure, which can damage the mechanism the touchpad uses to detect where it is being pressed. Replacement requires disassembly of most of the laptop. You should save all the screws and take note of the procedure so you can reverse it to reassemble the laptop after the new touchpad is installed.

• 1

  Power the laptop down and disconnect any cables and devices. Place the laptop face down and remove the battery.

• 2

  Turn the laptop right-side up. To remove the keyboard, look along the seam that separates the keyboard from the case. Locate a series of small tabs that keep the keyboard in place.

• 3

  Use the flathead screwdriver to gently pry the keyboard out from its seat. Starting with the broadest side of the keyboard, work your way along the outer edge. When the keyboard is completely free from the case, gently tilt it to one side and look for a ribbon cable. Lift the small latch that connects the keyboard to the computer and slide the ribbon cable out.

• 4

  Lift the keyboard away from the case and set it aside. Use the Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screws beneath the keyboard that holds the top of the case down and prevents access to the touchpad.

• 5

  Remove the top case assembly from the laptop by prying with the flathead screwdriver as necessary. Disconnect the touchpad from the motherboard. Remove the cables and lift it out to free it completely. Install the new touchpad by reconnecting the cables in the same order. Reassemble the laptop by reversing the previous steps.