How to Get Cursor Back on Laptop Windows 11: A Quick Guide

Have you ever opened your laptop only to find that your mouse cursor has completely disappeared? You move your trackpad or external mouse, but nothing happens — no pointer, no movement. Frustrating, right? Don’t worry — this problem is surprisingly common, especially on Windows 11 laptops, and it’s often easy to fix once you know where to look.

In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to get the cursor back on your laptop running Windows 11, covering both simple and advanced troubleshooting methods. Whether you use a touchpad, external mouse, or touchscreen, this guide will help you bring your pointer back in no time.

Table of Contents

Why Does the Cursor Disappear on Windows 11?

Before diving into fixes, it helps to understand why your cursor might disappear. Several factors can cause this:

Possible Cause	Description
Disabled Touchpad	The touchpad may be accidentally turned off via keyboard shortcut or settings.
Driver Issues	Outdated, missing, or corrupted mouse/touchpad drivers can stop the cursor from appearing.
External Mouse Glitches	A faulty USB or Bluetooth mouse can override your touchpad.
Display or Input Settings	Hidden pointer settings or multiple display setups can hide the cursor.
System Updates or Bugs	A Windows update may temporarily disrupt pointer functionality.

Understanding the cause makes troubleshooting faster and more accurate.

Quick Fixes to Get Your Cursor Back

Before we dive into advanced solutions, try these quick and easy fixes that often solve the problem immediately:

Press the Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B → This refreshes your graphics driver and sometimes restores the cursor instantly.
Try connecting a USB mouse → If your touchpad is malfunctioning, using a physical mouse might bring the pointer back.
Restart your laptop → Simple, but effective. Temporary glitches often vanish after a reboot.
Press Fn + F3/F5/F7/F9 → (The key varies by laptop brand) to toggle your touchpad on or off.
Unplug all external devices → Sometimes, peripherals can interfere with input devices.

If none of these work, let’s go step-by-step.

Step-by-Step Guide to Restore the Mouse Cursor in Windows 11

Step 1: Check if Your Touchpad Is Disabled

One of the most common reasons your cursor disappears on Windows 11 laptops is a disabled touchpad.

Here’s how to check:

Press Windows + I to open Settings.
Go to Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad.
Ensure the Touchpad toggle is turned On.
If it’s off, toggle it back on and test your cursor.

💡 Tip: Some laptops have a dedicated touchpad button near the trackpad — make sure it’s not accidentally pressed.

Step 2: Enable Touchpad with Keyboard Shortcut

Most laptop brands include a function key shortcut to toggle the touchpad on and off. It’s easy to press it by accident.

Common shortcuts by brand:

Brand	Shortcut Key
HP	Fn + F7 or F9
Dell	Fn + F3
Lenovo	Fn + F6 or F8
Asus	Fn + F9
Acer	Fn + F7

Press the correct combination and check if your cursor reappears.

Step 3: Reconnect or Replace Your External Mouse

If you’re using a USB or Bluetooth mouse:

For USB Mouse:

Unplug the mouse and plug it into a different USB port.
Try it on another computer to confirm if it’s working.

For Bluetooth Mouse:

Press Windows + I → Bluetooth & devices.
Remove and re-pair your Bluetooth mouse.
Replace the batteries if necessary.

Still no cursor? Move on to the driver steps below.

Step 4: Update or Reinstall Mouse Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a top reason for cursor not showing in Windows 11.

To update your mouse drivers:

Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
Right-click your mouse or touchpad device and choose Update driver.
Select Search automatically for drivers.

If the issue persists:

Choose Uninstall device, then restart your laptop.
Windows will automatically reinstall the correct driver.

Step 5: Use Device Manager to Enable Mouse Drivers

Sometimes, your pointing device might be disabled in Device Manager.

Press Windows + X → Device Manager.
Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
If you see a downward arrow icon, right-click and select Enable device.
Reboot your computer.

Step 6: Change Pointer Settings in Windows 11

Sometimes the pointer is technically active but invisible due to display or pointer settings.

To check pointer settings:

Open Control Panel → Hardware and Sound → Mouse.
Go to the Pointers tab.
Make sure the Scheme is set to Windows Default (system scheme).
Click Apply → OK.

You can also:

Enable Pointer trails temporarily under the “Pointer Options” tab to make it easier to spot.

Step 7: Run Windows Troubleshooter

Windows 11 includes built-in troubleshooters for hardware problems.

Press Windows + I → System → Troubleshoot → Other troubleshooters.
Locate and run the Bluetooth and Hardware and Devices troubleshooters.
Follow the on-screen instructions and apply suggested fixes.

Step 8: Boot into Safe Mode

Booting into Safe Mode loads Windows with minimal drivers, which helps identify software conflicts.

To enter Safe Mode:

Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and hit Enter.
In the Boot tab, check Safe boot and choose Minimal.
Restart your PC.
If your cursor reappears, a third-party app or driver may be the cause.

After testing, return to normal mode by unchecking Safe boot.

Step 9: Perform a System Restore (if all else fails)

If your cursor disappeared after a recent update or driver installation, you can restore your system to an earlier point.

Press Windows + R, type rstrui, and hit Enter.
Choose Recommended restore or select a specific restore point.
Follow the prompts to revert system settings.

Your files will stay intact, but system settings will roll back to when the cursor worked properly.

Extra Fixes for Touchscreen Laptops

If your laptop has a touchscreen, there are a few additional things to try:

Disable Tablet Mode
- Go to Settings → System → Tablet and choose Desktop mode.
Recalibrate Touchscreen
- Search for Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input → Tap Calibrate → Follow the prompts.
Update Touchscreen Drivers
- Open Device Manager → Human Interface Devices → HID-compliant touch screen → Right-click → Update driver.

How to Prevent the Cursor from Disappearing Again

You’ve fixed it — great! Now let’s ensure it doesn’t happen again.

✅ Keep drivers updated — Regularly check for driver updates via Windows Update or your manufacturer’s site.
✅ Avoid accidental touchpad disable shortcuts — Learn your laptop’s specific Fn key combo.
✅ Use stable USB/Bluetooth connections — Avoid cheap dongles or unstable receivers.
✅ Update Windows regularly — Bug fixes often resolve hardware detection issues.
✅ Clean your touchpad/mouse — Dust or moisture can cause sensitivity issues.

🧩 Key Takeaways

Step	What to Do	Why It Helps
1	Enable touchpad in Settings	Fixes accidental disablement
2	Use keyboard shortcut	Re-enables touchpad quickly
3	Update drivers	Resolves corrupted or outdated drivers
4	Run troubleshooters	Detects automatic fixes
5	Safe Mode or Restore	Identifies deeper system issues

🏁 Conclusion

Losing your cursor on a Windows 11 laptop can be a headache, but now you know exactly how to fix it. Start with simple checks — like toggling the touchpad or reconnecting your mouse — then move on to driver updates and pointer settings if needed.

By following this step-by-step guide, you should have your mouse cursor back and working perfectly in just a few minutes. Remember to keep your system updated and take note of your laptop’s special touchpad shortcuts to avoid future mishaps.

❓ FAQs

1. Why did my cursor suddenly disappear on Windows 11?

It usually happens because the touchpad or mouse driver is disabled, outdated, or conflicting with other input devices.

2. How do I bring back the cursor using the keyboard?

Press Fn + F7/F9 (depending on your brand) or Windows + Ctrl + Shift + B to refresh the display and restore the cursor.

3. Can I fix this without a mouse?

Yes! You can navigate using keyboard shortcuts like Tab, Arrow keys, and Enter to access touchpad or device settings.

4. Why is my external mouse working but not the touchpad?

Your laptop’s touchpad might be disabled. Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad and toggle it back on.

5. Do I need to reinstall Windows if my cursor still doesn’t appear?

Usually not. Try updating drivers, booting in Safe Mode, or System Restore first. Reinstalling Windows is a last resort.

👉 In short:
If your cursor disappears on a Windows 11 laptop, don’t panic. Start with quick fixes, check the touchpad settings, update drivers, and use built-in troubleshooters. With these steps, you’ll get your pointer back and your productivity restored.