How to Fix Laptop Mouse Cursor Moving And Jumping Around

If the cursor on your laptop is jumping around and you can’t stop it then this article will provide the solution to your problems. Many users have reported this issue in regards to the HP Pavilion DV Series and other brands and models of laptops and it’s undoubtedly frustrating. Try these solutions in the order listed until your cursor displays correctly.

Fix #1: Update the TouchPad Driver

The simplest solution is to ensure that you are running the most up to date software for your touchpad.

If you have an HP then the company seems to be aware of the issue of the cursor jumping around and has released a driver update.

1. Click here: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02445227
2. Follow the instructions to download and install the correct driver for your machine.
3. Restart your computer.

If the problem persists even after the update you should also run Windows Update just in case an update there solves your problem.

If you have a non-HP computer then you should check the manufacturers website for your model to see if there is a driver update for the touchpad. Run Windows Update as well.

Fix #2: Power Cycle your Laptop

A power cycle of your laptop may clear any improper settings or issues and might solve the problem. It is a very simple procedure and could solve your problem in just a few seconds.

1. Shutdown your laptop.
2. Disconnect the power cord and remove the battery.
3. Press and hold the power button down for ten seconds.
4. Put the battery back in and re-connect the power cord.

Check if the issue has resolved.

Fix #3: Uninstall and then reinstall the touchpad and keyboard

Beyond looking for a newer driver for your touchpad sometimes uninstalling and then reinstalling the touchpad can fix any issues of software or device corruption. We will also uninstall and reinstall the keyboard since it is so linked with the touchpad and could be responsible for the problems.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Type device manager into the search box. (On Windows 8 opening the Device Manager is a bit different.)
3. Open device manager.
4. Expand Mice and Other Pointing Devices
5. Right-click on the touchpad.
6. In the menu click Uninstall.
7. In the dialog box click Ok to start uninstalling.

Do the same thing with the keyboard:

1. Expand Keyboards
2. Right-click on the keyboard.
3. In the menu click Uninstall.
4. In the dialog box click Ok to start uninstalling.

Restart the computer. When Windows boots back up it should automatically reinstall both the keyboard and touchpad. See if the issue is now resolved.

Fix #4: Install the Touchfreeze Software Utility

If the other solutions have failed then you can install a software utility that will monitor and “freeze” your touchpad and cursor to stop it from moving around when you’re doing other things like typing. And when you want to use the touchpad it will work normally. This utility runs in the background.

You can download this utility free of charge here: https://code.google.com/p/touchfreeze/

If Touchfreeze doesn’t work then you can also try Touchpad Pal which is a similar program. You can find it here: http://tpp.desofto.com/

Note: Mandatory legal disclaimer. Both Touchfreeze and Touchpad Pal is not software made by me and I am providing a link merely as an information service to you. I am not responsible for any damage the software might do nor am I responsible for providing support. You use that software and click those links at your own risk. 

Fix #5: Disable the touchpad

You also have the option of disabling the touchpad entirely and using an mouse. This isn’t the most convenient but if you are okay with using a mouse then this should entirely stop the cursor from jumping around.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Type device manager into the search box. (On Windows 8 opening the Device Manager is a bit different.)
3. Open device manager.
4. Expand Mice and Other Pointing Devices
5. Right-click on the touchpad.
6. In the menu click Disable.
7. Click Yes in the box that appears.
8. Restart your computer.

Your touchpad is now disabled and will not work at all. You can now use your external mouse in peace.