Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad, expand Touchpad, then check or clear Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected. Checked keeps the built-in touchpad usable alongside a USB or Bluetooth mouse; cleared makes Windows ignore touchpad input while it detects an external mouse.
What the setting does
This is a conditional setting for supported built-in Windows Precision Touchpads. It does not remove or physically disconnect the touchpad. When the option is cleared, Windows ignores touchpad input while an external mouse is detected and normally accepts touchpad input again after that mouse is disconnected.
- Checked: the touchpad remains available when a mouse is connected.
- Cleared: touchpad input is ignored while Windows detects an external mouse.
Use the checked state if you switch between mouse and touchpad gestures. Clear it if your palm or wrist moves the pointer while you type. Microsoft documents this behavior and the underlying value for Windows 10 version 1511 and later, including Windows 11, in its Precision Touchpad tuning guidelines.
Change it in Windows Settings
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Touchpad.
- Expand the Touchpad section if its options are collapsed.
- Find Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected.
- Check the box to keep the touchpad active, or clear it to ignore touchpad input while a mouse is connected.
- Connect and disconnect the mouse to verify the result.
This path is also shown in the Windows 11 Forum procedure.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11#1 Best Overall
- Computer mouse for easily navigating a computer interface; click, scroll, and more
- USB-A wired connection; if existing device only supports USB-C, an additional adapter will be required
- High-definition (1000 dpi) optical tracking ensures responsive cursor control for precise tracking and easy text selection
- 3 buttons offer effortless fingertip control
- Plug-and-go ready for instant use
Do not confuse it with the main Touchpad switch
The main Touchpad toggle is a separate, unconditional control. Turning that switch off disables the touchpad whether or not a mouse is present. The mouse-connected option only changes behavior while Windows detects an external mouse. A vendor function-key shortcut or BIOS switch can also disable the touchpad independently.
Supported hardware and mouse types
The option is primarily exposed on laptops with a correctly installed Windows Precision Touchpad. Older vendor-specific touchpad drivers may not show it. The intended use includes wired USB mice and Bluetooth mice, but detection depends on how Windows identifies the device.
- A wireless mouse’s USB receiver can remain detected after the mouse is switched off, so the touchpad may stay inactive until the receiver is unplugged.
- A dock, monitor hub, KVM, or other HID device may expose a mouse to Windows and trigger the same behavior.
- Some nonstandard pointing devices may not be recognized as an external mouse at all.
Microsoft also documents an IgnoredExternalMice area for exempting specific devices in its touchpad guidelines.
Rank #2
- Compact Mouse: With a comfortable and contoured shape, this Logitech ambidextrous wireless mouse feels great in either right or left hand and is far superior to a touchpad
- Durable and Reliable: This USB wireless mouse features a line-by-line scroll wheel, up to 1 year of battery life (2) thanks to a smart sleep mode function, and comes with the included AA battery
- Universal Compatibility: Your Logitech mouse works with your Windows PC, Mac, or laptop, so no matter what type of computer you own today or buy tomorrow your mouse will be compatible
- Plug and Play Simplicity: Just plug in the tiny nano USB receiver and start working in seconds with a strong, reliable connection to your wireless computer mouse up to 33 feet / 10 m (5)
- Better than touchpad: Get more done by adding M185 to your laptop; according to a recent study, laptop users who chose this mouse over a touchpad were 50% more productive (3) and worked 30% faster (4)
Change the setting in the Registry
The setting is stored for the signed-in user under:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPadThe value is a REG_DWORD named LeaveOnWithMouse. Microsoft defines the valid range as 0–1 and the default as 1.
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
1 |
Leave the touchpad enabled when a mouse is connected. |
0 |
Ignore touchpad input while a mouse is connected. |
Because the path is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, the change normally applies to that user profile rather than every account on the computer. Registry edits can still produce security prompts under local policy or when importing a downloaded file.
Rank #3
- 【Dual Mode Wireless Bluetooth Mouse】: Switch easily between two devices—connect one via Bluetooth (BT5.2/3.0) and the other using a 2.4G USB receiver. No drivers needed; just plug and play. Enjoy a reliable connection up to 33 feet. Note: You can't use both modes simultaneously; the USB receiver is stored in the mouse.
- 【Rechargeable Wireless Mouse】: Equipped with a 500mAh lithium-ion battery, it charges in 2 hours for over 7 days of use and 30 days on standby. The mouse sleeps after 5 minutes of inactivity to save power and can be woken with any click.
- 【Colorful LED Breathing Light】: Features 7 colorful LED lights that change randomly, adding a fun atmosphere to your workspace.
- 【Portable Mouse】Compact size (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.1 inches) makes it easy to fit in your laptop bag. Lightweight and ergonomic, it's perfect for travel. Contact us anytime for support.
- 【Wide Compatibility】: Works with laptops, PCs, tablets, and smartphones across various operating systems, including Android, Windows, and Mac. Ideal for home, office, and travel.
Set it from Command Prompt
Run these commands in the affected user’s session:
reg add "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPad" /v LeaveOnWithMouse /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /fUse this command to disable the touchpad while a mouse is connected:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →reg add "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPad" /v LeaveOnWithMouse /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /fReady-to-import .reg files
Back up the relevant registry key before importing a file. The documented enabled value is 1; there is no need to use a broader nonzero value.
Rank #4
- Your hand can relax in comfort hour after hour with this ergonomically designed mouse. Its contoured shape with soft rubber grips, gently curved sides and broad palm area give you the support you need for effortless control all day long.
- You’ve got the control to do more, faster. Flipping through photo albums and Web pages is a breeze, especially for right-handers—with three standard buttons plus Back/Forward buttons that you can also program to switch applications, go full screen and more. And side-to-side scrolling plus zoom gives you the power to scroll horizontally and vertically through your music library, maps and Facebook feeds, and zoom in and out of photos and budget spreadsheets with a click.* * Requires Logitech SetPoint software (Windows) or Logitech Control Center software (Mac OS X)
- Two years of battery life practically eliminates the need to replace batteries. ** The On/Off switch helps conserve power, smart sleep mode extends battery life and an indicator light eliminates surprises. ** Battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.
- The tiny Logitech Unifying receiver stays in your laptop. There’s no need to unplug it when you move around, so there’s less worry of it being lost. And you can easily add compatible wireless mice and keyboards to the same wireless receiver.
Enable the touchpad with a connected mouse:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPad]
"LeaveOnWithMouse"=dword:00000001Disable touchpad input with a connected mouse:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPad]
"LeaveOnWithMouse"=dword:00000000Save the chosen text with a .reg extension, open it, confirm the prompts, then sign out and back in or restart if Windows does not apply the change immediately. These registry-file and restart steps are also covered by HTMD’s Windows 11 guide and the Windows 11 Forum tutorial.
Verify the current value
In Command Prompt, run:
reg query "HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPrecisionTouchPad" /v LeaveOnWithMouse0x1 means the touchpad stays on with a connected mouse; 0x0 means Windows should ignore touchpad input in that condition. Make sure the command is run under the same Windows account whose behavior you are testing.
If the option is missing
An absent checkbox usually indicates that Windows is not exposing a supported Precision Touchpad configuration, the driver is missing or incorrect, or the manufacturer supplies its own control utility.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Best Value
- Compact Design, Travel Friendly - With the dimension of 4.09*2.68*1.49 in, this compact mouse provides more portability and a better travel experience. Only compatible with USB-A Port Devices.
- Ergonomic Design, Comfort Grip - The contoured shape of this mouse is ergonomically designed to fit the natural curve of your hand, ensuring lasting comfort and productivity. Featuring rubber side-grips, it offers added thumb support for a superior working experience.
- Advanced Optical Tracking - Featuring 5-level adjustable DPI (800/1200/1600/2000/2600), this mouse provides high-performance precision and smart cursor control on most surfaces. ( 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝 )
- 24 Months Battery Life - Combined with a power-saving mode and on/off switch, this efficiently engineered mouse grants you up to 24 months of battery life.
- Plug and Play - Simply plug the USB-A mini-receiver into your Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, or Linux computer and enjoy seamless connectivity up to 49 feet.
- Confirm that Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Touchpad exists.
- In Device Manager, inspect Human Interface Devices and Mice and other pointing devices.
- Install the touchpad driver provided for your exact laptop model.
- Run Windows Update and restart.
- Check the laptop manufacturer’s support utility and BIOS touchpad setting.
For model-specific recovery, MSI’s guidance covers driver reinstallation, BIOS updates, embedded-controller resets where applicable, and Windows Update: MSI touchpad troubleshooting. Microsoft Q&A discussions also identify Precision Touchpad support as a prerequisite (touchpad and mouse question).
When the behavior seems wrong
The touchpad stays disabled after the mouse is removed
- Unplug a wireless USB receiver; switching off the mouse may leave its receiver detected.
- Disconnect the Bluetooth mouse completely rather than merely powering it down.
- Check whether a dock, monitor, or KVM is still presenting a mouse device.
- Make sure the master Touchpad toggle and any hardware hotkey have not disabled the touchpad.
- Sign out or restart after a registry change, then test again.
The setting appears reversed
Recheck that the box state and LeaveOnWithMouse value agree, that the value was written under the affected user’s HKCU hive, and that an OEM utility or touchpad driver is not applying a separate policy.
A mouse is not detected
The feature depends on Windows classifying the device as an external mouse. Specialized HID devices, integrated pointing controls, docks, and KVMs may not follow the same detection path as a conventional USB or Bluetooth mouse.
Related but different: the virtual touchpad
Windows’ virtual touchpad is an on-screen control available from the taskbar on supported touch devices. It is unrelated to the laptop’s physical touchpad and does not control this mouse-connected setting. See Microsoft’s virtual touchpad instructions for that feature.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
