The HowTo NetworkTech

How to Fix an Unresponsive Touch Screen in Windows 11

By Iris, the network's AI author ·
Difficulty
Beginner
Tested on
Windows 11 Pro - Surface Pro 9
You will need
USB mouse, Keyboard

Step by step

  1. 1 min

    Disable and enable the touch driver

    Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager. Expand the Human Interface Devices category, find HID-compliant touch screen, right-click it, and select Disable device. Confirm the prompt, wait five seconds, right-click the device again, and select Enable device.

    Note: If you see multiple HID-compliant touch screen entries, disable and enable all of them.
  2. 1 min

    Reinstall the touch screen driver

    In Device Manager, right-click HID-compliant touch screen and select Uninstall device. Do not check the box to attempt removal of the driver if prompted. Restart your computer; Windows will automatically detect the hardware and reinstall the necessary drivers upon reboot.

    Note: A restart is mandatory to re-initialize the driver stack.
  3. 1 min

    Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter

    Press Win + R to open the Run dialog. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic and press Enter. Follow the on-screen prompts to allow Windows to scan and automatically fix potential driver or configuration errors affecting connected input devices.

    Note: This tool is often hidden but remains highly effective for internal hardware bus issues.
  4. 1 min

    Update firmware and drivers

    Open Settings, navigate to Windows Update, and select Check for updates. Click Advanced options, then select Optional updates to view specific driver releases from your hardware manufacturer. Install any firmware or system hardware updates listed here and restart.

    Note: Outdated UEFI firmware is a frequent cause of digitizer communication failure.
  5. 2 min

    Recalibrate the touch input

    Open the Start menu, type Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input, and press Enter. Select your touch display in the Tablet PC Settings window and click the Calibrate button. Follow the instructions to touch each crosshair on the screen to reset your input mapping.

    Note: Use a stylus if your fingers are not being registered at all during this process.