While trying to update your laptop’s touchpad driver or firmware, you may have encountered a message that reads:
Issues with Synaptic touchpad drivers are not uncommon, but this guide will surely help.
Even after you successfully install new drivers, you may still run into this dreaded error.
Follow the guide below to find how to safely update your drivers manually and with dedicated software.
We also give in-depth instructions on how to install the firmware, set BIOS default settings, and more.
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Touchpad issues can be exasperating, especially when you can’t afford to use a separate mouse with your laptop. And of course, you will want everything to work smoothly on your mobile PC, even if you have an alternative input device.
A Synaptics driver is required for reflashing.Please install a Synaptics driver or contact your computer manufacturer.
In the following guide, we’ll show you how to solve a missing Synaptics driver error.
How do I fix the Snypatics driver is required for reflashing error?
1. Update your Synaptics touch-pad driver
- Open the Windows Power User Menu (right-click on the start menu icon).
- Select Device Manager.
- Scroll down to the Mouse and other pointing devices category and expand it.
- Look for your touchpad in the list of devices. If you can’t find it, check under the Human Interface Devices category.
- Right-click on your touchpad item and select Update driver from the context menu.
- Select the Search automatically for updated driver software option.
- Wait for the system to search for the drivers online and install them if you’re prompted to.
- If Windows does not find any drivers from the Internet, click on Search for updated drivers on Windows Update and then use Windows Update to download the driver.
Since 1986, Synaptics has been one of the largest producers of human interfacing devices and software. Much like Microsoft, they have a very spotty record when it comes to updates.
It’s possible that you’re running a buggy driver for your touchpad. The easiest way to fix this is by updating it using the above steps.
Alternatively, you can use a reliable third-party tool for this procedure. With a few clicks, you can set it to scan, download, and install the latest and most suitable drivers for your Windows OS.
2. Download and Install latest Synaptics touchpad firmware
Your freshly installed or updated drivers may be causing a conflict with Synaptics touchpad firmware. If that’s the case, you’ll need to download the firmware or a firmware update utility from your manufacturer’s website.
Some of the most common Windows errors and bugs are a result of old or incompatible drivers. The lack of an up-to-date system can lead to lag, system errors or even BSoDs. To avoid these types of problems, you can use an automatic tool that will find, download, and install the right driver version on your Windows PC in just a couple of clicks, and we strongly recommend DriverFix. Here’s how to do it:
- Download and install DriverFix.
- Launch the application.
- Wait for DriverFix to detect all your faulty drivers.
- The software will now show you all the drivers that have issues, and you just need to select the ones you’d liked fixed.
- Wait for DriverFix to download and install the newest drivers.
- Restart your PC for the changes to take effect.
Disclaimer: this program needs to be upgraded from the free version in order to perform some specific actions.
DriverFix
Drivers will no longer create any problems if you download and use this powerful software today.
For instance, if you’re using Lenovo’s L540 ThinkPad, you can find the firmware on its download page. Since this seems to be a fairly prominent issue with Acer laptops, the updates can be found on their Drivers and Manuals page.
However, we do acknowledge that you may be encountering the message A Synaptics driver is required for reflashing after you recently attempted to update your firmware.
If that’s the case, we recommend trying an automatic third-party software that downloads and installs the latest drivers for your PC. With a simple click, the program will perform these actions and optimize your Windows OS, preventing conflicts with Synaptics touchpad firmware.
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3. Set BIOS to default settings
- Shut your laptop down completely.
- Remove the battery if you can and wait for five seconds. If you don’t have a battery, just follow the latter instruction on this step.
- Turn your laptop on and boot into the BIOS setup menu. On most HP laptops, you can do this by pressing the F10 key.Consult your laptop’s manual for more information.
- Load the BIOS Setup Default settings for your computer. Once again, on most HP laptops this can be done by pressing the F9 key.
- Save and Exit.
- Select Yes, if you’re presented with a confirmation dialog.
- Restart your computer and log into Windows.
4. Uninstall the Touchpad device
- Open Device Manager.
- Find your touchpad device under Mice and other pointing devices or Human Interface Devices.
- Right-click on it and select Uninstall device from the context menu.
- Confirm and follow the prompts.
- Restart your PC.
After restarting your PC, Windows will once again install the drivers for your touchpad device. Do not manually install the drivers.
This solution works best when it’s supplemented with the third solution (set BIOS to default settings) in this guide.
5. Install Synaptic precision touchpad drivers
- Download the Synaptics driver package from Lenovo.
- Extract the contents of the package in a folder of your choice.
- Open Device Manager.
- Locate your touchpad device.
- Right-click on it and select Update driver.
- Click on Browse my computer for driver software.
- Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- Click on the Have Disk… button.
- Click on the Browse button.
- Navigate to where you unpacked the Synaptic driver package.
- Select the Autorun.inf file and click on Open.
- Click on the Synaptics Pointing Device option on the next screen and then click on Next.
- If Windows displays a warning dialog, read through the text, and then click on Yes if you want to proceed.
- Restart your computer.
Not only will this solution solve your problem but it will also allow you to perform more gestures on your touchpad device. It will also fix any other cursor-related issues.
6. Install generic Microsoft touchpad drivers
- Run Device Manager and locate your touchpad device.
- Right-click on your touchpad device and select Update Driver.
- Select the Browse my computer for driver software option.
- Click on Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer.
- Make sure that the Show compatible hardware option is ticked.
- Scroll through the list and select HID-compliant mice.
- Click on Next.
- Follow the prompts and restart your computer.
If you’re still encountering a Synaptics driver is required for reflashing error after exercising all the solutions in this guide, we suggest you bite the bullet and purchase an external mouse and completely turn off your laptop’s touchpad.
Alternatively, you can contact your laptop’s vendor or manufacturer and escalate the issue further. Either way, we hope that you’ve found this guide to be helpful.
For other touchpad and Windows-related errors, pay a visit to our extensive Fix Hub.
Explore our extensive library of Software Guides to ensure fast future resolution of issues.
Which solution worked for you? Leave a comment down below.
- synaptics touchpad
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