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How to Install Touchpad Indicator in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

Last updated: April 13, 2018

touchpad

Touchpad Indicator is system tray applet to configure laptop touchpad settings and actions in Ubuntu desktop.

With Touchpad Indicator, you can easily:

  • Disable / Enable touchpad with indicator menu or keyboard shortcut.
  • Disable touchpad when mouse is plugged.
  • Disable touchpad while typing.
  • Also do basic settings for natural scrolling, tapping, touchpad speed, etc.

How to Install Touchpad Indicator in Ubuntu:

The software is available in the developer’s PPA for all current Ubuntu releases.

Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for “terminal” from application launcher. When it opens, do followings steps to install the indicator:

1. Run command to add the PPA.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:atareao/atareao

Type in your password (no visual feedback while typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then check updates and install the software by running following commands one by one:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install touchpad-indicator

Once installed, launch it and you’ll see the applet icon in top-right system tray.

Uninstall:

To remove touchpad indicator, run apt command in terminal with remove flag:

sudo apt-get remove --autoremove touchpad-indicator

To remove PPA repositories, launch Software & Updates and navigate to Other Software tab.

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    8 responses to How to Install Touchpad Indicator in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

    1. faras June 25, 2018 at 3:07 pm

      This method does not allow for automatic disable while typing, the option is not available in the current version in the PPA or at least not visible in my system. Are there any alternatives?

      • ArtMcTeagle August 27, 2018 at 8:59 am

        ‘Gnome tweaks’ also offers that option.
        I followed the instructions posted here, and the option ‘disable on typing’ is under the tab “actions” when you right click the touchpad icon and select preferences.

    2. ArtMcTeagle August 27, 2018 at 8:51 am

      Thank you, a well written guide. It’s very nice to have the touchpad disabled when using the terminal!

    3. Syed Kazmi October 20, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      Thanks. It helped a lot on Lubuntu 18.04. It was very difficult to find the way to disable it…
      So thanks a lot!!!!!! :-)

    4. sinandrei November 1, 2018 at 4:15 pm

      I just updated to 18.04 and the interface is not showing.

    5. Allen Kwiatkowski November 19, 2018 at 4:58 pm

      Thanks this is great! I am using an HP ProBook 4540s, with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. I just typed a two-paragraph email without the focus going to my cursor location and overwriting previous text. First time ever! Thanks very much.

    6. JREAM December 31, 2018 at 12:02 am

      If you are using gnome you can try:
      https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/131/touchpad-indicator/
      and
      https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/935/toggle-touchpad/ <– used to use that often

    7. Dale January 4, 2019 at 5:04 pm

      This addition worked for me on 18.04 lubuntu, shame this is not already included in the release. Thanks atareao !