Why ‘Disable Touchpad While Typing’ Option Is Not Working on Ubuntu and How to Fix It

Ubuntu is a popular Linux-based operating system known for its robustness and versatility. However, like any other OS, it can sometimes run into issues. One such issue that users often encounter is the inability to disable the touchpad while typing. This can be particularly frustrating when you’re typing a long document or coding, and accidental touchpad taps disrupt your workflow. In this article, we will delve into why this issue occurs and walk you through various solutions to fix it.

Understanding the Issue

The ‘Disable Touchpad While Typing’ feature is designed to prevent accidental cursor movements or clicks when you’re typing. This is particularly useful for laptop users who might inadvertently touch the touchpad while typing. However, due to bugs, incorrect settings, or compatibility issues with certain hardware, this feature might not work as expected on Ubuntu.

Possible Solutions

Solution 1: Checking System Settings

The first step is to ensure that the ‘Disable Touchpad While Typing’ option is enabled in the System Settings.

1. Open ‘System Settings’.
2. Navigate to the ‘Mouse and Touchpad’ settings.
3. Ensure the ‘Disable while typing’ option is checked.

If this option is not working, it may be due to a bug in Ubuntu. In such cases, the following solutions might help.

Solution 2: Using syndaemon

syndaemon is a utility that can disable the touchpad while typing. You can run it from the terminal with the following command:

syndaemon -i 1 -K -d

Here, -i 1 sets the idle time (in seconds) after the last key press before the touchpad is re-enabled. -K ignores modifier keys when monitoring keyboard activity. -d runs syndaemon as a daemon in the background.

To make this command run automatically on startup, add it to the Startup Applications.

Solution 3: Adjusting Palm Detection

Another approach is to adjust the palm detection settings of the touchpad. For this, you need to install the ‘Pointing Devices’ utility from the Ubuntu Software Center.

1. Open the utility and find the touchpad option.
2. Set the ‘palm detection’ range to ‘low’ and the pressure to ‘high’.
3. Close the utility and check if the touchpad is disabled while typing.

Solution 4: Restarting syndaemon

If the above solutions don’t work, you can try killing any running syndaemon process and restarting it with a different command:

pkill syndaemon
syndaemon -i 2 -d -K

Here, pkill syndaemon kills any running syndaemon process. The second command restarts syndaemon with a 2-second idle time.

Solution 5: Using Synaptics Touchpad Utility

The Synaptics Touchpad utility is another tool that can help. Install it from the Ubuntu Software Center, open it, and disable the touchpad when typing. You can also set the desired time for the touchpad to remain inactive when keyboard activity is detected.

Conclusion

If none of these solutions work, it might be a more specific issue related to your hardware or Ubuntu version. In such cases, consider searching for similar issues on forums or bug reports specific to your laptop model or Ubuntu version. Remember, the Ubuntu community is vast and helpful, and there’s a good chance someone else has encountered and solved the same problem.