If you use Ubuntu Linux on a modern laptop, you may have noticed a frustrating quirk with the trackpad. By default, the GNOME desktop environment enables a feature called “Disable while typing.” If you press a key on your keyboard, the operating system instantly and automatically shuts off the touchpad for about half a second to prevent your palms from accidentally moving the mouse cursor.
While this is a helpful feature for writing essays, it completely breaks the experience for gamers or 3D modelers. If you are trying to play a first-person shooter like Minecraft on your laptop, you need to be able to press the “W” key to walk forward while simultaneously using the touchpad to aim the camera. With the default Ubuntu settings, aiming becomes impossible because the touchpad dies the second you touch the keyboard.
You can easily turn off this palm-rejection feature to allow simultaneous keyboard and mouse input.
How to Keep the Touchpad Active While Typing
You can disable this setting directly in the GNOME Settings application.
- Open the Settings app in Ubuntu.
- In the left-hand navigation sidebar, click on Mouse & Touchpad.
- Look at the “Touchpad” section in the right pane.
- Locate the toggle switch labeled Disable while typing.
- Turn this toggle to the Off position.
The change is applied instantly. You can now press and hold keys on your keyboard while freely dragging your finger across the trackpad, allowing for fluid navigation in games and complex software applications.