The Palm Rejection Problem
To prevent accidental cursor movements or clicks while you are typing on a laptop keyboard, Ubuntu utilizes an input management library called `libinput`. By default, `libinput` implements a feature known as “Disable While Typing” (DWT). The moment you press a key on your keyboard, the operating system automatically disables the touchpad for a fraction of a second. This palm rejection is essential for heavy typists, but it is a massive hindrance for gamers or power users who need to use the keyboard (like the WASD keys) simultaneously with the touchpad to aim or navigate 3D environments.
Disabling DWT via GNOME Tweaks
To unlock simultaneous input and stop Ubuntu from automatically disabling your touchpad while you are typing, you must change the input configuration. The standard settings menu does not offer this toggle, so you must use the GNOME Tweaks application.
First, install the utility. Open a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and run sudo apt install gnome-tweaks (press Enter and provide your password). Once the installation completes, press the Super (Windows) key to open the Activities overview, type Tweaks, and launch the application. In the left-hand navigation pane of the Tweaks window, click on Keyboard & Mouse. Look for the section labeled Touchpad. You will see a toggle switch explicitly labeled Disable While Typing. Click this toggle to switch it to the Off position. The change is immediate. You can now press keys on your keyboard and simultaneously move the mouse cursor or click using the touchpad without any artificial latency or suspension.