Arch Linux Touchpad Configuration

Arch Linux Touchpad Configuration Guide

Complete beginner-friendly guide to configuring touchpads on Arch Linux, including gestures, sensitivity, multi-touch settings, and troubleshooting.

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Table of Contents

1. Touchpad Detection
2. libinput Configuration
3. Synaptics Configuration
4. Gestures
5. Troubleshooting

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Touchpad Detection

Identify Touchpad

Check touchpad:

# List input devices
xinput list

# Or
libinput list-devices

# Check if touchpad detected
cat /proc/bus/input/devices | grep -i touchpad

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libinput Configuration

Install libinput

libinput is default:

# Usually installed
# Check
pacman -Q libinput

Configure libinput

Create config:

# Create config directory
mkdir -p ~/.config/libinput

# Create config file
vim ~/.config/libinput/local-overrides.quirks

Or use xorg config:

sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/30-touchpad.conf

Example config:

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "touchpad"
    Driver "libinput"
    MatchIsTouchpad "on"
    Option "Tapping" "on"
    Option "TappingDrag" "on"
    Option "NaturalScrolling" "true"
    Option "AccelSpeed" "0.5"
EndSection

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Synaptics Configuration

Install Synaptics

For older touchpads:

# Install Synaptics
sudo pacman -S xf86-input-synaptics

# Remove libinput
sudo pacman -R xf86-input-libinput

Configure Synaptics

Create config:

sudo vim /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/70-synaptics.conf

Example:

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier "touchpad"
    Driver "synaptics"
    MatchIsTouchpad "on"
    Option "TapButton1" "1"
    Option "TapButton2" "2"
    Option "TapButton3" "3"
    Option "VertEdgeScroll" "on"
    Option "HorizEdgeScroll" "on"
EndSection

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Gestures

libinput-gestures

Install gestures:

# Install libinput-gestures
yay -S libinput-gestures

# Add user to input group
sudo gpasswd -a $USER input

# Configure
libinput-gestures-setup autostart
libinput-gestures-setup start

Edit config:

vim ~/.config/libinput-gestures.conf

Example gestures:

gesture swipe up 3 xdotool key super
gesture swipe down 3 xdotool key super
gesture swipe left 4 xdotool key alt+Right
gesture swipe right 4 xdotool key alt+Left

fusuma (Alternative)

Install fusuma:

# Install fusuma
yay -S fusuma

# Configure
mkdir -p ~/.config/fusuma
vim ~/.config/fusuma/config.yml

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Troubleshooting

Touchpad Not Working

Check drivers:

# Check loaded modules
lsmod | grep -i touchpad

# Check Xorg logs
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep -i touchpad

Disable Touchpad

Temporarily disable:

# Using xinput
xinput disable "Touchpad"

# Enable
xinput enable "Touchpad"

Sensitivity Issues

Adjust sensitivity:

# Using xinput
xinput set-prop "Touchpad" "libinput Accel Speed" 0.5

# Or edit config file

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Summary

This guide covered touchpad configuration, libinput, Synaptics, gestures, and troubleshooting.

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Next Steps

• Arch Linux Hardware Configuration - More hardware
• Arch Linux Laptop Configuration - Laptop setup
• ArchWiki Touchpad: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Touchpad_Synaptics

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This guide is based on the ArchWiki. For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official ArchWiki.