Touchpad-Indicator not working after Ubuntu uppgrade to 22.04

[sharpeye-too]

With the application Touchpad Indicator reinstalled after upgrading Ubuntu from 20.04 to 22.04, it doesn't integrate with Ubuntu as it did in some important respects. Now, I find the only way to turn off the touchpad is by using the Ubuntu settings, which is clumsy by comparison. Touchpad Indicator doesn't correctly report the status of the touchpad - and also doesn't control the status like it used to. It was such a convenient tool in the past: the present situation is a real loss.

The menu which opens from the icon at the top right of the screen shows "Enable Touchpad" all the time, regardless of whether the touchpad is turned on or turned off. That menu item used to toggle between "Disable Touchpad" (while the touchpad status was "on") and "Enable Touchpad" (when the touchpad status was "off").

Incidentally, that item in the menu is greyed out when the "Disable touchpad when mouse plugged [in]" setting (a Touchpad Indicator setting) is turned on. Speaking for myself, I have found it very useful to leave that particular setting switched "on" in the past : it was so convenient to have the touchpad automatically turn on when a USB mouse was unplugged - and turn off when the mouse was plugged back in.

I would like to ask if anyone else's experience has matched this - and if so also, whether there is a solution. Thank you - and thanks for reading this!

[andrisp]

After upgrading to 22.04, I'm experiencing the same issue - application is starting and running, but the touchpad is not automatically enabled or disabled when I plugin/remove USB mouse.

[andrisp]

It seems that auto-enable/disable function is built in Ubuntu now: #79 (comment) so if that's the only functionality needed, then there is no more need for this small utility.

[sharpeye-too]

...In other words, quoting jamespizzurro, use a terminal window (without sudo) to enter the following and hit enter:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad send-events disabled-on-external-mouse

Excellent - I see that now - thank you, andrisp. Time will tell if that holds after restart, or needs the command to be continually re-entered; and also will tell if that is the only functionality provided by the Touchpad Indicator application which was missed.

[sharpeye-too]

Hmm - it seems to hold after restart alright, but I can't find a way of making it automatic using Ubuntu's Settings application. Including such a setting there - under "Mouse and Touchpad" - would be a small but welcome improvement.