Lenovo Thinkpad T490 (Type 20N2, 20N3) Touchpad not working

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1

My touchpad has not worked since the new Fedora installation but it was also a problem with windows. It worked at first when the laptop was new then later maybe after a system update it stopped working, Sometimes it would come back briefly after updates but i noticed now with fedora i did a system update the other day and it worked for 1 day, after next reboot it was gone again (this has happened 2x this past week.) I just got a system update this morning but now no touchpad and i don’t seem to see a touchpad driver.

System:
  Kernel: 6.13.5-200.fc41.x86_64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
  Console: pty pts/1 wm: gnome-shell DM: GDM Distro: Fedora Linux 41
    (Workstation Edition)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 20N3SD1900 v: ThinkPad T490
    serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: 20N3SD1900 v: SDK0J40697 WIN serial: <filter>
    part-nu: LENOVO_MT_20N3_BU_Think_FM_ThinkPad T490 UEFI: LENOVO
    v: N2IETA5W (1.83 ) date: 06/20/2024
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 36.7 Wh (80.5%) condition: 45.6/50.5 Wh (90.4%)
    volts: 11.7 min: 11.5 model: SMP 5B10W13906 serial: <filter>
    status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: quad core model: Intel Core i5-8365U bits: 64 type: MT MCP
    arch: Comet/Whiskey Lake note: check rev: C cache: L1: 256 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
    L3: 6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 4094 min/max: 400/4100 cores: 1: 4094 2: 4094 3: 4094
    4: 4094 5: 4094 6: 4094 7: 4094 8: 4094 bogomips: 30399
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel WhiskeyLake-U GT2 [UHD Graphics 620] vendor: Lenovo
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-9.5 ports: active: HDMI-A-2,eDP-1
    empty: DP-1,DP-2,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:3ea0
  Device-2: Chicony Integrated Camera driver: uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-8:4 chip-ID: 04f2:b6d9
  Display: unspecified server: X.Org v: 24.1.6 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 8192x2880 s-dpi: 96
  Monitor-1: not-matched mapped: HDMI-2 pos: right res: 5120x2880 hz: 60
    dpi: 203 diag: 734mm (28.91")
  Monitor-2: not-matched mapped: eDP-1 pos: primary,left res: 3072x1728
    hz: 60 dpi: 252 diag: 354mm (13.92")
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 vendor: intel mesa v: 25.0.0 glx-v: 1.4 es-v: 3.2
    direct-render: yes renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 620 (WHL GT2)
    device-ID: 8086:3ea0
  API: EGL Message: EGL data requires eglinfo. Check --recommends.
  Info: Tools: api: glxinfo gpu: intel_gpu_top,lsgpu x11: xdriinfo,
    xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Point-LP High Definition Audio vendor: Lenovo
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:9dc8
  API: ALSA v: k6.13.5-200.fc41.x86_64 status: kernel-api
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: off with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Cannon Point-LP CNVi [Wireless-AC] driver: iwlwifi v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:14.3 chip-ID: 8086:9df0
  IF: wlp0s20f3 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Ethernet I219-LM vendor: Lenovo driver: e1000e v: kernel
    port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15bd
  IF: enp0s31f6 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Bluetooth 9460/9560 Jefferson Peak (JfP) driver: btusb
    v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 1-10:5
    chip-ID: 8087:0aaa
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 5.1
    lmp-v: 10
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 238.47 GiB used: 32.06 GiB (13.4%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: SK Hynix model: HFS256GD9TNG-L5B0B
    size: 238.47 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 serial: <filter> temp: 31.9 C
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 204.2 GiB used: 31.74 GiB (15.5%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3
  ID-2: /boot size: 973.4 MiB used: 302.2 MiB (31.0%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
  ID-3: /boot/efi size: 598.8 MiB used: 19.4 MiB (3.2%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
  ID-4: /home size: 204.2 GiB used: 31.74 GiB (15.5%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 32.69 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 7.38 GiB used: 1024 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100
    dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
  Memory: total: 8 GiB note: est. available: 7.38 GiB used: 4.39 GiB (59.5%)
    igpu: 64 MiB
  Processes: 375 Power: uptime: 7m wakeups: 0 Init: systemd v: 256
    target: graphical (5) default: graphical
  Packages: pm: rpm pkgs: N/A note: see --rpm pm: flatpak pkgs: 17
    Compilers: gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.32 running-in: ptyxis-agent
    inxi: 3.3.37
2

sudo libinput list-devices | grep Touchpad ==> please output

3 
Device:           Power Button
Kernel:           /dev/input/event2
Group:            1
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Video Bus
Kernel:           /dev/input/event10
Group:            2
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Lid Switch
Kernel:           /dev/input/event1
Group:            3
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     switch
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Sleep Button
Kernel:           /dev/input/event0
Group:            4
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Logitech USB Receiver
Kernel:           /dev/input/event4
Group:            5
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     pointer 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      disabled
Nat.scrolling:    disabled
Middle emulation: disabled
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   button
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   flat *adaptive custom
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Logitech USB Receiver Keyboard
Kernel:           /dev/input/event5
Group:            5
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard pointer 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    disabled
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma
Kernel:           /dev/input/event6
Group:            6
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma Keyboard
Kernel:           /dev/input/event7
Group:            6
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard pointer 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    disabled
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma
Kernel:           /dev/input/event9
Group:            6
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     pointer 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      disabled
Nat.scrolling:    disabled
Middle emulation: disabled
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   button
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   flat *adaptive custom
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
Kernel:           /dev/input/event3
Group:            7
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           ThinkPad Extra Buttons
Kernel:           /dev/input/event11
Group:            8
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0

Device:           [AV] Samsung Soundbar S66B (AVRCP)
Kernel:           /dev/input/event18
Group:            9
Seat:             seat0, default
Capabilities:     keyboard 
Tap-to-click:     n/a
Tap-and-drag:     n/a
Tap drag lock:    n/a
Left-handed:      n/a
Nat.scrolling:    n/a
Middle emulation: n/a
Calibration:      n/a
Scroll methods:   none
Click methods:    none
Disable-w-typing: n/a
Disable-w-trackpointing: n/a
Accel profiles:   n/a
Rotation:         0.0
4

Do you dual boot with windows ?

5

No, i got sick of using windows. Im fairly new to linux but i have used Fedora a little bit before so i decided to just dive into it, only way to learn properly.

6

And that means you have only install fedora 41 on sdd or hdd for lenovo

7

Since your ThinkPad T490 touchpad issue persists across both Windows and Fedora, it’s likely a firmware, BIOS, or hardware-related problem. The fact that it temporarily works after updates suggests a possible kernel or firmware conflict.
Troubleshooting Steps for Fedora:

1. Check if Fedora Detects the Touchpad

Run the following command in a terminal to check if Fedora detects the touchpad:

If you use X11:

xinput list

If you use Wayland:

sudo libinput list-devices | grep -i touchpad

it shout return something like:

Device: SYNA801A:00 06CB:CEC6 Touchpad

Look for a Synaptics, Elantech, or ThinkPad touchpad device. If missing, the system may not be recognizing the hardware.

To check the kernel logs for errors:

dmesg | grep -i touchpad

If you see errors related to i2c, hid, or ACPI, it could be a firmware or kernel bug.

2. Check for the Touchpad in udevadm

sudo udevadm info /sys/class/input/event* | grep ID_INPUT_TOUCHPAD
> E: ID_INPUT_TOUCHPAD=1

3. Use evtest to Check for Input Events

Install evtest (if not already installed):

sudo dnf install evtest

Then, list all input devices:

sudo evtest

Select your touchpad and check if it registers touch events. For example:

/dev/input/event7:	SYNA801A:00 06CB:CEC6 Touchpad
select 7

Touch the Touchpad and move finger on it. There shoud be some Output.

4. Check if the Touchpad is Disabled

Run:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad send-events

If it returns disabled, enable it:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad send-events 'enabled'

5. Install Required Drivers (only X11)

Run:

sudo dnf install xorg-x11-drv-libinput

Reboot after installation.

6. Check if Touchpad is Blocked by BIOS

Since your touchpad also failed in Windows, check the BIOS settings:

  • Reboot and press F1 to enter the BIOS.
  • Go to Config > Keyboard/Mouse and ensure Trackpad is set to Enabled.
  • Check for an I2C or HID setting related to the touchpad.
  • Reset BIOS to defaults and save changes.

7. Try a Different Kernel

Since your touchpad works briefly after some updates, try booting an older kernel:

  • Restart and select Advanced options in the GRUB menu.
  • Boot an older Fedora kernel.
  • If the touchpad works, then the issue is with the latest kernel.

You can also manually install an older kernel:

sudo dnf list installed kernel
sudo dnf downgrade kernel

8. Update ThinkPad Firmware (LVFS)

ThinkPads often get firmware updates via LVFS (Linux Vendor Firmware Service). Run:

sudo fwupdmgr get-devices
sudo fwupdmgr refresh
sudo fwupdmgr update

This will check for and install BIOS or touchpad firmware updates.

9. Check for Hardware Issues

Since the touchpad has been unreliable for a while, it could be a loose connection or failing touchpad hardware.

If comfortable, open the laptop and reseat the touchpad ribbon cable.

1 Like
8

yes, nvme that came stock from lenovo.

9

sudo libinput list-devices | grep -i touchpad does nothing.

dmesg | grep -i touchpad does nothing

sudo udevadm info /sys/class/input/event* | grep ID_INPUT_TOUCHPAD
> E: ID_INPUT_TOUCHPAD=1 Does nothing

sudo evtest
No device specified, trying to scan all of /dev/input/event*
Available devices:
/dev/input/event0:	Sleep Button
/dev/input/event1:	Lid Switch
/dev/input/event10:	Video Bus
/dev/input/event11:	PC Speaker
/dev/input/event12:	ThinkPad Extra Buttons
/dev/input/event13:	HDA Intel PCH Mic
/dev/input/event14:	HDA Intel PCH Headphone
/dev/input/event15:	HDA Intel PCH HDMI/DP,pcm=3
/dev/input/event16:	HDA Intel PCH HDMI/DP,pcm=7
/dev/input/event17:	HDA Intel PCH HDMI/DP,pcm=8
/dev/input/event2:	Power Button
/dev/input/event3:	AT Translated Set 2 keyboard
/dev/input/event4:	Logitech USB Receiver
/dev/input/event5:	Logitech USB Receiver Keyboard
/dev/input/event6:	Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma
/dev/input/event7:	Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma Keyboard
/dev/input/event8:	Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma
/dev/input/event9:	Razer Razer Cynosa Chroma
Select the device event number [0-17]: ^C

Detects no touchpad

I will check the BIOS now and see if touchpad is detected.
10

So try suggestion: 6, 7, 8 and 9

11

Trackpad is enabled in bios.

I did firmware update as listed above.

Reset bios to default.

So maybe the touchpad is faulty but this is very strange seeing that once i get system update it sometimes kicks in but only for a short time. I am using a mouse so im not crying over this, this is just an annoying bug that has been on this laptop for some time and i thought maybe using linux would fix that. Maybe i have not done all the proper driver install procedures, i think i have. I did all rpm repos as listed on the rpmfusion site and i believe i got all the codecs. Like i stated above i am fairly new to linux so i don’t know all the basic commands and step by step guide to setting up my system.

12

… than it seems like a hardware issue …

2 Likes
13

yes could be, i need to upgrade my ram, i will open the laptop and see if i have a loose wire to the touchpad while im at it, this has been a problem almost recently since i bought it new and hardware faults can happen, my bad for not taking it to the shop with warranty. Thanks for the help.

14

I took the liberty of editing your posts #1 and #3 above to add the preformatted text tags so the pasted results are formatted exactly as seen on screen. This is done by using the </> button after highlighting the pasted text, or by manually adding the tags so the text looks like this.

```
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```

1 Like