One-finger scrolling in ‎Helios 16, PH16-71-74XY is missing. What now? Is this a solvable issue?

stuartmooch

The ability to scroll with one finger, using the edge of the touchpad, is an important accessibility feature for me. I find it very difficult to scroll with two fingers. But modern laptops appear to be phasing it out.

On my current (old, dying) laptop, an HP Pavilion with a Synaptics touchpad, this feature is accessed by going to a tab called 'ClickPad Settings' in Mouse Properties, and ticking a box that's just called 'Scrolling' (and unticking 'MultiFinger Gestures' to disable two-finger scrolling).

While searching for a new laptop recently, I saw suggestions that some Acer models still use Synaptics touchpads.

I emailed Acer Support and asked if a model I saw on Amazon – Acer Predator Helios 16, model number "‎PH16-71-74XY" – has a Synaptics touchpad with the specific customizable scrolling I described. They assured me that it does. I ordered it.

It does not. In Mouse Properties, the touchpad manufacturer is listed as Microsoft, not Synaptics, and there's no ClickPad Settings tab, less still an option to turn on one-finger scrolling.

What now? Is this a solvable issue? Is there software, or drivers, or something I can install on my Acer Predator to get one-finger scrolling and make it usable? Or have I basically just flushed £1,679 down the toilet? (I don't know if I can get a refund.)

If this is a non-starter, then I'd welcome suggestions on what laptop I should get, if I get the money back to actually afford another one. (Frankly, preferably not Acer after the stress they've put me through, but I'll take whatever works.) At the moment, all I can think to do is scrounge around looking for refurbished old HP Pavilions for the rest of my life. (The additional memory and hard drive space of the Predator I bought would've been very welcome, but obviously that's secondary to having a laptop I can physically use.)

[Edited the thread to add model number to the title and add issue detail]

Puraw

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/719732/one-finger-scrolling

Hi, most Synaptics (and ElanTech) Touchpads are 12C HID devices controlled with Microsoft Precision software that since Windows11 no longer includes a "Right Edge" strip for vertical scrolling. To enable 1 finger scrolling I suggest getting an external W11 Microsoft wireless moose with a wheel or one of these mice that you can customize Need Win 11 Mouse With Double-Click Scroll Wheel Option - Microsoft Community