If you want to keep your computer screen at 100% and it starts to zoom in and out randomly, then there is an issue that needs to be resolved. Some Windows users say that this happens when they place their finger near the touchpad. Others say that their PCs zoom in and out on their own, even when the scroll feature is disabled in the Control Panel. In this article, we will provide working ways to stop Windows from zooming in and out on its own and resume your normal PC functions.
In many cases, when a computer zooms in and out randomly due to some settings, a faulty keyboard, or other system issues. Some users have reported that the issue affects their screen several times a day. At one point a PC screen can zoom in to 300% and to 15% within seconds. Sometimes, it just happens when you touch the mouse wheel or just the touchpad.
Why is my computer zooming in and out randomly?
It’s hard to pinpoint the exact issue causing Windows to zoom in and out randomly. However, there are issues that we believe may trigger the problem. For instance, if your keyboard Ctrl button is stuck, or mouse. touchpad and keyboard drivers have issues, your computer might zoom in and out on its own. In other instances, if the Pinch Zoom is activated, it might also trigger the problem. If you have outdated software and drivers related to mice and keyboards, that too can trigger some weird functionalities of the zooming feature in Windows.
How do I stop Windows from zooming in and out on its own?
No matter what causes computer screen zoom issues, there are ways we can help you fix the problem and enjoy performing tasks on your PC seamlessly. If you want to stop Windows from zooming in and out on itself, follow the following solutions;
- Start with basic steps
- Disable the Pinch Zoom feature
- Run the Hardware & Devices troubleshooter
- Uninstall and reinstall the Touchpad, Mouse, and Keyboard drivers
Let us look into these solutions in detail.
1] Start with basic steps
We always recommend that you start with basic preliminary steps before going to more advanced solutions. These steps may stop your computer screen from zooming in and out on its own.
- Disconnect your mouse from your computer and reconnect again. There could be issues with drivers or connections and reestablishing them might resolve the issue.
- Ensure that your keyboard Ctrl button is not stuck. You can resolve this by resetting the Touch keyboard for your Windows PC.
- Try disconnecting all peripherals and restarting your computer. This can fix bugs or issues that need automatic repair during startup.
- Ensure your system drivers are updated and no app has an issue, especially those that are connected to the mouse, touchpad, and keyboard.
If these basic steps don’t stop your Windows PC from zooming in and out on its own, you can try other steps in this post.
2] Disable the Pinch Zoom feature
The Pinch Zoom feature on your PC might be the cause of your Windows zooming in and out randomly. Follow these steps to disable the pinch zoom feature on Windows.
- Press the Windows key + R and type Control followed by pressing Enter. This will open the Windows Control Panel.
- Navigate and locate Mouse. A new Mouse Properties window will pop up.
On the top bar, you will see various options. At the far right side, select Device Settings. - Click on your touchpad control from the list and select Settings.
- You will see a Properties for Synaptics TouchPad window pop up. Locate Pinch Zoom and uncheck it.
- Click Apply and then OK to complete the process.
The steps might be slightly different depending on your computer manufacturer. If you don’t see the touchpad controls, you may need to download the touchpad software and install it from the manufacturer.
3] Run the Hardware & Devices troubleshooter
Run the Hardware & Devices Troubleshooter using the command line. To invoke the troubleshooter, all you need do is to launch the command prompt, then type or copy and paste the command below and hit Enter.
msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
You can also run the Keyboard Troubleshooter:
- Launch the Settings app in Windows 11 by right-clicking on the Start menu.
- Scroll down the right side till you find the Troubleshoot tab. Once you find it, click on it.
- Now, click on the Additional troubleshooters tab.
- You will see a list of all troubleshooters available in Windows 11. Locate the Keyboard troubleshooter.
- To launch the Keyboard troubleshooter, click on the Run button next to the Keyboard
4] Uninstall and reinstall the Touchpad, Mouse, and Keyboard drivers
Uninstalling and reinstalling drivers fixes issues like compatibilities, bugs, incomplete installations, corrupted files, etc. Once you uninstall these drivers, your system will reinstall them automatically and update to the most recent ones. Although Windows zooming in and out on its own is a mouse or touchpad issue, keyboard hitches can also play a role. To uninstall the touchpad, mouse, and keyboard drivers, follow the steps below use the Device Manager.
- Open the Device Manager
- Locate Mice and other pointing devices, Keyboards, and Human Interface Devices. Expand them and right-click on each driver and select Uninstall.
- Once all is done, restart your PC and Windows will automatically install the latest drivers for the devices you uninstalled.
- You can uninstall and then reinstall the latest version of the driver from your manufacturer’s website.
- You can directly visit Synaptics to download the touchpad drivers.
If the issue persists, you might be dealing with a more technical issue that needs attention from a computer technician or manufacturer’s support team.
We hope something here works for you.
Read next: Mouse wheel is zooming instead of scrolling
How do I stop Windows from zooming in?
You can stop Windows from zooming in by disabling the zoom settings on the Control Panel. To access these settings, press the Window button + R and type control in the Run dialog box. Press Enter to open the Control Panel. Locate and click on the Mouse option. Go to Device settings, select the devices in the list, and untick the zoom options you don’t want in the Properties for Synaptics Touchpad popup.
Read: How to Zoom in and Zoom out in OneNote
What is the shortcut for zooming in and out on Windows?
The default zooming in shortcut is by pressing the Ctrl key + (+), while zooming out is Ctrl key + (-). However, if you want to magnify your Windows screen, you can press the Windows key + (+) and Windows key + (-) to reduce the screen magnification. If you are using a mouse, you can press the Ctrl button and rotate the mouse wheel.
