The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 has the famous ThinkPad keyboard, a TrackPoint in the middle and a haptic or physical trackpad with buttons, and its input problems are distinctive. A TrackPoint that drifts, moving the pointer on its own, is cured by keeping your hands off it during boot, because the TrackPoint calibrates itself at power on, and restarting without touching the stick usually fixes drift.
The checks in more detail
A trackpad that does nothing may be switched off: check Settings, Bluetooth and devices, Touchpad, and the Lenovo settings in Vantage. The Fn key and function keys change roles with FnLock, toggled with Fn+Esc. If keys miss, test in the BIOS; keys that work there but not in Windows point to a driver. Update the keyboard and trackpad drivers through Vantage. Clean around keys with short bursts of air. A spill needs service even if the keyboard seems to work.
The Gen 13's keyboard backlight is Fn+Space. External mouse and keyboard keep you working while you troubleshoot. ThinkPad owners also use the Lenovo Vantage and Windows settings to tune the TrackPoint speed and the trackpad's click, and the sensitivity of the TrackPoint can be reduced if the pointer feels twitchy. If the TrackPoint cap is worn, Lenovo sells replacement caps cheaply, and a worn cap can make the stick harder to control. The haptic trackpad's click strength is also adjustable in Windows settings. Lenovo's keyboards are designed for travel and feel, and a slightly sticky key after years of use responds to a gentle clean; use a soft brush and short bursts of air rather than liquids.
If your ThinkPad has the haptic trackpad, check Windows' settings for the click level and whether palm rejection is too aggressive while typing.
Differential
Likely causes of “Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 keyboard or trackpad is not working correctly”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A TrackPoint that miscalibrated
What separates it The pointer drifts
How to confirm Restart without touching the stick
- 2
The touchpad switched off
What separates it No pointer movement from the trackpad
How to confirm Settings, Touchpad: On
- 3
FnLock toggled
What separates it Function keys do the wrong thing
How to confirm Press Fn+Esc
- 4
A driver fault
What separates it Keys work in the BIOS but not Windows
How to confirm Update drivers in Vantage
- 5
Dirt or liquid
What separates it A key sticks
How to confirm Clean with air; spills need service
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the TrackPoint or the trackpad fails
- Whether the keyboard works in the BIOS
- The FnLock state
- Whether there was a spill
Try in this order
0 of 9 completedRestart without touching the TrackPoint
ReversibleHands off during boot.
Check the Touchpad setting
ReversibleIn Windows settings.
Press Fn+Esc
ReversibleTo toggle FnLock.
Update drivers
ReversibleIn Lenovo Vantage.
Test in the BIOS
ReversiblePress Enter, then F1.
Clean the keyboard
ReversibleShort bursts of air.
Adjust TrackPoint sensitivity
ReversibleIn Mouse settings, Additional mouse options, UltraNav, change the TrackPoint speed.
Replace a worn TrackPoint cap
ReversibleLenovo sells caps; pull the old one off and press a new one on.
Adjust the click strength
ReversibleIn the trackpad settings if a haptic pad feels odd.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- TrackPoint calibration
- It sets itself at power on.
- Fn+Esc
- Toggles FnLock.
- UltraNav
- Lenovo's control panel holds the TrackPoint settings.
- Worn caps
- A new cap restores grip.
- Click strength
- The haptic click can be adjusted.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the keyboard fails in the BIOS, contact Lenovo
- !If TrackPoint drift remains after restarts, ask for a repair
- !A spill needs service
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does my TrackPoint drift?+
It calibrated while touched.
What is FnLock?+
A switch for the function keys.
How do I test the keyboard?+
In the BIOS.
Can I use a mouse?+
Yes.
How do I slow the TrackPoint?+
Lower its speed in UltraNav settings.
Can I replace the cap?+
Yes, they are cheap.