Jtdcftul

I asked this a year ago, with the new (awful) upgrade 18.04 upgrade, the fix got removed and reapplying it doesn't work.

I have a laptop, and while typing, my palm touches the touchpad, which makes the mouse move, close tabs by itself, delete words, open programs, and all other actions.

I want to disable it while typing, same way Windows automatically does it.

This is the previous question, the accepted answer worked for me in 16.04, but no longer works anymore. How do I disable the touchpad while typing?

Note that running the command mentioned in the accepted answer gives this:

Input:

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-libinput

Output:

xserver-xorg-input-libinput is already the newest version (0.27.1-1).

The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:

  libgnome-keyring-common libgnome-keyring0 libnih-dbus1

Use 'sudo apt autoremove' to remove them.

0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

Yes, I restarted my laptop.

Install Touchpad Indicator GNOME extension. Perfect.

https://extensions.gnome.org/extension/131/touchpad-indicator/

Switch the touchpad, trackpoint, fingertouch, touchscreen or a pen device on and off easily from the top panel. Optionally, automatically disable some or all devices when a mouse is plugged in and re-enable them when unplugged.

Install gnome-tweaks

sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

and open it.

Under the tab Keyboard & Mouse you will find in the main window under Touchpad the switch Disable While Typing.

I did it this way:

sudo apt remove xserver-xorg-input-synaptics

sudo apt install xserver-xorg-input-libinput

sudo reboot

On my machine I had both of them, so synaptics was default, deleting it helped me.
Do not forget to reboot.

Assuming your system is using libinput, not synaptics, here is the correction. Copy the following place in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/90-libinput.conf. Must log out to trigger a re-load of X11.

The change that affects the touchpad while typing is in the second to last line. In my case, I have some boiler plate that channels all of the action to the libinput driver, that may not be strictly necessary. HOwever, I'm certain that the last stanza is your magic bullet.

# Match on all types of devices but tablet devices and joysticks

Section "InputClass"

        Identifier "libinput pointer catchall"

        MatchIsPointer "on"

        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

        Driver "libinput"

EndSection



Section "InputClass"

        Identifier "libinput keyboard catchall"

        MatchIsKeyboard "on"

        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

        Driver "libinput"

EndSection



Section "InputClass"

        Identifier "libinput touchpad catchall"

        MatchIsTouchpad "on"

        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

        Driver "libinput"

EndSection



Section "InputClass"

        Identifier "libinput touchscreen catchall"

        MatchIsTouchscreen "on"

        MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"

        Driver "libinput"

EndSection



Section "InputClass"

        Identifier "MyTouchpad"

        MatchIsTouchpad "on"

        Driver "libinput"

        Option "Tapping" "on"

        Option "DisableWhileTyping" "on"

EndSection

I tried to many ways that did not work. Finally founded with this link below:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticsTouchpad

Type: xinput list
Find your touchpad ID. For example it is "7"

Type: xinput --watch-props 7

Find "Palm detection" and "Palm Dimension" lines. There will be a number in parentheses near these lines. For example Palm Detection=(400) Palm Dimension=401

Open a new tab or New window

Type: xinput --set-prop 7 "400" 1
Type: xinput --set-prop 7 "401" 1, 100
After change of these settings you must see the changes with the previous tab like Property 'Synaptics Palm Dimensions' changed.
For palm dimension you can find best for fits with you.