Debian – How to enable/disable the synaptics touchpad in Debian 9 with libinput

debianlibinputsynclientuser input

I recently upgraded from Debian 8, to Debian 9 stretch. Apparently they no longer utilize synaptics /synclient to control touch-pad input. What I am looking for is a simple command to enable or disable touch-pad functionality on demand, with libinput.

With the synaptics drivers, I used the command,

synclient TouchpadOff=1

to disable the 'pad', and

synclient TouchpadOff=0

when I wanted it back on.

Simple and direct. I frequently spend long periods typing with only infrequent use of the mouse, and the touchpad picks up unintentional input, tossing my curser all over the document. I don't want to do a permanent disable, nor do I want an automated disable (IE, whenever a USB mouse is detected, or whenever typing is detected), I just want it on when its on, and off when I want it off.

Just a simple command to enable or disable the pad on demand.
Can anyone help me with this? I have been searching high and low for some way to do this without having to make permanent changes to the system, and can't seem to find anything. Doesn't anyone else do things like this? I'd really rather not have to go back to Debian 8 just to have that command capability back, but I am actually considering it, as ridiculous as that seems.

I would prefer a terminal command solution, but GUI is fine too, if anyone knows of something. I'll take almost anything at this point, I think The key here is a SIMPLE, toggle-on/off solution. I can't be the only person trying to figure this out.

Best Answer

After installing xinput, I was able to use the commands:

xinput set-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Device Enabled" 0

to disable, and

xinput set-prop "SynPS/2 Synaptics TouchPad" "Device Enabled" 1

to re-enable my touchpad.

My OS is Debian 9 Stretch with Mate DE. But oddly, I found this specific answer here (credit where credit is due):

https://elementaryos.stackexchange.com/questions/7160/how-i-can-disable-enable-my-laptops-touchpad-on-elementary-os-loki

Thanks to RussellB, GAD3R, Christopher Díaz Riveros, and Stephen Rauch, for your timely help with answers, and editing of my posted question. Now I am off to the above linked post to see if I can adapt and use the rest of cipricus's posted instructions (which were for Elementary OS), in my Debian 9 Mate DEnvironment to turn this into a hotkey switch. M aybe I can load it into the Fn + F5 combo mentioned above.

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