Reasons MacBook Trackpad Is Not Working
The most common reasons why you might be experiencing issues with your MacBook trackpad include the following:
The surface of your trackpad might need cleaning. A software bug could be preventing your trackpad from working properly. Your trackpad may have lost contact and now requires a reset.Your Mac’s battery may need to be serviced or replaced.
1. Clean Your Trackpad
Before you spend time troubleshooting your trackpad, it is important to note that the possibility of software or hardware failure is highly unlikely. Most of the time a quick wipe of the trackpad with a gentle cloth will remedy any responsiveness issues that you may be experiencing. Warning: do not use products containing hydrogen peroxide or bleach to clean your Mac. Be sure to avoid getting moisture in any openings, and do not submerge your Mac in any cleaning agents.
2. Remove Any Connected Peripherals
Consider this step an equivalent to the “turn it off and on” step. It shouldn’t cause an issue, although it is one of the easiest elements to rule out. Of course, a wired mouse is easy to spot, though a Bluetooth or other wireless dongle could potentially cause trouble with your MacBook’s trackpad. If an external mouse is connected, disconnect it, then reboot your computer and see if your problem persists. If so, take a look at the next few steps for a resolution.
3. Check for Software Updates
The next element to check is just as simple as removing a mouse from your system. Software updates could resolve any trackpad issue within seconds. To update software:
4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
The SMC is responsible for many of the low-level functions on your MacBook and could be responsible for your trackpad issue, even without having a direct relation to it.
5. Reset the Parameter RAM (PRAM) or Non-Volatile RAM (NVRAM)
Depending on your model and age of MacBook, it will use either PRAM or NVRAM. They both hold dedicated configuration settings for your system. Either can be at fault for your trackpad issues, and resetting them follows the same approach.
6. Delete the Trackpad Property List Files
You may find that a corrupted property list (plist) file could be at fault. Given that we’re looking at a MacBook trackpad issue, there are only two files to consider.
7. Adjust Trackpad Tracking Speed
If your trackpad feels sluggish, it’s possible that it’s not a hardware issue. You can improve the responsiveness of your trackpad by tweaking input control settings in the System Preferences app.
8. Customize Double-Click Speed on the Trackpad
If you are having trouble getting your trackpad to register a double-click action, allotting yourself more time between clicks via the pointer control accessibility settings can make your trackpad feel more responsive.
9. Disable Force Click and Haptic Feedback
Most modern Mac trackpads feature an input force sensor that reveals contextual feedback when a certain degree of pressure is applied to the trackpad. From time to time you may accidentally activate a handful of the features that are enabled by “Force click and haptic feedback,” including “Look Up,” “Quick Look,” and media playback controls. Customizing your Mac to ignore these input methods may prevent unwanted trackpad behavior.
10. Run Apple Diagnostics
If you have tried all of the above methods and your trackpad is still behaving unexpectedly, it is recommended that you run the Apple Diagnostics tool. Perform the following workflow to run a series of checks to determine if your Mac has any hardware damage, including a faulty trackpad.
Macs With Apple Silicon
Macs With Intel Chips
After you initiate and complete the Apple Diagnostics test, you will be able to view a results page detailing any hardware damage, including damage to your trackpad. If a reference code is provided, take note of it and share it with Apple Support to help them diagnose and remedy any hardware issue(s).
Tip: Some MacBook models, most notably those released in 2008 or earlier, may suffer from a rare battery swelling issue after passing 300 to 500 charge cycles. Swollen MacBook batteries can cause trackpad interference if not repaired. If you believe that a faulty battery could be the cause of your trackpad not working properly, consider it time to contact Apple Support.
Image credit: Christin Hume via Unsplash. All screenshots taken by Brahm Shank.
