Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Unibody Trackpad Loud Click - Cure

K

kolax

macrumors G3
Original poster
Mar 20, 2007
9,181
115
Not sure if this has been posted, but my Unibody trackpad is very loud when clicked and a little bit stiff too - something I noticed right away from upgrading from the "classic" MacBook Pro. I did a little bit research to see if there was a way to try an loosen the trackpad button that would also result in a much quieter click. Well, I found this article and followed the instructions:

...however, after flipping over the MacBook Pro and popping out of the battery, the user can access the underside of the trackpad where they will find one tri-blade screw. Although these types of screws typically require a special tool, this particular one is easy to turn with the edge of a small flat blade screwdriver. Turning the screw clockwise reduces the travel required to execute a trackpad click and dampens the sound emitted. Turning the screw counterclockwise increases the travel and force required and increases the noise made when the trackpad is depressed.
From experience I would advise turning the screw clockwise an eighth of a turn, testing the trackpad button and repeating until the desired trackpad button action is achieved. Turning the screw too far results in an inability to click the trackpad at all. If this happens, back off a little by turning the screw counterclockwise an eighth of a turn.
Click to expand...

For those wondering what screw this is, I took a photo of mine. It is the screw in the middle of the "V" on the bottom of the trackpad shell.

trackpad_screw.jpg


It is very sensitive and turning even just a fraction will have an impact on the stiffness of the click. Took me about 10 minutes of fine tuning (using a flat headed screw driver) and turning the screw even just a slight millimetre to get it perfect.

Now, my trackpad is quiet, I can actually click without getting frustrated and it does my thumb justice too!
 
Well I'm surprised that people actually use the physical button. I find the tapping much more pleasing and comfortable.

Thanks a lot, though :D
 
Menge said:
Well I'm surprised that people actually use the physical button. I find the tapping much more pleasing and comfortable.

Thanks a lot, though :D
Click to expand...

Dragging is a lot easier if you click rather than double tapping etc.
 
I just use a mouse! I hate the built-in trackpads on all mobiles. I do like the little nobbly thing that the Thinkpads use.
 
UltraNEO* said:
I just use a mouse! I hate the built-in trackpads on all mobiles. I do like the little nobbly thing that the Thinkpads use.
Click to expand...

Heh.. Nobbly.

I have a new unibody MBP coming in today. I will bookmark this page if I need to change the click settings. Thanks for the helpful info!
 
If you tap to click, double tap to drag, use multitouch super-gestures you DO NOT NEED to click. Why in the world would anyone want to use a button when you can just tap!!!! It's so magnificent... Or you can just use a moooouse: maybe a mighty mouse, it's so beautiful... white, shiny...

Yeah...

I spent a lot of time fine tuning that screw. While fine tuning, opening and closing the cover, the battery cover became loose. Now, if I click in the middle or on the right side it's ok. But if I click on the left side, the noise is louder than before.

So: for those willing to try. The best way to fine tune the screw is to: rotate it, put the battery back, close the lever used for releasing the cover and verify the actual settings. Do not do like I did otherwise the cover becomes loose.

thistle
 
Just to update - I used my friend's Unibody trackpad and couldn't believe how stiff his clicker was. I sorted his out and the click is now effortless. Interesting to see how many people have over stiff trackpad clicks.
 
May be it was only an impression, but after using the trackpad on 13" MBs I think that there's a difference between MB and MBP trackpads. On the three MBs I tested both the noise and the pressure seemed more acceptable.
 
Menge said:
Well I'm surprised that people actually use the physical button. I find the tapping much more pleasing and comfortable.

Thanks a lot, though :D
Click to expand...

I tried that and found it hard to get used to, especially when doing a click-drag. I also had a real hard time changing labels on folders, where you click once to select, then drag off to highlight the text. I would tap-click, tap-click-drag, and it was too frustrating for such a simple task. Also, if I'm sharing my computer with an associate, they don't get that you don't have to click and I have to always explain that it's a simple tap to click. After messing with it for a week or so, I turned it off and went back to the old fashioned button click even though it's loud and stiff.

As for a mouse, I'm not always in a situation where I can plug in a mouse and I don't want to always have to carry one around with me.

I think I'm going to try the adjustment... hope it doesn't screw anything up and there is a way to return it to the default settings if I don't like it.
 
THX1139 said:
[...]
I think I'm going to try the adjustment... hope it doesn't screw anything up and there is a way to return it to the default settings if I don't like it.
Click to expand...

It is very easy and it is possible to return to the 'default'.

You won't screw up anything, but be careful with the battery cover.
 
Nice call!

I thought that all the trackpads were just as loud, but I guess I never really played around with any other ones in an environment I could hear them in.

I wonder if mine sets some kind of record. It's really, really loud.
 
Thank you!

I have screwed clockwise, very slowly, until I cant click. And screwed back counterclockwise just a little.
 
Does this actually adjust the trackpad position... like the left side of my trackpad is a higher then the right side... will this fix it?
 
Sweet... Nice find. I just got my Macbook Pro last night. I asked a friend about this very thing this morning. She has a Unibody Macbook. Mine is super loud.

Thanks!
 
dan5.5 said:
Does this actually adjust the trackpad position... like the left side of my trackpad is a higher then the right side... will this fix it?
Click to expand...

No - it doesn't adjust the height or levelness of the trackpad. Just the stiffness/ease of click which directly affects the loudness of the click.

I did this to actually ease the click too - I got sore thumbs.
 
I'd do it for the sound, but I don't like how the lower sound level means softer click. Ironically, I'm a tactile person when it comes to clicking buttons, and I like to "feel" my click better
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back