MacBook Pro Trackpad Not Registering Clicks

[mustangsally82]

I have a Late '08 Unibody 15" MBP with the glass trackpad.

I started having issues with the trackpad last July. I took it into my local Apple Authorized Service place, and they replaced the trackpad the first week of September under AppleCare.

Less than a month later, the same problems started happening again. I am taking mine back tomorrow (hopefully) to see what they will do.

My trackpad seems to be fine as long as the computer isn't hot. When I first turn it on, it clicks well for half an hour to an hour. When I wake it up from sleeping, it works fine. But if I leave it on and it stays warm, the trackpad doesn't register clicks.

I don't have a problem with any of the gestures or with the mouse part of the trackpad; it is just the click.

 

[aimbdd]

I have a Late '08 Unibody 15" MBP with the glass trackpad.

I started having issues with the trackpad last July. I took it into my local Apple Authorized Service place, and they replaced the trackpad the first week of September under AppleCare.

Less than a month later, the same problems started happening again. I am taking mine back tomorrow (hopefully) to see what they will do.

My trackpad seems to be fine as long as the computer isn't hot. When I first turn it on, it clicks well for half an hour to an hour. When I wake it up from sleeping, it works fine. But if I leave it on and it stays warm, the trackpad doesn't register clicks.

I don't have a problem with any of the gestures or with the mouse part of the trackpad; it is just the click.

This sounds like when they first came out... oh i remember that fun...
Always try a fresh install first. Otherwise half the time they will send you home asking you to do that.

 

[mustangsally82]

I remember the battery problems in late 2008. However, at that time, mine worked flawlessly. It was the loudest click that I've ever had in a trackpad button, however.

I think my problem is solved. My battery, which was the original one, was warped. It was preventing the trackpad from clicking all the way down. I'm ordering another one right now, and I will update this thread as soon as I have put my new one in.

I don't think I've removed my battery in over 2 years. When the technician at the Apple place took it out today, he couldn't get it back in because it was so deformed.

I also learned that my MBP can be used without the battery as long as it's plugged into an AC adapter. My previous computer was a G4 PowerBook (2004), and it couldn't be run at all without the battery. I like this feature, and I wish I'd known about it sooner.

 

[aimbdd]

I also learned that my MBP can be used without the battery as long as it's plugged into an AC adapter. My previous computer was a G4 PowerBook (2004), and it couldn't be run at all without the battery. I like this feature, and I wish I'd known about it sooner.

It can, but is not recommended. It also runs your computer at half speed doing that.

 

[mustangsally82]

It can, but is not recommended. It also runs your computer at half speed doing that.

That explains a lot. Thank you!

 

[Corrode]

Hey, what's the turn around time for replacing a top case? I seem to have the same issue.

 

[mikeschmeee]

I've been having a similar issue with my trackpad on my MacBook. I reset my trackpad settings in my system preferences and it seems to be working. Every click and tap has been good so far. *fingers crossed*

 

[iOSDev1]

I had the same issue as the original poster, with a June 2009 MacBook Pro. The problem suddenly came on two weeks ago (January 2011) and became very bad very quickly. After two weeks the trackpad was almost unusable! About 9/10 clicks weren't registering.

I knew it was definitely a hardware issue after I put an old hard drive in the machine (with a clean OS) and still observed the same problem.

Fortunately I have AppleCare, so took it into my local Apple Store and they fitted a new trackpad within 2 hours of me dropping it off! It now works perfectly

 

[Goride]

I have had this problem myself.

My solution was to increase the trackpad double-click speed in system preferences.

It seems that if you click too fast, the computer thinks it's a double click and it will do nothing. For instance if you keep clicking rapidly when it doesn't register, it will not work. You have to let it go for a few seconds, THEN it will work again.

Try increasing the double-click speed, by default it is set quite low. It just might solve your issue.

 

[marcassens]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

 

[galgu]

finally solved

I have had this problem myself.

My solution was to increase the trackpad double-click speed in system preferences.

It seems that if you click too fast, the computer thinks it's a double click and it will do nothing. For instance if you keep clicking rapidly when it doesn't register, it will not work. You have to let it go for a few seconds, THEN it will work again.

Try increasing the double-click speed, by default it is set quite low. It just might solve your issue.

Goride... your tip is the one that solved my problem ... months of suffering just ended! thanxxxx!!!

 

[eliyale]

Thank you!

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU! Worked perfectly. Wish I had found this two years ago.

 

[Litchee]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

Oh my God, it worked for me too. I was really skeptical but when I saw Eliyale's post I thought I'd give it a try. And it worked !
The trackpad started not registering clicks yesterday and it was getting worse by the minute. At first applying pressure on it didn't work, but I tried it a few times with my hands in different positions and at one moment I felt something - couldn't really describe it, but I felt it move slightly. And now it works. 100% of the time. I'm so happy I don't have AppleCare, I think my factory warranty's expired, I live nowhere near an Apple Store and I have less than zero money, so BLESS THE INTERNET, and bless you, Marcassens \o/

 

[hiorgos]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

Thank you!!!

 

[llauzonvt]

whoo hoo!

Thanks, it worked like a charm on my MacBook6,1

I was really worried for a while!

 

[clayco]

I remember the battery problems in late 2008. However, at that time, mine worked flawlessly. It was the loudest click that I've ever had in a trackpad button, however.

I think my problem is solved. My battery, which was the original one, was warped. It was preventing the trackpad from clicking all the way down. I'm ordering another one right now, and I will update this thread as soon as I have put my new one in.

I don't think I've removed my battery in over 2 years. When the technician at the Apple place took it out today, he couldn't get it back in because it was so deformed.

I also learned that my MBP can be used without the battery as long as it's plugged into an AC adapter. My previous computer was a G4 PowerBook (2004), and it couldn't be run at all without the battery. I like this feature, and I wish I'd known about it sooner.

I tried pushing on the trackpad to no avail. I DID, however, shut the computer down, remove battery, then power back up. My battery was apparently the problem. After examining the battery, I have now noticed that it is bulged "up" (when installed). I guess that it is applying too much pressure on the trackpad from the bottom.

UPDATE: Actually, now that I have reinstalled the battery, I have noticed that the bottom cover does not fit as snug as it used to. That would be the battery bulging.

Thank you everyone for your posts!!!

 

[arathivinod]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

OHMYGOODNESS THANK YOU SO MUCH. I JUST CLICKED USING MY TRACKPAD AFTER A REALLY LONG TIME HAHAHA. And without paying extra money to Apple! (Always a plus!)

I love the internet <3

 

[Crumbs]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

dude seriously i wasnt even a member of this site... but since this worked for me i signed up and had to say thank you lol.. i was blaming my fiance for breaking my trackpad and making her feel bad LMAO... you just made my night

 

[Hand Sanitizer]

Guys I know how to fix this because it happened to me too...

Just open your Macbook and remove the battery. Then all you have to do is tighten or loosen the screw on the back of the track pad. You need a small triangular type of screwdriver though, but it might also work with a flat precision screwdriver, which is how I did it. You have to kind of guess how tight or how loose it's suppose to be, so you might go back and forth until it's just right. Hope this helps.

 

[calb]

I'm so pleased this thread is here! I've been having issues with pressure issues with dragging recently too (maybe for a week?), which went beyond the bearable level into the "I better Google it before I start bashing the trackpad".

Following advice in this thread, I pressed the trackpad very firmly with fingers evenly distributed. I don't know what the cause was or how often it will recur, but the quick fix has calmed me down.

 

[Piquantlypurple]

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

You saved me A LOT of grief (and money) with this post and I thank you!! My applecare JUST expired when this started happening to me tonight (just a few mins ago). I tried restarting it multiple times and even did the reset where you take out the battery and press the power button for 5 seconds...no dice. Then I tried this little gem and VOILA!! So awesome. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

 

[VMSwizard411]

who would have guessed???

Ok guys, I've found a easy solution. I've seen the youtube video called "How to fix your MacBook Pro's trackpad (click not working or noisy)" and in the comments, everybody said that slamming your first on the trackpad worked for them. I don't recommend slamming, what I've done is apply a good amount of pressure with two hands on all parts of the trackpad. Sounds silly, but it worked!

I was going crazy trying to get the primary (left for most) click to work on my wife's laptop — the problem had dramatically gotten worse suddenly and nothing worked other than a reboot... until she touched the trackpad in the very least and suddenly and completely the primary click acted like the button was already pressed (strange scrolling, selections, etc. were seen) and left the laptop less than useful. Luckily, VNC connections could send the primary click so I was able to use that for most of my diagnosis and troubleshooting.

This technique of "laying on of hands" onto the full trackpad button did the trick: I just pressed firmly for 5 seconds and when I let up — the normal clicking behavior had returned! Hurray for this thread (and I must say I was in disbelief thinking how this could possibly help). With nothing to lose, it worked perfectly for me/her/us.

Thanks!

--
Marty S.
Computer Whisperer

 

[jbreeden]

reviving this thread to thank those who have pointed me in the right direction, and to give a detail that worked for me, and may come in handy as our unibody machines get older.

When I first got my mbp in early 2009(first gen unibody), I was very quickly annoyed by the loud clicking noise, so I adjusted the click height to quiet it a little bit. The trackpad worked gloriously for over three years, up until tonight.

Sudden, my button started acting like it was already pushed down, and my bluetooth mouse was hit or miss responding to clicks. After a restart didn't cure the problem, I tried taking the battery out for a visual inspection, and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Then I tried pushing down on the trackpad as recommended.

When I flipped it over to try adjusting the screw, I noticed the trackpad screw was actually screwed in so far that it came out the other side. Apparently it's more like a threaded cylinder than a traditional screw. I carefully guided it back into place, and screwed it in reverse to guide it back into the threads, while applying pressure to the top of the trackpad. Problem solved!

Unfortunately, my click has returned to it's original volume. Fortunately, I don't have to try to explain to my wife why I need to spend $2000 on a new retina mbp.

 

[DisplacedMic]

Yeah, that's what the guy on the Apple Customer Service line said to do... now I have to back up all my stuff... with no External HD, fantastic...

i am about to tell you something you already know: there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't already be doing this, with an external hard drive.

 

[KeegM480]

It could be a loose screw. Sometimes the screws can get loose on the trackpad. I had a macbook pro that was just out of warranty took it into a computer shop and they tightened the screw(s) on the trackpad and it started working much better. If apple is replacing it for a decent price though I would go with Apple. I was charged a very hefty price because the computer had to be completely taken apart. So apple store is probably your best bet.