A trackpad that no longer clicks, makes the cursor jump or does not respond makes a MacBook almost unusable. The cause is usually a setting, a bit of dirt or a software fault, but not always: a trackpad that sits raised or no longer clicks can point to a swollen battery, and that you must take seriously. Below you can work out what is going on, step by step.
Blue Apple repairs MacBook trackpads at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam. What we offer per model is on the MacBook trackpad repair page.
First: how does a trackpad click, anyway?
The trackpads on modern MacBooks (since about 2015) do not really move. They register pressure, and a small motor, the Taptic Engine, creates the feeling of a click. That means two things. If the Mac is off or has frozen you feel no click, and that is normal. And a trackpad that 'clicks' without the feel, or the other way round, is often a setting or a faulty motor and not something mechanical that is stuck.
Step 1: check the settings
- Click. Open System Settings and choose Trackpad. Set 'Click' to Light, Medium or Firm, and try 'Tap to click'.
- Tracking. Check the speed of the cursor and whether you have turned on a trackpad option under Accessibility that changes how it behaves.
- Other devices. Is a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad paired? Turn Bluetooth off and try again.
Step 2: software
- Restart the MacBook and install pending updates.
- Try safe mode: if the trackpad works there, the problem is in software or in a program that loads at startup.
- On a Mac with an Intel processor you can try an NVRAM reset (Option + Command + P + R while it starts). A Mac with an Apple chip does not need that step.
- Connect an external mouse. If the cursor works with that, the trackpad is the problem, not macOS.
Step 3: dirt and moisture
Clean the surface with a slightly damp, lint-free cloth, without letting liquid get between the edges. If liquid has got onto the MacBook, the trackpad can be the first thing to act up and there is more damage underneath. See what to do if you spilled liquid on your MacBook.
Step 4: does the trackpad sit raised, or is the MacBook no longer flat?
This is the one point where you should not wait. If the trackpad sits raised, feels hard or crooked, the case bulges or a gap appears, the battery may be swollen and pressing against the trackpad. Then stop charging the MacBook, do not use it and do not press on the trackpad. Do not try to remove the battery yourself and have it checked as soon as possible: a swollen battery is a fire risk. Read when to replace a MacBook battery.
When the trackpad itself is broken
- The cursor jumps, moves by itself or clicks on its own, even in safe mode and without dirt.
- Clicking no longer works, even after adjusting the settings.
- Parts of the surface do not respond.
- The trackpad was damaged by a fall or a knock, or liquid got in.
In many cases the trackpad is a separate part that can be replaced, but it often sits under or next to the battery and cabling. On some models it is still attached to the top half of the case. That is why we first look at the exact model and at the state of the battery before we say what is needed.
What we do at Blue Apple
We test the trackpad and the cursor, check whether the battery is swelling, look for traces of liquid and then decide whether it is a setting, the trackpad itself or something around it. Then we explain the options, before anything is repaired. More MacBook repairs are on the MacBook page.
Frequently asked questions
My trackpad does not click but the cursor moves. Is it broken?
Possibly. First check the click setting and try 'Tap to click'. If clicking still does not work, the motor or the trackpad may be faulty, or a swollen battery may be pressing against it.
Why do I not feel a click when my MacBook is off?
Because that click is made by a motor that needs power. That is normal.
Can I use an external trackpad or a mouse until the repair?
Yes, a mouse or external trackpad works over Bluetooth or USB. Do have the built-in trackpad checked if it sits raised.
Is a repair worth it for an older MacBook?
That depends on the model and what else is wrong. Read repairing or buying a new MacBook.
