In this article, we will discuss some of the fixes that will help you if the trackpad on Macbook not working suddenly.
Is your MacBook trackpad not running as you want? It can be very difficult to use your machine without it. The good news is that there are many solutions to trackpad problems, and many of them are quick and easy to do. In this article, we will go over all of them and show you how to do the Apple Diagnostics test, which will tell you if your Mac suffers from any hardware failure. Your Mac or MacBook Pro trackpad may have stopped working just because it is dirty. Fatty fingerprints and other remnants can sometimes prevent it from learning your movements properly. Give your clean trackpad a soft, wet (but not wet) cloth before proceeding.
Some peripherals can also interfere with your trackpad and cause installation problems. Try disconnecting other devices in your machine – especially mice – to make sure they are not the cause of the problem. This includes USB-connected devices, as well as Bluetooth devices. Once you have verified that communication items are not a problem, you will want to connect an external mouse to your machine. You will need it to connect to macOS to try some fixes.
Reasons for MacBook trackpad not working
There are many reasons why your MacBook trackpad may not work, such as:
- Dirty area that prevents the trackpad from seeing your finger properly
- A simple software problem that may be easy to solve yourself
- Indirect change, which can cause features such as left-clicking to stop working
- Hardware error, which may require the attention of Apple or an authorized Mac repair partner
If your trackpad works occasionally, but not occasionally, that might be a good sign. It suggests that the hardware itself has not failed, and that software is a problem. You need to be able to fix this yourself. A diagnostic test, which will be included later in this guide, will tell you if the trackpad needs a complete overhaul.
How to set up trackpad on MacBook
There is a big list of ways you can do to get your MacBook or MacBook Pro trackpad running normally again, such as installing the latest macOS updates if you have not already done so, resetting the system management (SMC), and deleting the trackpad’s settings.
Here are some fixes you should try before seeking Apple support.
Restart your MacBook
Have you ever tried to close it and open it again? It’s a common perception when it comes to fixing computer problems – but more often than not, it really works. If your MacBook trackpad has stopped working because of an ordinary software glitch, a restart may be all that is needed to fix it.
Disable Force Clicks
While you are in the menu of the trackpad preferences, you can try Disable Force Click and haptic feedback. Force Click is a feature that allows you to press hard on your trackpad to entice features such as Quick Look and Upload, as well as use flexible media controls. However, Force Click is known to cause trackpad problems from time to time. Try disabling it to see if this solves the problems you were experiencing. If not, you know that something else is wrong. If so, you know that the Force Click bug is the cause of your problem.
Check for updates
Many software problems can be solved by installing the latest system update. If you have not yet updated your MacBook app, now is a good time to do it. Your Mac will automatically check to see if there are any new updates available. If so, click the Update Now button to download and install them.
Reset trackpad
If you have done all the above methods and are still experiencing problems with the MacBook trackpad, it is time to reset the trackpad itself. You can do this by directly extracting its location files. That may sound scary, but don’t worry – you won’t break anything. Also, this process does not break anything – it simply deletes existing file files in your trackpad, which may be corrupted. Restarting your machine restores those files again, and you may find that once restored, your trackpad is back to normal operation.
Reset SMC
Your MacBook system (SMC) system controller is responsible for all low-level settings, such as power and temperature control, battery status, ambient light sensors, and its keyboard and trackpad. Therefore, resetting SMC can sometimes remove keyboard and trackpad problems. This is a long process – especially on note machines – but it is easy if you are careful to follow the steps correctly.
Get Apple Support
If a hardware issue is found during an Apple Diagnostics test, or you have tried all of the above corrections and your MacBook trackpad is still not working, it is time to get help from Apple or Apple Authorized Service Provider.