scarlette

Q: Magic Trackpad Stopped Working Properly After Upgrade

Hi there. I have been trying to fix a problem with my magic trackpad for two weeks now, and I have run out of ideas, so I thought I would see if anyone has any. I have a Macbook Pro circa 2011 that bought second hand, and the trackpad never worked on it properly, it was always jumpy. Luckily, I had wanted to use my magic trackpad with it anyway, and have done so ever since. I have had problems over the years where it selects things or does weird stuff, but I just had to press the power button and then esc to get it to work again. However, now I have a serious issue that I cannot resolve since I upgraded to the latest version of El Capitan.

 

Now the magic trackpad and laptop trackpad work fine on startup, but when my Mac wakes up from sleep, I can no longer tap or "left click" on either the magic trackpad, or the inbuilt trackpad. I can't select programs or click on anything. The only way to get my mac working again is to completely switch off the magic trackpad , and then the inbuilt one starts to work again. I can't just turn the other one back one again though, because it does the same thing again until I switch it off.

 

I have tried the following and had no change:

 

- Deleting all bluetooth devices and adding trackpad again

- Deleting bluetooth plist files

- Resetting SMC

- Resetting PRAM

- Turning off bluetooth on all devices besides macbook

- Unplugging the magsafe adaptor

 

Does anyone have any further suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3)

Posted on Feb 29, 2016 8:27 PM

Close

Q: Magic Trackpad Stopped Working Properly After Upgrade

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by jeffd55,

    jeffd55 jeffd55 Mar 2, 2016 7:43 AM in response to scarlette
    Community Specialists
    Mar 2, 2016 7:43 AM in response to scarlette

    Hello scarlette,

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 

     

    I see that your Magic Trackpad is acting up. The following article provides steps to troubleshoot wireless devices on your Mac. 

    If your Apple wireless mouse, keyboard, or trackpad aren‘t working as expected

     

    Best regards. 

  • by scarlette,

    scarlette scarlette Mar 4, 2016 2:53 PM in response to jeffd55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2016 2:53 PM in response to jeffd55

    Thank you for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately none of those things have helped with his issue. I think the trackpad must be broken or something.

  • by seventy one,Helpful

    seventy one seventy one Mar 8, 2016 4:29 PM in response to scarlette
    Level 6 (15,185 points)
    Peripherals
    Mar 8, 2016 4:29 PM in response to scarlette

    scarlette wrote:

     

    always jumpy.      does weird stuff.      El Capitan.

     

    The only way to get my mac working again is to completely switch off the magic trackpad , and then the inbuilt one starts to work again.

     

    Hello scarlette,

     

    Although it has not been noted as absolute, ElCapitan has it's own Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 and there tends to be problems with older accessories.   Having said that, I would have thought interference to be the likely problem.   The Magic Trackpad clearly interferes with the inbuilt one ... so yes, it should be switched off.


    This is part of Apple's guidance.    Check for signal interference.

     

    Wireless networks that operate on 2.4GHz may cause interference. Move cordless phone base stations, microwave ovens, and other 2.4GHz electrical devices away from your Mac if you suspect interference.

     

    Keep wireless devices within 10 meters (approximately 30 feet) of your Mac. Avoid putting metal objects between your wireless device and your Mac.

     

    Your Macbook is not that old but the El Capitan upgrade was a major one  ... perhaps with hindsight it would have been better not to upgrade because of the problems you had.   If it is possible, take your Macbook into a local Apple Store and ask them if they would try a new Magic Trackpad 2 with your Mac.   The genius bar are normally very obliging although you must book an appointment.

     

     

     

     

  • by Parrish Jones,

    Parrish Jones Parrish Jones Mar 5, 2016 8:44 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (109 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 5, 2016 8:44 AM in response to seventy one

    I'm also having a problem. Mine was working fine until I changed batteries the other day. I saw where the problem I was having may be from rechargeable batteries which had not been a problem from the time I used them. At this point i have tried the stuff in that article which is pretty useless. I put in no rechargeable batteries. Bluetooth says they have 83% charge.

     

    Pretty much my trackpad will not do anything but scroll and touching counts as a click.

     

    It thinks any number of fingers count as four or none so when I swipe left or right up or down, nothing happens except for up down scrolling.

     

    Other gestures work erratically  but I seldom use them.

     

    All my software is up to date.

  • by scarlette,

    scarlette scarlette Mar 8, 2016 4:31 PM in response to seventy one
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 8, 2016 4:31 PM in response to seventy one

    Thank you very much for the response. Perhaps you are right, Maybe it is time to upgrade my trackpad. I will do as you suggest. I will my macbook to an apple dealership and see if they can get the trackpad 2 to work.