Q: My built-in keyboard and trackpad not working

Kaplan42     Dec 17, 2015 5:09 AM 
  in response to ELiTE-NET     

Same issue for me (MBP 13" early 2015, El Capitan 10.11.2). Unresponsive keyboard and trackpad, sometimes after sleep, sometimes all of sudden. Bluetooth/USB keyboard & trackpad working. Tried resetting NVRAM, SMC, created another Admin session, Diagnostics, emptying cache, libraries (using CleanMyMac), Disk Permissions. Sometimes booting in Safe Mode does resolve the issue, but today it doesn't. Apple Support recommends formatting the hard drive and reinstalling the OS manually without using Time Machine (which I'm reluctant to do, this will take days to re-install everything). The trackpad/keyboard problem may happen when away from bluetooth mouse. I also have some bluetooth & wifi issues (disconnections). There are a number of discussions around this problem, but no-one seems to have been able to solve the issue, apart from the ones that had their Macbook serviced (change of keyboard/trackpad). Most worrying for such a recent high-range Macbook. I'd hope Apple would take this issue seriously and recall the defective model.

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Kaplan42 ! I have exactly problem like your. My macbook pro just bought on Aug/2015 but A problem just happen this month. Every time macbook go sleep then Keyboard and Trackpad not working, then I have to remove battery cable. reconnect again then it's work. I don't know why ? after reading your comment, Maybe I have to reinstall whole system . maybe it work. this is first time I bought Macbook with protect plan. but when I bring to apple store, the guy over there try to reset smc like remove battery and reconnect battery then give me back. I try to ask them a new one but they didn't. so disappoint about this. I will never buy mac book again because I didn't how to fix them. Windows and notebook ok., I can how to replace and fix them. hope apple will see this problem and fix it

The easiest way to tell if it is software or not is to do a clean install. Which means you have no additional software loaded. You would need a backup with time machine or some other way.  If the problem is still there, it's not software. You could also try resetting your sleep settings in system preferences energy saver. Make sure there is nothing magnetic close to the computer as this will cause it to try and go to sleep.

I have the same issue,  trackpad and keyboard become unresponsive after waking up..  And now its unresponsive ALWAYS during the start up boot selection,  recovery mode,  and safe mode,  kernel related things.. When i use external keyboard/mouse its responds as it should be ..  But if on normal Mac/windows it will be responsive most of the time.  I also noticed that boot time increased 3 times compared the first time i used my mbp.  Im doing a clean install now and hopping to fix the problem..  It seems to be a firmware issue..  I let you know of the updates.. 

Mbp 13' early 2015.  El capitan 10.11.x

Thanks my ginger and kaem1189 !

I just recovery whole system. clean up system. be back factory system. Hope this way working. 2 days already didn't see that again. I will let's you know if that's happen again. thanks

I got the same problem and it is a pain in the ***. Right now I have sensitive UNSAVED documents open and I cannot save them, because I'm in the login screen and cannot access the computer. Now I have to make a hard reboot. Thanks Apple for doing nothing.

Did yo try connecting a wired keyboard and mouse?

If the app yo are using has autosave then yo can recovery that after rebooting.

Yes I connected a keyboard and a mouse but they have not responded as well.

From now on I will shut down the macbook before closing it and disable sleep mode.

Hi,

I have the same problem. I need an usb keyboard & mouse to use my laptop (2011)

1- Genius Bar software check: everything ok....keyboard ko.  Perfect...problem allocated.

2- Genius Bar first answer: we need to change the keyboard and trackpad...200$ aprox. My answer: ok, go ahead.

3- Genius Bar after a few hours : dear customer...ehhh...there're no problem with the keyboard and trackpad, we swapped the two units and the problem continues...yesss...we must to change the motherboard...500$ aprox.....  My answer: please don't touch my macbook...go away from it!!! 

after these process, I don't believe that the problem is this, I'll make a complaint, because I think this is a problem about product's design and I don't agree with the BAr answer.  

Madrid- (Spain)

Hi lllaass,

Not sure if you still monitor this but my trackpad has been non-responsive for a while and I can only use my MacBook (Pro Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014) with my magic mouse. Even then there are sometimes issues to connect (i.e. after replacing the battery or after a restart). Additionally, when I use my MacBook to watch videos via Netflix etc. the pointer constantly moves (in varying directions at varying speeds) across the screen.

I have tried resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM.

Do you have any suggestions?

Many thanks!

Nix

- If possible I would do a fresh install of OSX on an external drive  and boot from that. If still problem that would point to a hardware problem with the Mac.

Or

- Try resetting the SMC and NVRAM/PRAM

Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

About NVRAM and PRAM 

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

- Try starting in Safe Mode

OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

- Boot to Recovery and repair the startup disk

OS X: About OS X Recovery - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

- If it is repairable reinstall the OSX

How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204904

- If you do not have a backup use disk utility to restore the internal disk to an external disk so you can try to recover data.

Then format the startup disk and do a fresh install of OSX

If still problem, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store since it appears you have a hardware problem.

Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/  

I have been experiencing the same problem with the trackpad for about 6 months now. My keyboard just went out and is acting bizarre. I am going into the Apple Store on Tuesday to send in my computer after they told that would be the best thing to do, since the batteries, keyboard and trackpad are part of one "top case" part in the mid-2014 model that is very expensive to replace in-store. I might ask them to replace the logic board as well (they will do it for free if you send it in, as well as any other faulty parts they find). I will let you know the results once it gets back--I'm pretty sure (99.9%) that it's a hardware issue and the Genius's agree. Fingers crossed!

I also have this problem on a early 2015 macbook pro. I wen't to apple and they wanted to change the logic board!! I didn't, I'm looking for help...

My keyboard and trackpad suddenly stopped working yesterday (external keyboard and mouse worked fine). It seemed to resolve itself after booting into recovery mode.