M1 chip MacBook Pro trackpad not functioning (mouse cannot move)

Hi,

This is my second MacBook Pro M1 (16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD). I returned the first one after just one week (in December 2020) because one evening, with absolutely no warning, the trackpad and Magic mouse became both unresponsive. I actually had to turn the computer off by pressing the power button. I didn't want to take any chances with a $2000 brand new machine, so I returned it immediately.

I ordered another MacBook Pro M1 (same configuration) and received it yesterday (January 7, 2021). I was so excited, thinking that it would be impossible to experience the same problem with a second brand new laptop. Boy, was I wrong.

Here is what happened not even an hour ago. I lifted the lid just a little bit but enough to turn the computer on (I could hear the startup sound and saw the light from the Apple symbol) but then closed it again after approximately 2 seconds (I just noticed a tiny scuff on the lid and thought I'd better remove it). When I lifted the lid again a minute or so later, the screen was completely black and the pointer frozen. Both the trackpad and the mouse were completely unresponsive. Just like with the first machine, when I pressed the trackpad, the tactile feeling was distinctly different. Again, I turned the laptop off by pressing the power button. When I turned it on again, I was able to enter the password and complete the startup. But the pointer was still frozen. However, as I was moving my finger across the trackpad, different apps from the dock would pop up, although the pointer was frozen. The mouse was not working either. I restarted the laptop one more time, and finally everything went back to "normal." But this is absolutely unacceptable. I will return this second machine as well and I guess I will wait until Apple does something about this bug or whatever it is. In the meantime, I will continue using my 2013 MacBook Pro, which still works very well although I dropped it a number of times and I cannot use the bottom part of the screen as a result. Just to make things clear: the only apps I installed on the M1 were Firefox, Chrome, and Brave. Nothing else. Two brand new machines. Malfunctioned after seven days and two days. I thought Apple had better quality control but I guess I was wrong.

Hi Sethman71,

Most probably it is a software issue, but it's still annoying to have to deal with it when we are talking about a brand new Apple laptop. Interestingly, though, in both cases, the trackpad felt differently when pressed during the crisis situation. It felt as if something had been stuck underneath. That's why my first thought was, okay this may be a hardware problem. I returned the machine immediately because I was still within the 14-day since the purchase time frame. But when exactly the same thing happened for the second time, I realized that it must be a software problem. But to me that didn't make much difference, so I returned the second one as well. Why do I have to go through this every time I purchase a new laptop? Don't get me wrong, the laptop itself is beautiful, the battery life is pretty much as advertised, but we all expected this to be a flawless machine. From what I've read on other forums, the M1 16GB RAM + 512 GB SSD configuration seemed more likely to have this trackpad issue. Maybe the 8GB RAM models are better in this respect, but I don't know. Anyway, if it tuns out to be a software problem, it will be solved sooner or later. Hopefully the new series (M1X or M2) won't have similar issues. Why don't you wait for five months or so and get the 14 inch model with a better chip inside? By then other possible software glitches will be addressed as well (or so you'd hope).

SMC reset is not really a thing any more. A reset can only be done by starting up and holding the power button down for over ten seconds until a settings screen is displayed - then, hunt around for obvious tools and use them as you will. Restarting after that may well work far better. My multiple problems slowly went away after doing that - and restoring - re-installing Big Sur. There is a new version out today 5-5-2021. That could fix things as well.

I can imagine your frustration. :(

You should return it and get a full refund. The M1 MacBooks are a let down.

I have exactly the same problem on brand new MacBook Pro M1, 16 gb RAM, 1TB SSD. Exactly the same problem as described above. The mouse pointer freezes and after a few restarts, appears to work again.

Same problem here... brand new MBP M1. After a restart, the mouse is stuck in one place on the screen even though the now invisible mouse moves where you want it to.

Interestingly, if you have two monitors, the mouse works fine on the second monitor, just not on the laptop screen. I've tried restarting with and without the external monitor attached. No luck... the mouse never works on the laptop screen.

Hello ... Same thing with my brand new M1 MacBook Pro 13 16mb ram , Built in trackpad suddenly stop working twice. buttons worked ok while problem present. slide finger over built in track pad- frozen pointer had to restart. happened twice already first time just out of the box and two days ago. I received it on December 16 2020 open box a couple of days later. No software programs installed. No external accessories attached. Called apple support seems no specific solution. I have many apple products for many years now and just purchased M1 Mac mini also. I really don't understand. Latest Big Sur update , No impacts at all. Built in Track pad is working fine at the moment however I'm very concerned with this investment.

Sincerely

Same problem, MBP 13" M1 2020, 16Go RAM, macOS Big Sur 11.2.

After reboot, sometimes the mouse on screen is unresponsive, but i can still click anywhere (the pointer don't move, but the actions of clicking anywhere are available). I have to reboot again if it happens.

So frustrating and annoying for a brand new laptop...

Confirmed 14 Feb 2021! Mac M1: BigSur 11.3 (Latest update for Developers)

Secondary Click with 2 fingers: Not Working

Trackpad sometimes stuck and became unresponsive for a few seconds!

Battery dropped from 100% -> 20% in ~ 6hrs when temperature is low ~ 7 - 14! (No air-conditioner)

-> my other Macbook pro (2015) just shutdowns when it's cold like that, so I had to use adapter all the time.

Bluetooth Bug occurred after a while - cannot find Airpod Pro

Airdrop Bug not working after a while - cannot send items to iPhone

> must restart Mac to fix Bluetooth + Airdrop bugs

My trackpad has settled down now , but the computer shuts down with a debug output - in part - as follows:-

panic(cpu 3 caller 0xfffffe002d7f4c40): "busy timeout[0], (60s): 'AppleAPFSMedia'"

Debugger message: panic

Memory ID: 0x6

OS release type: User

OS version: 20D80

Kernel version: Darwin Kernel Version 20.3.0: Thu Jan 21 00:06:51 PST 2021; root:xnu-7195.81.3~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8101

Fileset Kernelcache UUID: F78A48EC84D7C3283E7C6C67D00889A7

Kernel UUID: 9FE8C0DA-8ED0-381C-9CEC-2A779F3E1503

iBoot version: iBoot-6723.81.1

secure boot?: YES

Paniclog version: 13

KernelCache slide: 0x0000000025508000

KernelCache base: 0xfffffe002c50c000

Kernel slide:   0x000000002603c000

Kernel text base: 0xfffffe002d040000

Kernel text exec base: 0xfffffe002d108000

mach_absolute_time: 0x47c7451b066

Epoch Time:    sec    usec

 Boot  : 0x603fd3ea 0x000cc1b3

 Sleep  : 0x6043ed38 0x000831fc

 Wake  : 0x6043ef53 0x000ae1be

 Calendar: 0x6043f3b3 0x00030afc

In the past this shutdown also flashed the screen Magenta as it died. Yesterday there was no flash, just black.

This has happened so often that Apple has said they shall replace my Macbook Air.

That was two weeks ago. No sign of it yet.

After a memory reset - which by the way is NOT ANYTHING LIKE other Macs, and after a full OS reinstall and update - my trackpad has no further problems. The entire computer crashes and reboots though... I am waiting for a replacement. A courier turned up today to take my existing machine back to Apple. I have not had the replacement yet. Bit of a total cockup all round. I blame covid. By the way, my Long Covid has been greatly lessened after I had the 'Oxford' jab. Make sure you get your's asap !

This just happened to me for the first time twice in one evening. New MacBook Pro M1 bought Feb 2021. I started the computer, the pointer was frozen. I had to restart it with the power button and then it worked. Has anyone heard back from Apple?

I'm told by Apple that the way to so an SMC reboot on an M! mac has changed. It is now, shut down, then reboot holding the finger sensor key down until Options is displayed. Then, follow your nose. Has anyone else been told this ?

no. I have a 2020 MacBook M1. I purchased this to future proof me as I use this in my music production. I kept it too long to return. the mouse and track pad stop working, hardly any software or plugins from third party sellers works and it crashes even with Logic x which is meant to be solid with the M1.

so....no would be my recommendation at the moment. I am in fact thinking about a PC and Cubase , that's after 10 years of working with Apple products.

I'm on the phone - waiting - to get my fourth machine - third replacement from Apple. They have so far blamed Google Chrome, my small memory of 8G and the software I have migrated from my MBP . The last thought actually holds water. I rejected the first few out of hand as - been there- done that too often.

So - probably, yet another new machine on the way and I shall have to manually reinstall everything !

Deeply unimpressed.

Helpful but bloody ****.