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Magic Trackpad Erratic Movement

Just bought and installed Magic Trackpad on my iMac. Paired the trackpad, installed the software with Software Update. But then the cursor movement has been erratic. The cursor jumps on the screen randomly and "taps" itself. Fortunately I can still use my Magic Mouse so I have to disconnect the trackpad.

Anyone with a similar experience? Any solution?

Unibody MacBook Pro 2.53GHz/iMac Core2Duo 2.66GHz/iPhone 3Gs 32GB, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jul 31, 2010 7:33 AM

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141 replies

Aug 11, 2010 12:56 PM in response to Colin Lai

Wow....same issue here. I just bought a Mac and I have to deal with this magic trackpad issue. I just called Apple and they have NO SOLUTION. Funny....my fix was moving my DECT 6.0 phone away from the trackpad and it would work fine. But the again...if I move to other parts of my living room, the CRAZY PAD starts moving by itself. I have a Airport Extreme and Iphone 4 in the same room, so who knows what is really causing this problem. A shame....really.

Aug 13, 2010 3:13 PM in response to Colin Lai

I had this issue today, but only while I was transferring a large file using Airport Wireless. As long as I was using the WiFi in high volume transfers, the Trackpad would behave erratically on my Macbook Unibody ( Late 2008 ). Perhaps the channel used by your local wireless is causing interference? As soon as my high volume transfer stopped, my trackpad behavior returned to normal.

Aug 16, 2010 6:54 AM in response to Colin Lai

After mine having issues last week but then working solid, it started acting erratically again this morning. The difference I think was that I am working from home and had my IBM work laptop near by and plugged into a monitor next to my iMac. Wireless is turned off on that laptop though. My phone and iPad were somewhat close by. Reboots didnt help, until finally I moved my cellphone and iPad far away from the imac (which is odd because I sync my ipad to the iMac normally without issue), put my work machine to sleep, and then put the iMac to sleep and woke it back up again, and now finally the trackpad is working again.

This thing is susceptible to some sort of interference by I dont know what yet.

Apple emailed me last week asking for information on my configuration and logs based on what they read here in the forum and I sent it off, but havent heard back yet.

Aug 16, 2010 10:15 AM in response to Colin Lai

So it was working for a minute and now it's on the fritz again, even though I have removed everything that is interfering (so I thought) and it still won't work now. Even after reboots. So I plugged in the magic mouse (which is bluetooth and should be subject to the same interference issues) and it works fine.

I am going to the apple store after work and will see if they will swamp my trackpad. I hope so, and I hope the new one works, because I love the **** out of the trackpad when it's working right!

Aug 22, 2010 5:28 AM in response to Colin Lai

Yup... I have the latest OS (10.6.4) and installed the Magic Trackpad update and the Trackpad goes erratic. I read that certain 3rd party plug-ins may interfere. I Got rid of every conceivable 3rd party plug-in around the Trackpad, and it still goes erratic. I do believe that there is other Wi-fi or Bluetooth interference. There must be. My Magic Mouse never had trouble. I love the Trackpad when it works, but I can only get it to work properly for maybe an hour at best, then it goes back to being erratic (after turning it off then on again, or restarting the computer)... If there is not an update to fix I will have to take it back.

Magic Trackpad Erratic Movement

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