Q: Magic Trackpad Erratic Movement

I've tried three different trackpads by now, they all lose the connection after a while. Impossible to work with. After trying all the above suggestions, I have to conclude that Apple is having a real Bluetooth problem. Whether it's my Mac mini or the trackpad or their specific Bluetooth implementation, I don't care anymore. So, I returned the trackpad and now I'am using a wireless infrared trackball from Logitech which always works. Get a grip on it, Apple!

I had to reload the entire operating system the last time this happened - took ages. It's just happened again.

Problem is - I can't remember how to reload the OS!

I am also experiencing this and have tried all the suggestions. Sounds like an Apple problem to me.

wondering if anyone has tried using the teflon film protector thingy that apple is recommending in this instance... purchased one on Amazon but hasn't arrived yet so cant say for sure - they do suggest trying to use the trackpad with a piece of paper on it - so i may try this...

extremely frustratiing tho that Apple hasn't fixed this issue one way or another since the original post in **2011**

using a piece of paper seems to do the trick!

i don't have this issue at all with my MBP trackpad but it appears that the MTP is much more sensitive to finger oil or static or some such thing...

only been trying it out for about 5 minutes but so far - no erratic movement at all!

previously i could replicate the problem by just not using the pad for any relative length of time (1 min or more)... now completely unable to replicate the issue.

please try this and let me know if it's working for you. if so the teflon protector thingy might be the solution...

I'm also having a crazy MTP behavior.  The really strange this is that my old Apple Bluetooth mouse, the white oval shaped one, works fine over bluetooth with no isssues!  I love my MTP, but it's unusable.  If I happen to leave the cursor over a sensitive button on screen (like the delete email button) it cleans out my inbox!

I may take it into the apple store to see if they will replace it.

Hi, I replaced the batteries in the MTP and this resolved all issues.

i turned off(in bootcamp windows 8) allow bluettoth devices to find this pc and everythings been fine since

Yeah, 2014 and this issue is still out there.  I'm glad I'm not the only going nuts out there.

Experienced this with my 1.5 year old external magic track pad (MTP).  Decided to purchase a brand spanking new one.  Same issue.

My current work around is placing my pinky along the right edge of the MTP and then doing what I need to do with my index fingur or index and middle fingure, etc.  It's almost as if the grounding is not working properly.

2012 MBA13

10.8.5

Using very new sanyo eneloop rechargable AA batteries.

My desk surface is glass.

A lot of electronics in the home office but again this is something recent.  April 2014ish.

I'll keep an eye on this thread.  Thanks to all the folks out there providing suggestions.

For what it's worth, there appear to be 2 separate issues here, battery strength and bluetooth interference.

The solution to the battery strength problem is obvious; for interference, 802.11a/b/g use the same frequency as Bluetooth - I've found making sure my wireless router is set to broadcast in "N ONLY" mode fixes my interference problems. Note this only works if you don't have any older (non 802.11n) devices on my network. Or rather it will work for the trackpad, but you won't be able to connect the older devices to your router.

AMAZINGLY, I think I found the root cause to my Magic TrackPad's (MTB) erratic behavior (see my prior post for my Apple hardware details).

It seems, in retrospect, that my AT&T 3G Microcell (HW V2.0 from 2011) has failed a of weeks ago.  After reading many forums, there might be a need to replace the power plug on the ATT 3G Microcell.  Either way, for a long time I had not realized that it was stuck on just the Power On per the LED indicators with a yellow/green mixed light...  Today, after probably a couple months of not realizing that the thing was not working correctly, I decided to keep it unplugged in order to test the power cord with a multimeter.

To reiterate, I had done all the things to get the MTP to work and the only workaround was keeping my pinky on the right edge of the MTP as I used it.  Today, I did not use my pinky on the edge of the MTP.  It took a couple minutes to hit me that the MTP was acting normal.  I was shocked.  I thought about it and sure enough, the ATT 3G Microcell was unplugged.

It seems to me that the issue all along had to do with interference as using my pinky on the right edge "grounded" me?  Perhaps, you might not have an ATT 3G Microcell but your upstairs/downstairs/left/right neighbor might and it aint working correctly.  Or there might be something that is not working correctly near by.  I've had this AT&T 3G Microcell since about 2011 and its been solid and I've been using it while I had the previous MTP (which I though had died) and this  new MTP.

I hope this helps others.

Things tried:

• Replaced batteries
• Re-paired the MTP
• Turn off / turn on blue tooth
• Turned off / disconnected USB accessories.

No luck.

I've seemed to have (mostly) fixed this issue by re-arranging all my USB devices. I removed an old USB hub I was using and instead am using the built-in USB hub of my monitor. I also removed the USB card reader I had always plugged in and sitting on my desk (now I just plug it in when I need to use it).

I'm convinced that all the USB wires were some how interfering with Bluetooth because my Magic Trackpad is now performing much better after streamlining everything and removing as many USB cables and devices plugged in to the Mac as possible.

A lot of things can cause BT interference, including speaker magnets, LEDs, USB cables sans ferrite chokes, scanners, etc.  I resolved the problem you described by placing a sheet of aluminum or my ipad (case closed) under the trackpad and have had no issues since.  Let me know if that helps.

see my response to Colin Lai's issue.