Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence.

Apple Intelligence has also begun language expansion with localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Learn more >

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

2013 MacBook Pro Trackpad will not click/select.

Is there a fix for a trackpad that responds, but the cursor does not click or select? I am able to swipe up/down and left/right. Thank you.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 3:38 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 4:30 PM

Does the trackpad have physical movement when you press on it? If the movement is restricted, then my guess is some liquid or crumbs have gotten jammed along the edges or gotten beneath the Trackpad itself. There is not a whole lot you can do if this is the case. I have successfully fit a piece of paper into the opening around the trackpad to clear it out, but this will only work for stuff along the edge.


Once in a while macOS can get into a state where clicks won't register. Try rebooting the laptop to see if it makes a difference.


There is also a possibility the button on the Trackpad has failed, although this is not very common in my experience servicing our organization's thousands of laptops.


You can enable "Tap to Click" in the Trackpad System Preferences so you don't have to rely on the physical button to click.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 22, 2022 4:30 PM in response to RBuckner60505

Does the trackpad have physical movement when you press on it? If the movement is restricted, then my guess is some liquid or crumbs have gotten jammed along the edges or gotten beneath the Trackpad itself. There is not a whole lot you can do if this is the case. I have successfully fit a piece of paper into the opening around the trackpad to clear it out, but this will only work for stuff along the edge.


Once in a while macOS can get into a state where clicks won't register. Try rebooting the laptop to see if it makes a difference.


There is also a possibility the button on the Trackpad has failed, although this is not very common in my experience servicing our organization's thousands of laptops.


You can enable "Tap to Click" in the Trackpad System Preferences so you don't have to rely on the physical button to click.

2013 MacBook Pro Trackpad will not click/select.

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.