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Level 2

499 points

Trackpad Sensitivity

Anyone seen an issue with trackpad sensitivity on the 11" MBA? I seem to have more miss-taps than any other Mac trackpad. It's not terrible but noticeable. I also notice around the edges it is worse.

I tried a few adjustments in system prefs to no avail. May just be me moving from a larger MBP trackpad to the smaller MBA pad.

Let me know if you have any similar experience and found a fix.

Thanks

iMac G5, Macbook Pro, iPhone, 4G Nano, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Nov 20, 2010 9:13 AM

29 replies

Mar 8, 2011 12:40 AM in response to Tony T1

i dont think the top works for me either. i think it is a design thing as it also doesn't click on my MBP 13"

Mar 9, 2011 8:52 AM in response to Yosam

Me too!! I have the 11" MBA.

I keep having to tap an extra time to click. It's very annoying. Hoping to find a solution, I googled 'macbook air trackpad sensitivity' and that brought me here.

It's especially annoying when selecting text. I double tap and start dragging the selection, but it doesn't start selecting. So, I have to move the cursor back to the start and try again and again. It's takes a lot of dexterity and concentration. You know?

It's strange that other functions seem to work fine. Just moving the mouse around seems to always work. But, tapping recognition is about 50%. I have my trackpad preferences set to "Tap to click" because I don't like having to actually click the trackpad - pressing it down.

I may have to start using a mouse instead.

swenak

Level 1

6 points

Mar 12, 2011 4:53 AM in response to David Clark 2

Same problem on MBA 2010 13", 4GB RAM. Problems with on and two fingers too. On MBP 2009 13" without problems. Problems on Windows 7 Pro native and OSX too.

Mar 14, 2011 1:20 PM in response to swenak

I experience this as well no a 13", its a bit annoying but not horrible. I am sure Apple will figure out a fix, trackpads are trackpads so the sensitivity can be adjusted via firmware.

jbischke

Level 1

0 points

Mar 19, 2011 9:16 PM in response to Chris Diaz

I am having this problem too. Any possible solutions?

Mar 20, 2011 6:21 AM in response to Yosam

I'm having the same issue on my 11". Scrolling and moving the cursor mostly seem ok, it is just tapping that doesn't work 10-30% of the time. It doesn't matter if they are hard frustrated angry clicks or light quick taps either.

My theory is it might have to do with your finger moving the cursor a tiny bit in the act of tapping, making the OS think you want to move the cursor instead of click.

jbischke

Level 1

0 points

Mar 20, 2011 7:57 PM in response to Merged Content 1

It does seem like the problem may be more pronounced when I have been moving the cursor prior to clicking on a link. However, since that's almost always it's a fairly consistent problem. I'm starting to get in the habit of just clicking on everything twice and it's probably not the end of the world although it is annoying.

sinnew

Level 1

0 points

Apr 9, 2011 1:10 AM in response to Yosam

same here. it's been about a week since i got my new MBA and it stared last 3 days after. maybe it's because of the softwares i installed but anyhow,
scrolling is fine for me but i have like 20%of chance for tab-to-clicking. so 80% of time, it doesn't work.
i tried several times and found out only some part of the trackpad is sensitive to this tab-to-click and this is not the center.
i can't wake my MBA with trackpad anymore and sometimes, after i write something, i have to move feverishly across trackpad to conjure up the cursor...
this is more than annoying.
i've called the support center and this something they told me to do, which seems to be resetting the preferences of the trackpad, and totally didn't work.
next week, i'm planning on calling them again....
i really hope this is something fixable so i don't have to go through so much hassle...

straneye

Level 1

0 points

Apr 11, 2011 6:28 PM in response to Yosam

I also have the same issue... google brought me here.

What's really interesting is that I've been primarily using my MBA for bootcamp and windows 7. Booted into windows, the trackpad is WAY too sensitive, lending credence to the idea a software fix is at least possible. My "primary" machine is a MBP and I've never had any issues at all with the trackpad (in fact it's a favorite feature). The macbook trackpad is AWESOME and I really hope apple is willing to recognize and address the issue.

Jseyerle

Level 1

0 points

May 27, 2011 12:19 AM in response to Yosam

Same problems with my 2gen MBA.

I didn't have trackpad problems until about 2 months ago.

I am assuming it was an update.

I have reset SMC, PRAM, fiddled with trackpad settings, put them back to default.

In the end nothing works, very annoying, but I have just started using a mouse until Apple fixes it.

remcohe

Level 1

0 points

Sep 25, 2012 9:55 AM in response to Yosam

I have the same problem since I switched my MBA 2011 for a MBA 2012. The 2011 worked flawless but now I have like 20% taps that are not registered. It's not Mountain Lion as I had ML on my previous MBA.

So from this I guess it's more likely a hardware issue. I will look for an other week if I can live with it otherwise I'll go back to the store. At the price Apple ask it should work flawless.....

Oct 6, 2012 8:42 AM in response to Yosam

Glad I'm not alone (or crazy)

I just got a new MBA 13 2012 and I'm having the same issues. I'm experiencing the missed clicks even I write this, very annoying. Is there any corralation between this and the MBP Retnia having issues??

remcohe

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2012 9:57 AM in response to kindalikethat

I don't know. I called Apple they did a clean reboot to no avail and then they advised me to go back to the store. So I did and after a fairly long dicussion and having the guy finnaly see the the problem they agreed to change my laptop for a new one. Unfortunately it was not in stock so I had the choice of leaving my laptop there and wait 10 ⚠ days before a replacement came in or drive to an other location (faily long drive for Dutch standards) and pick one up there, I did the latter. The new one works 'perfect' (99% of the clicks work)

conorew

Level 1

0 points

Mar 23, 2013 6:08 AM in response to Yosam

I know this thread is old, but their are allot of confusing forum posts about this. I have been experiencing this issue for over 2 years. Apple kindle replace my 13" air after the 2nd repair but the problem is still their.

The Second time apple took my air they replaced a trackpad clip and the battery. (I can't remember or find paperwork for the first)

I am no engineer but I think I know what the problem is. or should I say problems are.

I think its a two fold problem.

First the well know "problem" of the macbook case feeling like its statically charged. I dont know what ill effects this is actually having but it does seem to be causing issues with the trackpad at least.

Second I think the batteries are bulging causing pressure from below the trackpad. This reduces the travel and causes it to be super sensitive.

I think the second issues is the most apparent and most serious.

Maybe soon someone will solve this and maybe apple will use their war chest to offer everyone a free replacement.

Trackpad Sensitivity