How to force a reset on Magic Trackpad

Hi,

I have owned a Magic Trackpad for a few months and it works great. I left for vacation and I left it in a shared project room at work and somebody else paired the device while I wasn't here (somehow). This person is in a different state and now that I tried to use it, it has his name in it and although I am able to pair it, only cursor movements work (and they are sort of erratic) and the multi touch gestures do not work at all. I've searched the forums and nobody seems to have had this problem before. Any ideas on how to reset the Magic Trackpad to its factory settings so that I may pair it again. What is interesting is how that person was able to pair the device when it was already paired to my MacBook Pro and now I can't do the same thing. I've tried removing the device, changing the name, updating the services, etc. through the Bluetooth preferences pane. I feel like I need a hardware or low-level solution.

MacBook Pro 15'' Unibody (2009)
Snow Leopard

Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro Unibody 15'', Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jan 14, 2011 7:20 AM

Top-ranking reply

sydlow

Level 2

483 points

Posted on Feb 17, 2013 9:31 PM

Scott Rose wrote:

...

2. Hold down the power button on the Magic Trackpad for another 5 seconds until the light starts flashing... BUT KEEP THE BUTTON HELD DOWN WHILE YOU TRY TO ADD IT TO YOUR NEW MAC. The act of you keeping the button held down will prevent the Magic Trackpad from falling back on communicating with the previous Mac.

Scott is spot on - thanks!

View in context

34 replies

Nov 13, 2015 7:35 AM in response to coqui_pregunton

still will not pair.i had the same problem before due to bugs getting into my macbook pro 2012 and found online, thought it was on this forum, that shows you how to disconnect and setup your track pad again. is there any other place i might look?

Jul 12, 2011 1:12 PM in response to kyle.cottle

This also worked for me when I needed to re-pair my TrackPad with my iMac after pairing it with another Mac that was not easily accessible.

Thanks 

:-)

tem2001

Level 1

0 points

Oct 13, 2011 9:02 AM in response to jawkat

Thanks, Jawkat. Removing it and then re- adding it is what worked for me. I held that poor little button down longer than anyone should have to, but "connection" kept failing.

thellum

Level 1

8 points

Jan 4, 2012 12:01 PM in response to kyle.cottle

This worked perfectly for me (reset discoverability to factory).

Jan 5, 2012 9:54 PM in response to norg_props

thanks @ norg_props

my fingers where so tired of pressing that button

Mar 23, 2012 12:35 PM in response to jawkat

jawkat's approach [removing and re-creating the Bluetooth pairing] solved my problem too.

Thanks

Nov 2, 2012 7:34 PM in response to coqui_pregunton

Has anyone noticed today that you CANNOT purchase the Magic TrackPad ?????????????

Sajolin

Level 1

0 points

Dec 28, 2012 9:33 AM in response to coqui_pregunton

Its easier. I had the same problem and solved from bluetooth preference panel. Just select the trackpad from the list and click on the little gear and chose rename and thats all.

beiside

Level 1

0 points

Dec 31, 2012 12:01 PM in response to jawkat

Thanks a lot! Your solution worked for me as well, I was adding my trackpad again by clicking on the Trackpad icon in system preferences.

Jul 4, 2013 10:48 AM in response to kyle.cottle

Yup, holding the button down through the entire pairing definitely worked.

Jul 5, 2013 5:35 PM in response to Scott Rose

Thanks, Scott -- I was letting the button go after seeing the fast blinks. Holding it down was what got me over the hurdle!

Apr 21, 2014 9:24 AM in response to Scott Rose

Holding the power button while trying to pair worked for me as well on 10.8.5 iMac and bluetooth setup assistant

Broido

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2014 4:58 AM in response to Scott Rose

This is IT.

Thank you so much!

igorm

Level 1

4 points

May 10, 2014 4:45 AM in response to Scott Rose

This should be written on the back of the trackpad ....

May 18, 2014 7:09 PM in response to Scott Rose

Worked perfectly (Snow Leopard & separately Mavericks). Thanks Heaps - Matt

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How to force a reset on Magic Trackpad