Macbook air touchpad not clicking. It makes an audible click when you press it on the right but not the left

I found the same with my MacBook Air where the trackpad didn't click or even move when pressed (left or right). I placed it in an orientation where the screen back was flat on the table and the keyboard/tracpad part was sticking vertically upwards. I then gently tapped all over the trackpad, especially around the outermost edge, and eventually started to get some movement and clicking when the pad was pressed. My suspicion is a bit of dust or other extraneous material had got down around the edge of the trackpad and was preventing it from depressing correctly.

Navigate to System Preferences - Trackpad and ensure tap to click is selected. If it already is then try doing a SMC reset.

SMC RESET

• Shut down the computer.
• Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.
• On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.
• Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.
• Press the power button to turn on the computer.

PRAM RESET

• Shut down the computer.
• Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step
• Turn on the computer.
• Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
• Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
• Release the keys.

Roger

No. Hardshell as in hardcover case, to protect it from scratches. If you don't use one for you Macbook air, then disregard it. Just rap the thing in the back. Goodluck.

Thanks, to all of you. Have had the same issue for the last couple days and really wasn't sure what to do. Simply turned the MBA over, tapped the underbody a few times and I've "got my clicks back," for now at least. I was fully preparing myself for a jaunt to the Mall / Apple Store which is never really that high on my list of things to do.

Jonathan, I had exactly the same problem today, and tried to resolve it following the ideas offered in response to your posting. I came to the conclusion that they risked really screwing up your machine, and possibly costing a lot of money to repair the damage unnecessarily done. I solved the problem with a little basic housekeeping aided by a few small 3M Post-It notes. The real paper ones...

Just insert one into the minuscule gap between the trackpad and the case. Gently drag it along, and you may hit some resistance. Chances are, it's a crumb that can be worked loose. Or it may be something sticky, probably just natural oil from your fingers. Work away at it until you can move a Post-It all the way around the sides and bottom edge of the trackpad. Job done. At least on my 2010 MBAir.

Chances are, dislodging a crumb is probably what bending the chassis did for another poster. I'll leave it up to you to consider if that course of action is preferable.

Book an appointment at your local Apple Store or AASP. You seem to think it's hardware so if you're right no manner of tinkering on your part is going to fix it. It's still covered by warranty which is good.

Hi Jonathan - you probably have a bent frame as I do. I confirmed this by bending the frame back (very carefully!!), and one side of the TouchPad started working again. It's the physical thin design of the Air that's probably hard to make rigid enough - if you put the machine on a level table, you can see that the TouchPad area rests in the air, supported by the two plastic "feet" or bulges at each corner of the bottom. Each click on the TouchPad puts a stress on the material, which in the end gives, jamming the click mechanism. They should at least take the bulging black feet out of the bottom.

If anyone had the same problem as this, here's what I did.

I removed the hardshell casing on my Macbook Air. I stood the Macbook on its left side on the bed. And I tapped (or rapped lightly) the back of the macbook behind the trackpad. Whatever mechanism that was stuck fell into place.

When I checked on it, the left side of the trackpad clicked normally. I assume this can work on the right side as well.

Olee wrote:

If anyone had the same problem as this, here's what I did.

I removed the hardshell casing on my Macbook Air. I stood the Macbook on its left side on the bed. And I tapped (or rapped lightly) the back of the macbook behind the trackpad. Whatever mechanism that was stuck fell into place.

When I checked on it, the left side of the trackpad clicked normally. I assume this can work on the right side as well.

What do you mean by "the hardshell casing"? You unscrewed the casing?

Thanks! Had same problem 13 inch Macbook air, trackpad worked to move the cursor but would intermittantly stop responding to clicks. Tried changing the trackpad settings but problem persisted. Would usually resort to connecting a wireless mouse! But a single tap on the bottom of the case, right under the trackpad, seems to have fixed it.

Wow, slightly twisting my frame totally fixed the problem. The clicking returned immediately.

The left side of my trackpad was not clicking, so I bent the pad by pushing down on the left and pulling up on the right. I gradually applied pressure until the left surface of the pad was visible over top of the surrounding frame.

Though it seems to come and go, but a quick twist brings it back.

I am on a 2011 11" Air

Same problem here. Click not working on left hand side of trackpad, but OK on right. Stand on left hand edge, tap around the underneath of the trackpad and its back to normal again. Must be dust accumulation inside somehow.

Having the same issue where the left and right part of the touchpad isn't clicking like it used to. It still works, but the clicking isn't there and the travel of the touchpad is less. If I hit the bottom of the MBA where the trackpad is, then something seems to get it back into place and it clicks like new again. Shame my MBA is out of warranty already.

All of your recommendations helped so much!! My track pad wasn't registering the push to click at all. So I turned it on its left and knocked on the bottom of the track pad-et voila! Working again!! So happy this conversation is happening!!