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

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.

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.

So I had this question too because instead of clicking on the left side, it made like a dull click that was super unsatisfying. I tried the whole "knocking on its side" thing, but that didn't work. So I took a post it and just shoved it in the crack between the trackpad and the rest of the computer on the left side. Move the post it up and down that side, and most likely there will be something sticky in there, so just move the post it around that part (you may need to do this a couple times) until you can fit the post it around that bottom left corner. At first, the trackpad was the same, but when I woke up it was clicking perfectly.

Note: you may have to do this again as necessary

I don't think so at all, I'd be a little surprised if it's a hardware problem. Also check you System Preferences - Expose & Spaces - click the Expose tab to look at the settings you have set up.

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, I'm late to the party, but care to share what was going on and what fixed it?

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.

Try close the app then reopen it.

@rkaufman87 - thanks for the post - the SMC reset solved my problem.

Your welcome.

Hi Jonathan

Did you have any luck resolving the trackpad only clicking on the right? I have the same problem

Thanks

ed