Mid-2011 13" Macbook Air Trackpad problem.

I am looking at a used MBA 13" mid 2011 and tonight noticed the erratic movements and such. I swapped the power cable to the one from my 11" MBA and now the trackpad works perfect. I noticed the power supply that was given to me with this 13" version is an aftermarket replacement power supply.

Hey Guys,

Suddenly, my Macbook Air mid 2012 model number a1466 has had this trackpad issue. Basically as mentioned in the thread the left click is not responding, most of the time it will work once in about 100 clicks, it randomly highlights text when I attempt to scroll, and drags text etc., however gestures still manage to work. If it was a software issue, one would know after plugging in an external mouse, which at the moment has saved my child. The funny thing is the button still clicks perfectly and the touch gestures work but the click and tap to click doesn't and this leads me to believe a component or circuit has just failed due to use.

I have attempted all the SMC + PRAM resets, attempted a hardware test and I even did two full clean installs of OS X Mav just to be sure, but obviously this is a hardware issue which is not being detected by the machine as the hardware itself is not 100% broke. I have tried every fix and read every thread. I am a computer and smartphone technician myself, but never actually came accross this kind of issue and after researching this, I am actually appauled that Apple has not addressed this issue in a professional expected manner. I have ordered the part to fix the trackpad along with it's flex cable that connects it to the motherboard as in my opinion and the opinion of many others, this is the only viable permanent fix.

This swollen battery excuse is for a very small minority. The tightening of the screw below is also understandable but to conclude what I have seen with my machine and read throughout a lot of threads the only fix for this is replacing the trackpad and/or it's flexcable. It is one of the easiest fixes actually, which can be swapped out within about ten minutes.

There are many tutorials online so if you are one of us that is experiencing this issue, calm down. It will be ok 🙂. Unlike everyone else on this thread though I have been using my trackpad for at least a year now and I am only experiencing this issue all of a sudden. I do feel for the people who have no knowledge of being able to fix this. I will write back on this thread to confirm if in fact the new trackpad sorts this issue out. I am convinced it will from experience of replacing components on other Apple products.

I hope anyone stumbling onto this thread has found comfort in what everyone is saying because your MBA is not doomed!!! 🙂🙂

Did u try going to the apple store?

This will sound trivial,but it worked.

I called Apple and the tech suggested I wipe off the trackpad.

After the usual grumblings I grabbed an alcohol wipe and rubbed.

Voila!

Sensitivity is back to normal, no more vanishing files, my MBA is no longer possessed and is once more controllable.

The tech said it was due to oil buildup on the pad. THere's a paper out on it that he said he would send me, but that it wasn't commonly available.

Try it before you run to the apple store.

Especially when its -6F outside.

I've just fixed a MacBook Air 2013 with trackpad problems, the most noticeable fault was that when you moved the pointer arrow it would often leave the white selection box on the screen. I had to remove the tracepad and reassemble it after making a slight modification.

If you happen to live in Devon UK I can fix this fault reasonably cheap. see ****** for more details.

<edited by host>

If you are having trackpad ultra-sensitivity problems to no avail (clicking on things, selecting text, grabbing and moving things, etc.) and you have already checked your trackpad tap to click is off, before smashing your Air to bits or buying a new trackpad, try this:

Put the MacBook Air on a hard surface. Press really hard on diagonally opposed corners of the trackpad at the same time (example: press the top right corner with your right index finger at the same time as the bottom left corner with your left index finger) repeat for all four corners. Do multiple time if necessary until the sensitivity issue is resolved.

IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM. This method was recommended to me from an Apple support online chat rep name Jason. He is my savior of the day, absolutely LOVE this fix. One caveat - he said I may have to do it again if it starts acting up. Since my MacBook Air is outside of warranty, and the closest Apple store is a couple hours away, this is the perfect fix for me!!!

Mid 2011 MacBook Air trackpad issue ultra sensitive fix.

Thanks to Jason at Apple support. This guy deserves a big pat on the back and a raise!!

🙂🙂🙂

Copy, repost, and spread the word to others who may be ready to put their MacBook air through a shredder! Pay it forward 🙂

"Use a mouse"? Seriously? We pay top dollar for these machines, and have succumbed to the "Cult of Mac" for their UX, reliability, portability, and quality. To accept the problem and just "use a mouse" is completely unacceptable (I think I hear Steve Jobs rolling in his grave).

My 3 year old MacBook Air apparently requires a new top case due to an issue (yet unexplained by Apple) where both the keyboard and trackpad are suddenly completely undetected by the machine (despite many PRAM resets, etc.). So I'm supposed to plug a USB keyboard into it and ignore the issue? Turn my laptop into a desktop? It'll certainly be entertaining to watch me set up in meetings or presentations.

Use a mouse. YOU use a mouse.

The more fundamental appeoach is to get it fixed. The ultrasensitivity is caused by a faulty contact within the trackpad. It already happened twice to me. In both cases the trackpad was replaced under warranty. I'm afraid it is a weak point of the Macbook Air in general, once you bought it you have deal with. Expect this to happen every two years when used intensively.

Same problem here, MB Air mid-2012.

Keep dragging, selecting, right-mouse-button-clicking etc.

Very annoying but unfortunately out of warranty.

Anyone who has another alternative or did Apple by now accept the problem as a design mistake?

Yup, and another one having this problem.

This is definitely not a software problem, so anyone running into the same problems, don't bother trying to fix it within OSX. The only solutions really are to either get the trackpad replaced (and risk having the same problem again, as many posters here had after a 'fix') or work with an external mouse and disable trackpad.

I myself will not go trough the trouble and cost of having the trackpad replaced since my MBA is from 2012 and warranty expired. Just not worth the effort or cost.

Unfortunately this MBA adds to my pile of malfunctioning Mac laptops, previously my Macbook white had a problem with the graphic processor - no more screen, after that my Macbook pro had some problem with the screen - line through the screen making it unusable without an external monitor. This has been the last time I will have ever bought a Macbook or an Apple product.

For the price I pay for Apple products I expect to get great quality, not just a pretty device with malfunctioning hardware and no service.