TrackPad won't turn on after batteries were changed.

Yes, they are good batteries.


Yes, they are the same type.


Yes, they've been installed correctly.


Yes, I know where the on/off button is.


When I push it, nothing happens: no light, no nothin'.


Thanks goodness I still have my Magic Mouse.


Any ideas?

Magic Trackpad-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Jan 21, 2012 3:08 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 7, 2012 7:17 AM

If you could not turn on your Magic TrackPad, if you're press the power button on the peripheral, but it doesn't light: one of the reasons is a faulty contacts. Open the battery module. Remove the batteries. Take a long screwdriver and put a bit of cotton on its end. Wet the cotton by the medicine alcohol. The carefully move the end of the screwdriver with the cotton into the battery module and carefully clean the remote side of the module (you can see the metallic contact there). Then carefully clean the screwing cover of the module. Wait about 10-15 minutes until the medicine alcohol evaporates. Then put the batteries back, screw the cover and try tu turn on your Magic TrackPad by its power button.


Warning! Don't use a huge peace of cotton and much medicine alcohol, you must clean by it, not wash in ;) Don't hurry up after the cleaning: wait until the medicine alcohol evaporates, only then you can insert batteries. Don't use drinks like whiskey, they have components that will not evaporate and the device will be broken. Use only clean medicine alcohol.


P.S. If you can't repair the TrackPad, maybe its hardware is damaged.

59 replies

Mar 21, 2014 10:27 AM in response to Will Wyatt

I was having the same issues; received a message on the computer that my trackpad batteries are low. So I put in two new Energizer 1.5v AA batteries. This is the same exact brand as what came in the trackpad, however those that came in it say "Advanced" and what I was using do not. When I pushed the on/off button, I got a split second green light (which I know it does not stay lit constantly) and a window came up on the computer saying it was trying to find the device...to no success even after removing an re-installing the batteries multiple times. I finally put the old batteries back in a viola....it is working. But what a PIA this will be if it won't recognize other batteries. Because it worked after I put those original batteries back in only leads me to believe I am going to have to use the exact same ones in replacement. ??

Aug 30, 2014 12:12 AM in response to Will Wyatt

I have the same problem. I can't turn it on anymore and it is only been used on my desk. 😟

I contacted Apple Care Support and said that i don't was the only person with this problem as you can see on this thread for example. He said that they have not recieved enough complaints to call some off the products back. He would not give me a new because it is 2 years and just 2 months old. I dont think this can be okay, when you buy so expensive stuff from the company Apple.



So folks!! Contact Apple Care Support and tell about your problem. Maybe we all can get new when they know about everybody with the problem, like the iPhone 5 battery or the chargers.

May 5, 2015 3:08 AM in response to studsgard

Had the same problem.


8 months old trackpad, used by regularly basis, wouldnt suddently turn on any longer...


Tried various kinds of working batteries, popped the spring with chopstick, hit it (softly) different places and stuffed it with aluminium foils. Nothing worked...


Tooked a break, made some coffee and tried all the above solutions one more time - this with succes. It was the foil-trick which did the magic.


So, if you dont have succes 1., 2., or 3. third, then just keep on trying 🙂


Thanks for your solutions!!

Aug 4, 2015 2:35 PM in response to Will Wyatt

Give this a try. Many years ago my HP calculator would not work. An HP tech gave me some counter-intuitive advice. 1. Remove the batteries 2. Reverse the polarity of the batteries. (You heard right. In the Mac mouse place the positive + end on both the batteries at the bottom in the slot.) 3. Turn the unit on. 4. After about a minute take out the batteries and put them back in the correct way.


I tried this with my misbehaving Mac Mouse, and it worked like a charm. Don't ask me why. But that HP tech's advice still holds true.


Good luck.

May 13, 2016 12:33 PM in response to BishopBullwinkle

After all else had failed, I tried this suggestion, with incredulity mind you; but it worked.

Apple, take heed, there is something that is wrong with the firmware on these units. Mine is a A1339. The batteries were out for about 10 months. Tried three pairs of fresh batteries, nothing, it would not turn on (so pairing was not the issue here). But reversing the polarity, holding power for 3 seconds, returning the batteries to their "correct" polarity and a push of the button later, we had a green "on" light.


So, BishopBullwinkle... thank you, saved me 80 bucks. 🙂

Oct 19, 2017 9:49 PM in response to Will Wyatt

I wanted to throw my experience in here as well. I haven't used my trackpad in ages, and wanted to turn it on. There were no batteries in it, I first put rechargeables in, then fresh alkalines. Neither worked. After reading some of the responses here, I cleaned the screw-end contacts with 99% rubbing alcohol. It looked like there was some battery acid buildup. After working it, I put the alkalines back in and the trackpad powered up. It has warned me that the power is low, but I'll see if that lasts.

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TrackPad won't turn on after batteries were changed.

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