trackpad stuck - how to turn on tap to click?

Question

Level 1

18 points

trackpad stuck - how to turn on tap to click?

My trackpad is stuck and will not click at all.

I can still make the cursor move and am able to get into System Preferences and go to the Trackpad settings, but I am unable to click the little checkbox that allows me to turn on "tap to click". If I had tap to click turned on I could use my computer as normal.

FYI - I am traveling, I have no spare mouse/trackpad, there are no mac stores anywhere near by, the battery is brand new, I have no tools to remove the battery, and I need this fixed by tomorrow morning.

Please help!

Thank you.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 17, 2012 6:09 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

captfred

Level 7

26,446 points

Apr 17, 2012 7:29 PM in response to keebrook

Ah, found it. Press these keys together Control FN F7. This turns on full keyboard Access to all controls.

Now tab between the fields and spacbar to mark.

🙂

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Answer 2

captfred

Level 7

26,446 points

Apr 17, 2012 6:47 PM in response to keebrook

Use the tab key to move focus through the elements of the Syspref screen. You have to look close to see these outlined. When the focus in on the Tap to click box, press the spacebar to check.

Captfred

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Answer 3

keebrook Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 17, 2012 7:13 PM in response to captfred

What you said should work, but it doesn't on my computer.

Tabbing didn't work because when I open the trackpad menu (in syspref), the search bar is automatically highlighted. When I hit tab, nothing happens - it stays in that menu's search bar.

I also tried hovering the cursor over that "tap to click" box, it did highlight, but when I hit the spacebar nothing happened... besides adding a space to the searchbar.

Thank you for your help, though!!