trackpad moving but not clicking

Hi there!

I had the same issue a few minutes ago. After a restart and a PRAM reset I noticed that my Magic Mouse in my notebook transport bag was turned on. A book lay on the mouse. After I turned the mouse off, everything was fine again.

Hope that helps. :-)

Greetings from Switzerland

Ralph

I talked to Apple Support and they confirmed that I need to replace the trackpad. They also said that the Genius Bar in Paris, France where I live might not be able to help me with such a "vintage" item. I've ordered a new trackpad and will follow the excellent Ifixit instructions. Watch this space!

In case anyone has the same issue as above but not relating to the Magic Mouse (I don't use one), it may be from dust or crumbs in the clickpad (if mechanical models). Try holding the laptop upside down and tapping the clickpad hard several times. This worked for me. I promise to ease up on the cookies, ha.

First check the condition of your battery to be sure it is not swelling and exerting pressure from below and interfering with the operation of the trackpad.

If you have access to an Apple Store, you could also see if the trackpad can be adjusted. I know the 2009 MacBook trackpad could be adjusted, but I don't know if the same is true of the 2009 MacBook Pro, but it might be worth looking into.

Good luck!

Hi,

I started facing the problem after OS upgrade.

To solve the problem I went to: System Preferences --> Trackpad --> Select the check box "Tap to click" under "Point & Click" tab.

Thanks,

Vishal

I bought a new trackpad via Amazon - 45€, and installed it today using the ifixit instructions. It was very straightforward and everything works well. A good investment. Thanks for your help!!

I don't know about you but sometimes if there is a cord touching the trackpad, the trackpad sees it as a finger so it think's you're still clicking from before.

if that's not the issue, make sure you're fully up to date (run software update) and then make sure you have the most up dated drivers for any pen tablets you might have.

lastly I would do a PRAM reset which does address mouse issues.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Important: If your computer does not retain parameter RAM (PRAM) settings when it is turned off, this generally indicates that the battery needs to be changed. Refer to Macintosh Family: Batteries and Part Numbers.

Be sure to learn about when to reset NVRAM and PRAM before attempting these steps.

Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

Resetting PMU on PowerBook or iBook computers

In some troubleshooting situations, if resetting PRAM does not resolve an issue, resetting the PMU may be the next appropriate step. For information on when this is appropriate and for instructions on how to reset the PMU in your PowerBook computer, see Resetting PowerBook and iBook Power Management Unit (PMU).

You can make an appointment at the Genius Bar and get 15 minutes of free help and a diagnosis and possibly the trackpad adjusted if it can be done. They would also probably quote you a price for the repair if they were to do it.

The Genius Bar is one of the truly great resources at the Apple Store and well worth taking advantage of.

Good luck!

The battery is only a couple of years old and registering 100% capacity so I think that I am headed for the Apple Store or perhaps I should go ahead and buy a new trackpad and install it myself.

I had the same problem on my 2007 Mac Book Pro. I tried a USB optical mouse, still no good. I tried the PRAM reset and had no luck there either. The problem was the removable battery. The battery had expanded due to over-heating and the bulging battery was pushing on the interior parts of the laptop causing the mouse problems as well as other abnormal behaviour.

After two trips to the Apple Store, then reading this thread.....we're never gonna mention this problem at work. Never. I just reproduced the issue per jonfrost's instuctions above. Exact same issue.

Funny thing is, the first time I took it to the Apple Store, they diagnosed some problems with the logic board and shipped it off for 3-5 days to have several parts replaced. No cost to me of course, but good thing those other issues were discovered in the process.

I have a 2009 intel Macbook pro and the built-in trackpad has started malfunctioning. I can move the cursor w/o problem but the click no longer works. At first only the click by pressure didn't work. I still could use the tap as a click. Now I have lost both. I have reset the PRAM and the SMC but nothing has changed. The trackpad took a hit a couple of years ago and part of the surface is slightly cracked but it has worked perfectly up to date.

I have a separate bluetooth Logtech T 651 trackpad so I can continue to use the computer but i would like to recover the internal trackpad.

Any suggestions would be very welcome.

When you mention Apple Store is free, do you mean that they will give me a diagnosis for free? If so, I'll go ahead and do that. Although I do get the impression that the trackpad is dead, (see photo)

I agree about installing a new trackpad myself. It doesn't look too complicated for my early 2009 macbook pro and I see prices at about 40€, It seems like a worthwhile investment. I will chase up on your link and let you know.

Good deal! Glad it worked out for you!

Happy computing!