HT203171: If your pointer is jumpy when you use a trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse

Learn about If your pointer is jumpy when you use a trackpad, Magic Trackpad, or Magic Mouse
Sm34rZ

Q: Magic Trackpad fail. It keeps clicking, sticking, selecting everything to the point of unusability. I'm lucky I have my old "mighty" mouse as a back up. SO annoyed right now. What gives anyways? Why did the trackpad just stop working all of a sudden? iMac

It's bugging me so bad.

 

I loved everything about it too, the swiping, gestures and everything are so intuitive. Now, no more thatn 20 minutes ago it just goes crazy. Rebooted the computer. Changed the batteries. Disconnected and reconnected everything. ARGGGGGG.

 

So lucky I kept an old wireless Might Mouse around, but it feels like being stuck in the past.

 

Now I'm really upset.

 

OK, so that was mostly a rant, but man, I'm really ticked. My productivity has gone down in half! I was very acustomed to the trackpad by now - 1 year after purchasing my iMac... and conveniently AFTER the warranty. Those things are like $70!!!

 

So far there doesn't seem to be a solution. I know it's not a battery or anything - the trackpad is separate from the computer. Tried cleaning the trackpad several times, and no effect.

 

Please help -

 

Thanks,

 

Sm34rZ

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.4)

Posted on Jul 18, 2012 9:06 PM

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Q: Magic Trackpad fail. It keeps clicking, sticking, selecting everything to the point of unusability. I'm lucky I have my old "might ... more

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  • by captfred,

    captfred captfred Jul 19, 2012 8:40 AM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 7 (26,329 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 19, 2012 8:40 AM in response to Sm34rZ

    Try a PRAM reset.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

     

    Other causes are batteries, bluetooth interference.

  • by Sm34rZ,

    Sm34rZ Sm34rZ Jul 19, 2012 8:53 AM in response to captfred
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2012 8:53 AM in response to captfred

    Resetting the PRAM did nothing.

     

    Batteries are brand spanking new, changed them as soon as the issue

     

    I don't think it's a bluetooth problem, because everthing else bluetooth is working great.

     

    I think it's the magic trackpad itself. (I have an iMac, the trackpad is separate)

     

    I think the "buttons" (which are supposed to be the feet on either side of the bottom of the trackpad) are stuck somehow. This must be a hardware issue. That seems to be the consensus with some other people that seem to be having the same problem. Made an appointment to visit and Apple Store tomorrow, so hopefully they can figure it out. Maybe they'll just replace it.

     

    I hope so, trackpad is so nice to use when it's working. :-(

     

    It's an absolute pain to go back to using a mouse!

  • by captfred,

    captfred captfred Jul 19, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 7 (26,329 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 19, 2012 9:06 AM in response to Sm34rZ

    Agreed.  The Magic Trackpad is much better than the mouse (when it's working properly).

     

    A sticky foot would give you some of those symptoms.   Another thing that might is the Dragging with drag lock option.  You can uncheck that in System Preferences > Universal Access > Mouse & Trackpad tab > Trackpad options.. button.

  • by Sm34rZ,

    Sm34rZ Sm34rZ Jul 19, 2012 9:11 AM in response to captfred
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2012 9:11 AM in response to captfred

    Thanks for the follow up, just looked at it, dragging wasn't selected :-/ So it's all the trackpad itself.

  • by Hilltowner2,

    Hilltowner2 Hilltowner2 Aug 31, 2012 5:26 PM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 31, 2012 5:26 PM in response to Sm34rZ

    Problem solved.  I am embarrassed to share what finally worked. I buffed clean the trackpad. (Hot sticky, salty, sweaty summer)

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Aug 31, 2012 5:30 PM in response to Hilltowner2
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Aug 31, 2012 5:30 PM in response to Hilltowner2

    The glass-like surface of Apple trackpads can be mad every quirky by the presense of even slightly damp fingers.

  • by Ecologgia,

    Ecologgia Ecologgia Dec 12, 2012 9:54 AM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 12, 2012 9:54 AM in response to Sm34rZ

    I have the same problem. I bought a second hand magic trackpad which worked fine for a time, but every now and again when I click on something it won't unclick. There seems to be no way of knowing when it's going to happen - but at least four or five times an hour.

     

    It's obviously a hardware problem - is there any way of servicing the thing, or should I just give up and buy a new one?

  • by Sageofgames,

    Sageofgames Sageofgames Feb 19, 2013 9:22 PM in response to Ecologgia
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2013 9:22 PM in response to Ecologgia

    i dont think it is hardware problem i boot my macbook in windows the trackpad works fine but boot in osx 10.5.8 im having same issues like everyone else

  • by JudyKenWI,

    JudyKenWI JudyKenWI Feb 22, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 1 (13 points)
    iWork
    Feb 22, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Sm34rZ

    I am having similar problems. On some occasiosns, mine is completely uncontrollable. I occasionally resort to a USB mouse. Setting the mouse in system preferences does not work consistently either.

  • by Hen3ry,

    Hen3ry Hen3ry Feb 24, 2013 1:26 PM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 2 (499 points)
    Feb 24, 2013 1:26 PM in response to Sm34rZ

    Yeah, it is really, REALLY frustrating when the Magic Trackpad goes wonky. 

     

    What I get is a "stuck-select" mode, equivalent to mouse-down-all-the-time.

     

    It probably isn't good when I rather unconsciously pick the trackpad and slam it on the desk -- I must learn to stop that. <red-faced grin>  Fortunately, so far, my trackpad has survived.

     

    I agree with those above that gunk is the likely issue.  I power-off the trackpad and clean it entirely, top and bottom, paying special attention to the bumps on which it rests.  I  get best results operating my trackpad on top of a mouse pad.  So I clean that, both sides, and the table surface below, carefully.  

     

    Sometimes the problem is obvious, crud on one of the bumps, but much of the time I can't see anything at all -- but a thorough cleaning solves the problem, so far, every time.

     

    My best theory is that even a small, virtually invisible object --say, a hair-- under a bottom-bump can unbalance the Magic Trackpad enough to cripple it.   I do not consider that a design problem, not at all -- this is just another good reason to keep our physical desktops clean.

  • by EZWriter2012,

    EZWriter2012 EZWriter2012 Jun 13, 2013 2:59 PM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 2:59 PM in response to Sm34rZ

    Have tried multiple suggested solutions, e.g. cleaning, P-RAM reset, SCM reset, fan directed on processor for extra cooling; all to no avail.

     

    Then I remembered the problem began about the same time I purchased an iPod Touch. I turned off the bluetooth connection on this device, as well as on my iPhone 5; then moved both, as well as all other wireless devices (Jambox) away from the Magic Trackpad. This last measure appears to have helped more than any of the previous attempted solutions.

     

    This is indeed a very frustrating issue, which appeared to begin rather quickly and only get worse. Given the high volume of postings about this issue, I'm a little surprised customer care has not been able to come up with a more definitive resolution.

     

    Message was edited by: EZWriter2012; Due to erratic behavior of the trackpad.

  • by EZWriter2012,

    EZWriter2012 EZWriter2012 Jun 13, 2013 7:57 PM in response to EZWriter2012
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 13, 2013 7:57 PM in response to EZWriter2012

    Forget everything I wrote about bluetooth device interference having anything to do with this issue. I was obviously headed down a rabbit trail with this suggestion.

     

    What I've since determined (that is working for me) is to focus in on the small round bumpers on the backside of the trackpad. I suspect that over time these probably loosen and become more sensitive or even stuck. This might explain the auto-selecting in the erratic behavior of the trackpad.

     

    As a workaround, I used a felt cloth (folded several times) to elevate the backside of the trackpad so that the bumpers no longer touch my desk. This takes a loose or stuck bumper switch out of the picture. Then I enabled the trackpad features for "Tap to click" and "Secondary click," which are located at:  System Preference > Trackpad > Point & Click.

     

    Only if you have serious computer repair skills would I advise attempting to adjust the sensitivy of the bumper switch: http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Repairing+Magic+Trackpad+Click+Feature/6171/1

     

    As for myself, I'll be purchasing a new trackpad tomorrow morning. I love this device, but it seems that once the bumpers begin to wear out, they do so quite abruptly, and your best course is to get a replacement before pulling out any hair you still have left.

     

    Again, my apologies about the mis-cue on the bluetooth issue. Good luck!

  • by georgepalli,

    georgepalli georgepalli Jun 28, 2014 12:01 AM in response to EZWriter2012
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 28, 2014 12:01 AM in response to EZWriter2012

    Turning off Scrolling "with inertia" works for me (for now).

     

    1. Navigate to Trackpad Options
      • System Preferences -> Accessibility -> Mouse & Trackpad -> Trackpad Options
    2. Enable Scrolling without inertia
      • Screen Shot 2014-06-27 at 11.55.41 PM.png

     

    Unselecting scrolling will also work but you will lose the ability to scroll using two fingers.

    You lose the nice rolling scroll that you get with a flick of your fingers.

     

    HTH

  • by spurn555,

    spurn555 spurn555 Dec 18, 2015 5:04 PM in response to Sm34rZ
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2015 5:04 PM in response to Sm34rZ

    I had this problem as well, went to the Genius Bar, and the representative there gave me a solution that, while very counterintuitive, seems to be working.  My problem specifically was that the mouse "click" would stick after a few hours of use -- whatever you would point the mouse at would be selected, whether you clicked the pad or not.  The problem was intermittent and only happened after a few hours of use.  It happened whether I changed the batteries, reset the PRAM, disconnected and reconnected bluetooth, etc.  The solution was simply to un-check the "Reopen Windows when logging back in" box when you shut down or re-start your machine.  Apparently if that button is checked, and if there is some bad routine related to the windows that you leave open that affects the trackpad, it will continue to do so every time you restart the machine.  I was skeptical, but it worked for me.  Try unchecking that box and restarting.