My trackpad works but it won't click, and the right clicker doesn't work either

I'm kind of having the same problem except my mousepad (I think that's what it is called) works and I can feel the click but nothing happens on the screen. I have plugged in an external mouse and the same thing happens.... I can move around the mouse but can't click. I have tried to restart my computer but nothing is working.

I just saw these symptoms on my macbook and it turned out to be my magic mouse in a bag close by with the button pressed down. Take a quick look and see if you have any wireless mice in range that might be causing the problem.

Check if your bluetooth is connected. If so you may find that you have a bluetooth touchpad lost somewhere in a box that is 'clicking' for you. We found the problem by driving away from the office with the laptop and went fine while from time to time the click would lock

That’s funny because the same thing happened to me just now and if it weren’t for this post and someone answering about the Magic Mouse trackpad being clicked somewhere, I would have been searching my room, and other things for hours thinking somthing major was wrong LOL!

You might want to consider starting a new discussion. Since this one is a couple of years old, less people are likely to look at it. A new post would be much more visible. You can link to this one.

Restart the computer holding down the command - option/alt - P - R keys before the gray screen appears. Continue to hold until you hear the startup chime for the second time.

Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Try a SMC reset. The article covers when this is required, but doing this will not affect anything.

Reset SMC

If you mean the physical "click" sensation has disappeared, it might be your battery reaching the end of its life. What can sometimes happen is that the battery, which is below the trackpad, begins to swell up as it wears out. This can put pressure on the trackpad from behind, the typical symptom of which is the "click" gets shallower and shallower and then stops working. (I believe the trackpad "click" can be adjusted, too, so it could simply be the case that it's out of adjustment.)

I've personally seen this on two machines, a polycarbonate Macbook and a pre-unibody aluminium Macbook Pro, both with (fortunately) removable batteries. It also happens to batteries from other manufacturers - it's not an Apple-specific problem, nor especially unexpected, just a characteristic of lithium polymer batteries that they swell up when they begin to fail.

I've not personally seen this on a MacBook Air or any unibody Macbook Pro, and there might be something special the newer machines' batteries which prevents this happening, given that the batteries are designed not to be removed or replaced by the user. I wouldn't bet on it, though. You might want to do some web searches to see if anyone else appears to be having problems with expanding batteries in the same model.

If you suspect that this is the issue (and I would certainly suspect it if the physical "click" has gone from the trackpad), then I cannot in conscience recommend that you try to replace the battery yourself - Apple don't consider the battery to be user-replaceable part, and lithium polymer batteries can be (very) dangerous if mishandled or incorrectly installed. However, if it is expanding, you need to have it removed ASAP or it will distort and damage the machine, possibly irreparably.

If in doubt, have an apple centre check over your machine at the earliest opportunity. They'll be able to tell you if the trackpad needs adjusting or the battery needs replacing. Battery replacement is likely to be fairly expensive unless it's an unexpected early failure replaceable under warranty. (I've found Apple to be good about replacing parts which have failed unexpectedly.)

Most manufacturers warranties explicitly exclude batteries, considering them essentially a consumable. I'm not sure what Apple's position is for the ones which are designed not to be removed, though, they can hardly tell you simply to buy a new battery. I would personally expect them to replace it within the warranty period, and for a reasonable fee outside of the warranty period, but I don't know what their policy is.

A third party repairer should be able to replace a battery if no other damage has been done.

THANK YOU terrance. My issue was I have it set to disable my trackpad clicks when my mouse is on. I forgot to turn it off in my bag. NOTE: the gestures and moving the mouse work but you can't click on anything.

11:02pm Sigh ! Mac woes 😟

Curser moves but won't click

Scoured google

No solutions yet

USB mouse same result

Safe mode same result

Firmware test same result

Sigh

12:09AM Solved!!!

Solution remove/replace battery...weird !!

But so happy!!

I had the same problem on my Macbook, which just turned 10 years old.

I found that i could get to work if i pressed down firmly in a certain area, and it would work more often if my right hand was next to the trackpad with slight pressure.

I read about the batteries and mine has been prompting me for a replacement for about 3 years now, so i figured i would check it out. Apple hasn't really had an expanding battery issue since the recall of the 15" macbook's a few years ago, but it was worth investigating.

The battery was fine but while it was apart i noticed the adjustment screw for the clicking function of the track pad. I very carefully (it takes a tri-wing screwdriver) turned it until it would not click (and by carefully i mean slowly) so i didn't damage the track pad. I then backed it off until i could hear/feel the click.

I put it all backtogether and it's been working like new ever since!

Here's a link that if for trackpad replacement, but the steps will show you how to get to the adjustment screw.

Hope this helps!

THANK YOU terrance. My issue was I had the Mouse clicked in my bag !-)

I was almost on my way to the Apple Store !

Try goinig to systems>trackpad, check that all your settings are what you want.

You can try a SMC reset:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964

If stll not working, take it in ti the Apple store, there could be more things wrong.

ATB

Absolutely correct! My trackpad stopped working. I checked my battery and sure enough it is swelling. Battery is around 6 years old. Removed the battery and the trackpad clicks perfectly. Time to find a new battery!

Quick solution I've found withthe swollen battery/no click problem:

loosen the two screws directly below the trackpad.

gives the battery more room and works great until you can get a replacement battery.

Same problem now solved by this thread. Yippee! (after going to a not too bright Apple Certified indie Mac Support store who said "Let's replace the track pad first").

My MacBook Air with the Mighty Mouse had been on my desk when randomly the trackpad and wired mouse ceased click actions, though I could move the cursor around anywhere with either. On-off-on-off nothing changed.

Read this thread and located my Wireless Mouse turned on and smooshed (obviously pressed) in the inside pocket of my travel bag across the room.

Solution in my case:

With a MacBook Pro, 10.8.5, I had this problem.

In the end I had to simply ATTACH A PHYSICAL MOUSE. Strangely, that then completely cleared the problem with the built-in trackpad. So that worked.

Great tip about the nearby wireless mouse, also!