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

For some reason I was on my Mac one day and I noticed how the trackpad doesnt click things for me anymore. I can only move the mouse where I want it to go, but it won't actually click what I need. Also my Right clicker or whatever you call it, won't copy and paste things for me either anymore. : |

Sorry for using poor computer vocabulary, i barely know a thing about computers.


If anyone can help me with this problem it would be veryyy appreciated!

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 30, 2012 5:00 PM

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Posted on Jul 19, 2017 2:55 AM

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

38 replies

Jan 12, 2017 8:01 AM in response to Ihabg1

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

Dec 30, 2012 6:10 PM in response to Chai_Sabz

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.

Nov 26, 2016 7:40 AM in response to Chai_Sabz

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!

Sep 7, 2017 5:39 AM in response to Chai_Sabz

So I had the same problem just today and I found the following forum post which solved my issue.


Macbook Pro TrackPad not clicking


Also the Kb article on the Apple support pages mentions how to reset the SMC controller, interestingly enough it doesn't mention the trackpad as a symptom but I can vouch for this as being so


Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support


Hope this helps!

Jan 11, 2017 3:33 PM in response to Chai_Sabz

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.

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

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