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Trackpad on mac book is going crazy!

My trackpad on my Mac Book Pro isn't really responding to my touch. It starts spazing out and does it's own thing with it's own movements (open files, close tabs, changes pages, opens, closes etc.)

I can barely move it also.

Is there anything I can personally do to fix this? I turned off all shortcuts like zooming in, rotating etc. other than the basics, and it works a little better. But once I turn it abck on, it eventually goes crazy again.

Help please!

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Sep 1, 2013 2:11 PM

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Posted on Sep 3, 2013 7:02 AM

I had this today (good set of points above by the way).


Basically I'm sat in a cafe and realised that a little drop of water from my cold drink had got on the track pad and found its way into the edge inside.


Simple fix, get a thin piece of paper, preferrably a receipt, get a corner edge and slide it in the gap between the trackpad and the Macbook body. slide it along each side of the trackpad using a new corner of the receipt paper for each. If there is any damp or droplet, it will soak into the receipt. Just did this and there was a small amount on the one side of the trackpad. Working completely fine now.


Symptoms for me was pointer jumping horizontally across the screen, probably due to the location of the droplet, and loss of control using the trackpad, kind of fights you.

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Sep 3, 2013 7:02 AM in response to Linc Davis

I had this today (good set of points above by the way).


Basically I'm sat in a cafe and realised that a little drop of water from my cold drink had got on the track pad and found its way into the edge inside.


Simple fix, get a thin piece of paper, preferrably a receipt, get a corner edge and slide it in the gap between the trackpad and the Macbook body. slide it along each side of the trackpad using a new corner of the receipt paper for each. If there is any damp or droplet, it will soak into the receipt. Just did this and there was a small amount on the one side of the trackpad. Working completely fine now.


Symptoms for me was pointer jumping horizontally across the screen, probably due to the location of the droplet, and loss of control using the trackpad, kind of fights you.

Sep 9, 2017 4:59 PM in response to panizbh

The trackpad may have been a hassle on the older MacBook Pros, but it is a total nightmare on the newer machines with the touchbar and the oversized trackpad. The problem was so bad Apple gave me a new macBook Pro,

which of course has the exact same problem. The only solution I can think of is to have some very simple way to

disable and enable the trackpad. Until Apple solves this problem I will not purchase, or recommend anyone else

purchase, a MacBook of any kind.

Sep 30, 2017 2:15 AM in response to panizbh

I've read a lot of possibly solutions. However, it was already sucked up like a sponge when I saw the problem occur. For people who haven't cleaned it the right way when the liquid was still on it, this is what you need to do:


- Hold your MacBook (Pro) Vertically so the liquid under the glass of the trackpad goes to the sides.

- Grab something like a piece of paper which can suck up a lot of liquid, (just in case) go very slowly along the sideways of the trackpad while still holding your MacBook vertically.

- I also tried to run a program that will require a lot of engine power so the laptop is getting a bit more warm then normal, any fluids left can turn into damp and go out freely without harming your laptop.


I know this sounds crazy and all, but it works for me!

Nov 17, 2017 3:29 AM in response to romeorandy2014

Omg! It works!!! You saved my macbook and my life coz i don't have to make a trip to the shop and spend hundred of dollars to get it replaced and yes I don't have a warranty anymore.


Guys! If you encountered the trackpad problems....do what he/she say. The hair blowers f**king WORKS!!!!!
-Paper thing > Nope doesn't work

-PRAM or SMC reset > Nope doesn't even do the job at all.

Dec 20, 2017 7:13 AM in response to cosmicten

cosmicten wrote:


"Simple fix, get a thin piece of paper, preferrably a receipt, get a corner edge and slide it in the gap between the trackpad and the Macbook body. slide it along each side of the trackpad using a new corner of the receipt paper for each. If there is any damp or droplet, it will soak into the receipt. Just did this and there was a small amount on the one side of the trackpad. Working completely fine now."

Wow, i can't believe that actually worked! Thank you!

Dec 29, 2017 9:17 PM in response to panizbh

My 2013 MacBook Pro trackpad was going crazy whenever I would try and switch desktop window. I Googled the problem and the very first suggestion I read was 'Open the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences and check for unknown or forgotten input devices. Disconnect any USB input devices that you aren't using." I followed this and saw my husband's iPad Pro listed. I have no idea how that happened but I removed it and the problem was solved. I wish all problems could be resolved this quickly!! I love my MacBook Pro and other than this trackpad issue, it is is still working great.

Sep 1, 2013 3:27 PM in response to panizbh

There are several possible causes for this issue. Take each of the following steps until it's resolved.

1. Follow the instructions in this support article.

2. Open the Bluetooth preference pane in System Preferences and check for unknown or forgotten input devices. Disconnect any USB input devices that you aren't using.

3. Boot in safe mode and test, preferably without launching any third-party applications. If you don't have the problem in safe mode, but it comes back when you reboot as usual, stop here and post your results. If you can't boot in safe mode, do the same. If you booted in safe mode and there was no change, go on to the next step.

4. Reset the System Management Controller.

5. If you're using a Bluetooth trackpad, investigate potential sources of interference, including USB 3 devices.

6. A swollen battery in a MacBook Pro or Air can impinge on the trackpad from below and cause erratic behavior. If you have trouble clicking the trackpad, this is likely the reason. The battery must be replaced without delay.

7. There's a report that a (possibly defective) Thunderbolt Ethernet adapter can cause the built-in trackpad of a MacBook to behave erratically. If you're using such an adapter, disconnect it and test.

8. There's also a report of erratic cursor movements caused by an external display that was connected but not turned on.

9. If none of the above applies, or if you have another reason to think that your computer is being remotely controlled, remove it from the network by turning off Wi-Fi (or your Wi-Fi access point), disconnecting from a Bluetooth network link, and unplugging the Ethernet cable or USB modem, whichever is applicable. If the cursor movements stop at once, you should suspect an intrusion.

10. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store to have the machine and/or external trackpad tested.

Sep 24, 2013 2:58 PM in response to panizbh

My MacBook Pro has had this problem off and on and I accidentally discovered a way to "cure" it. When the cursor starts getting erratic, I quickly close the cover of my MacBook and wait a little. When I open it again, the cursor has usually calmed down, at least for a minute. Sometimes I have to do this over and over for several days, and then it finally stops. This last time it happened, it stopped in much less time than it had before. It takes patience, but it works, and you don't need to call a technician.

Sep 24, 2013 3:16 PM in response to jazzrascal

jazzrascal:


This is excessively bad advice! What you are recommending really just amounts to ignoring the symptoms and hoping that the problem goes away. If this is being caused by a swollen battery, ignoring it could result in permanent damage to the computer. If it is actually being caused by someone accessing the computer remotely, ignoring it gives them more opportunities to do something malicious.


Please stop posting this advice everywhere!

Nov 17, 2013 10:43 AM in response to panizbh

I had this problem twice now....very frustrating but ended up having to take it in to be looked at. Technician says there was a build up of static on my track pad and that if you plug in the power adapter and have the user grouned (feet on a hard surface floor) then the user will absorb the extra static and solve the problem.


Mine is home and working great now so thought I would share that solution at least as something for people to try


Apple didn't know that. They thought there was something wrong with the hardware

Nov 19, 2013 2:11 PM in response to panizbh

That little sticker (pictured) was sitting flush against the center bus on the trackpad chip. If a little drop of liquid gets in along the top of the trackpad, it can travel down the ribbon and to sticker. Add a little heat from the adjacent battery and its ink can be deposited onto the bus.


As I'm sure you've now guessed, this is what happened to me. It seemed to be causing an interference along the top of the trackpad [visible in the 'Show Live View' feature of Better Touch Tool (Freeware)].


I suspected a swollen battery, but mine was fine. The part of the battery that sits beneath the trackpad is encased in fairly thick battery. I would be skeptical of anyone telling you its a swollen battery without you inspecting it. Removing the battery may just lower the temperature in that area, masking the symptoms.


I removed the whole ribbon cable from its ZIF connector and peeled off the stickers and took a cotton swab dampened by rubbing alcohol and swabbed the ink off the bus. The first few swabs were dark when I was finished. Its been over a week now, and my previously unusable computer has not had even a momentary relapse.


PRAM and SMC resets would only give me a few minutes of respite before a resurgence. If you are going to pay to fix, you need only buy the ribbon cable and chip.


Temporary quick fix: disable trackpad in settings and use a USB mouse.

Attached: The underside of the trackpad with the user side of the computer up, trackpad ribbon cable removed.
User uploaded file

Trackpad on mac book is going crazy!

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