kristenfromfl

Q: Left-click not working on trackpad or mouse

My trackpad began malfunctioning suddenly. Instead of clicking, it would click + hold (selecting all text). Very soon after, left-click stopped working. I'm able to navigate with the trackpad, but the click doesn't register (the trackpad does physically click). Sporadically, I have some left-click function with the trackpad and mouse when the computer is awakened from sleep, but not always and never for very long.

 

When the mouse is plugged in, left-click doesn't register. I disabled the trackpad when the mouse is plugged in under Universal Access, but I still am unable to get the left-click to register with the mouse. I'm able to navigate, scroll and right+click with the mouse. I'm able to left-click when using the mouse keys.

 

My battery is in good condition (diagnostics were fine and it was replaced last year) and isn't swollen, which I know can be an issue that leads to trackpad problems. A technician saw no problems with the logic board. I am running OS X Lion.

 

Does this sound like an issue with the trackpad that will be corrected if the trackpad is replaced? Or is it another issue? If the trackpad is disabled when the mouse is plugged in, why is the mouse also having a left-click issue?                    

MacBook Pro (15-inch Mid 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Sep 13, 2013 5:39 PM

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Q: Left-click not working on trackpad or mouse

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  • by terry_j,

    terry_j terry_j May 4, 2014 7:27 PM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 4, 2014 7:27 PM in response to JoeHave

    With apologies to those of you who have a hardware problem, I want to echo Joe's "doh!" moment, and propose that as a very first precaution, you turn off bluetooth.   If it is a bluetooth device interfering, your trackpad and click should start working right away.

     

    I rarely use my wireless mouse and kind of forgot about it.   Found it buried under a clipboard which was ... DOH! ... locking down the mouseclick.

     

    Embarassed by the time I wasted on this one!

     

    Terry

  • by zarquito,

    zarquito zarquito Jun 24, 2014 1:06 AM in response to kristenfromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 24, 2014 1:06 AM in response to kristenfromfl

    My MacBook started doing the exact same thing; however, mine was a quick-just plain quit functioning. I also get a high pitched squeal that sounds like an extremely high-rpm internal fan. I seem to see everywhere that the closest match is power issues.

     

    I found that the trackpad is also a similar issue- the internal battery lies directly below the pad, and has expanded to the point that a normal tap on the trackpad would not work. If you do a heavy click push (about four times harder) it worked perfectly.

     

    Time for a new Macbook. Color me sucker for smarter computing and integration.

  • by James Likeness,

    James Likeness James Likeness Jul 10, 2014 6:24 AM in response to tysonhummel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 10, 2014 6:24 AM in response to tysonhummel

    Thank you so much for this comment!!!  My mouse was just driving me crazy that I could move the cursor around the screen and I could right-click, but nothing I did would make it left-click.  I was able to use my keyboard to tab over to Safari, launch a new tab, do a Google search, and then saw your comment show up in one of the Google results.  And guess what - My Magic Mouse that I use with my rMBP was turned on in my backpack, and was connected to my Mac Pro!

     

    So thanks for the help!!

  • by mlkovacs,

    mlkovacs mlkovacs Aug 1, 2014 11:06 PM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 1, 2014 11:06 PM in response to JoeHave

    Dude, this was it!  Earlier I noticed that my laptop worked just fine at work, but at home, the left click malfunctioned.  I thought that was odd.  I then read your post, and sure enough, my bluetooth mouse was on in the next room with a book on top of it - undoubtedly causing the left click.  I'm glad it's now fixed.  Silly mistake on my part.  Great post on your part.  Thanks! 

  • by LG3Bass,

    LG3Bass LG3Bass Aug 15, 2014 3:09 PM in response to mlkovacs
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 15, 2014 3:09 PM in response to mlkovacs

    It feels so good to be in the company of so many numbskulls!  I was loosing it trying to figure out why my left trackpad button was not working.   In fact I plugged in another mac keyboard and mouse.   I could type, just couldn't click on any icons.    Not even the login screen icons to select users. I zapped the pram.  But If I plug in my wacom everything works....seemed odd.  Thought it was a weird mac virus...cursing the fact I took of my tinfoil hat which left me exposed to cosmic rays. 

     

    Bluetooth Magic mouse!!!!    Left ON in my laptop bag.  Must have been depressed leaning against a chair.   What a panic moment....whew!  Wife actually solved this one for me.  God I love her!

     

    There is an accessibility setting that say's "ignore trackpad when bluetooth mouse is present".  Mine was not clicked.  I wonder if this is a bug.  Seems like that setting should affect this issue. 

  • by WinQ,

    WinQ WinQ Sep 2, 2014 4:41 PM in response to LG3Bass
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 2, 2014 4:41 PM in response to LG3Bass

    Exactly! Bluetooth Magic mouse!!! Left ON in my laptop bag, and was somehow "under pressure" ...

  • by egoldy,

    egoldy egoldy Feb 25, 2015 3:25 PM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Feb 25, 2015 3:25 PM in response to JoeHave

    Ridiculous.  Had the same dumb problem.   I have a magic mouse that was sitting in a bowl with some other electronics.  My wife moved something in the bowl when I was in another room and then all of a sudden my left mouse stopped working.

     

    found my magic mouse that had something lying on it and FREED it.   boom, mouse starts working again.

  • by scuttlejbear,

    scuttlejbear scuttlejbear Apr 20, 2015 9:11 PM in response to kristenfromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 20, 2015 9:11 PM in response to kristenfromfl

    I have no idea if this is already known, or if it will have any help.  My mac is also doing this "no primary click thing" and i plugged in a USB mouse, wired, and have to use an auto clicker now.

    My left click stopped working a few hours ago, and I didn't care much, I only use the comp for writing.  I went into the System Preferences and went to "mouse" and there was a button to change my "primary mouse click" from "left" or "right", now i thought it was that the comp, or the mouse no longer registered the left click.  How ever then I changed my "primary click" to the "right" my right click stopped working, and my left now clicked like the right up till that point. as the secondary click.  which means my comp registers the click, but takes no action to prioritize the click.

     

    I hope this will help someone figure this piece of s*** out, because i'm find i need a mouse, even for only writing, to change from one window in text edit to the next.  or maybe im just to lazy to find a short cut that i ended up here typing this.  who knows.  I sure don't.

     

    Still hope this info can be of some help.

  • by Roodmag,

    Roodmag Roodmag Oct 12, 2015 6:28 AM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 12, 2015 6:28 AM in response to JoeHave

    Thank, this is my problem, the external sdd was above on the mouse and pressing the button.

     

    Rod

  • by joakolope,

    joakolope joakolope Oct 23, 2015 12:40 PM in response to kristenfromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 23, 2015 12:40 PM in response to kristenfromfl

    So I ran into this problem on two different machines. It turned out to be multiple bluetooth mice connected at the same time. I removed all unnecessary bluetooth devices and this restored left click functionality. Very simple fix.

  • by premraj,

    premraj premraj Nov 10, 2015 6:34 PM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 6:34 PM in response to JoeHave

    Good catch, JoeHave.  I had the exact same issue and glad I came across your post.  I moved my wireless trackpad into my cabinet (as part of my monthly desk clean-up) a week ago and shortly after, found that my left click on my iMac stopped working.  Thinking it was a problem with my mouse, I got another and connected it - to no avail.  After I read your post, I went back into the cabinet and removed the batteries on the trackpad and the left-click started working again!  Thank you!

  • by Iftach.Orr,

    Iftach.Orr Iftach.Orr Nov 25, 2015 7:59 AM in response to kristenfromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 25, 2015 7:59 AM in response to kristenfromfl

    I had the same problem with an USB mouse, the problem was that I had my headphones plugged into the computer. The moment I pulled it out everything came back to normal.

  • by reynoldkirby,

    reynoldkirby reynoldkirby Dec 13, 2015 1:53 PM in response to JoeHave
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Dec 13, 2015 1:53 PM in response to JoeHave

    @JoeHave - yep, that was it for me too.  An old trackpad in a drawer nearby was doing it.

  • by mkdesigns2000,

    mkdesigns2000 mkdesigns2000 Jan 21, 2016 10:29 AM in response to tysonhummel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2016 10:29 AM in response to tysonhummel

    I was having the exact same problem didn't believe the answer could be that simple!!

     

    I just checked my backpack and YES there was an extra mouse in there that was on!

     

    So anyone that reads this..  check for all devices on wifi and bluetooth and turn anything off you don't need. Leaving the house is a good idea but due to the backpack I was carrying that with me anyways to work and back home. So check your desk, check your connected devices and check your bags!

     

    DOH! I have been dealing with this for weeks. I though it was a software problem. My left click suddenly stopped when I closed my laptop or when it went to sleep. I have also had a ton of problems with wifi and my bluetooth devices not working. I think it all might be related.  Such a simple solution for a weird problem.

  • by neverdizzy,

    neverdizzy neverdizzy Feb 4, 2016 2:08 AM in response to kristenfromfl
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 4, 2016 2:08 AM in response to kristenfromfl

    OMG, I use the included Magic Mouse with my computer, but I take it to work with me to use it on my MacBook Pro. When I come home, I discovered that it was connecting to my iMac BY DEFAULT... hence... THE BUTTON WAS BEING PUSHED DOWN IN MY BAG!!! Check your house and your bags to see if there are other mice that were left on like mine.

     

    I went through updates, reboots, forced OS X reinstalls, and then found this out on a hunch. Check your mice!!!

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