Trackpad suddenly stops working

Did you try the SMC and NVRAm/PRAM reset suggested above?

Reset NVRAM/PRAM

Reset SMC

Control-Alt-Delete is a chord specific to Microsoft Windows. I'd assumed this was OS X and not Windows, and that was a suggestion of using one of those individual keys — not a chord — to wake the system. It's been my experience that the trackpad — at least an external Magic Trackpad won't wake the system. If the system is awake and if the internal trackpad is not working, then there's either a problem that an SMC or NVRAM/PRAM reset might clear, or maybe a Safe Boot to clear caches and to test whether the trackpad works there followed by a normal reboot, or maybe there's add-on software — cache cleaners, anti-virus, anti-malware, performance-enhancements or related that may be interfering (disable those per the product-specific documentation, or post the output of Etrecheck here and somebody can have a look at the configuration), or there's a problem with the system hardware.

I have had this same problem, multiple times. The keyboard seems to work, but there is no click in the trackpad. The finger moves work to go to different windows/sessions, but you cannot click on anything.

However, I have only had to reboot once. I have never had to reset the SMC or NVRAM. What I do is close the laptop (BTW, it's a MacBook Pro 15" Touchbar 2016 and MacOS 10.13.3), reopen it...sometimes works, sometimes doesn't....then I use command tab to switch windows a few times....then tap the Touch Bar closest to the space bar and it seems to wake itself up. Give it a try...but it's a pain in the bum when it happens.

I guess it’s worth mentioning that this thread is related to Mountain Lion, but I’m obviously using Sierra onwards.

I think this started happening with High Sierra, it is quite rare but extremely annoying when it happens. I don’t know a keyboard shortcut to rebooting the MacBook, so I have to force shutdown via the power button

Agreed. The only way to restart for me was holding the power button. Every other restart activity required a click on the trackpad. Since I've tried these other mechanisms, with the keyboard working, I haven't had to reboot. For those earlier comments that said the keyboard doesn't work, it's probably the power button for you too.

A chord is a series of keyboard keys pressed together — like in music.

Control-Alt-Delete is a chord that Windows uses commonly, and that OS X does not.

Alternatively, find somebody that's local that can help with this, or visit a local Apple Store and have a conversation with the folks there.

Your MacBook Pro is portable, so it can usually be transported to where somebody can help, which makes this easier.

Or maybe somebody else here can better describe the troubleshooting that's involved.

@Cocolocoi5: What suggestions did Chat provide?

I have the same issue right now, unfortunately. It usually works just fine. This is the exception to the rule and I hate to have to Shut Down, but the help on what keys to press to bring up the menu should at least allow me to do it gracefully!

Curious...

If you have one of the newest (2016/2017/touchbar) Macbook Pros, that really cannot be the issue - at least not technically. The trackpads do not physically move at all - they dont physically ‘click’ (e.g. move up and down) - the ‘click’ you feel is a haptic feedback engine that is software controlled. So - bottom line - debris ‘trapped under’ the trackpad couldn’t prevent clicking or movement because there is no clicking or movement. This has happened to mine a couple of times (twice to be exact) in the last 8-9 months as well. A reboot resolved it for me as well - but I’d really like to know what is causing it and if there’s a way to fix it without rebooting.

Whenever I reboot it works again, seems like a software issue to me (since the haptic feedback is software controlled).

In recent releases, Apple doesn't use trackpad or mouse input to wake the system.

Press the shift or control or command key on the keyboard, and see if the system can be awakened that way, and if the trackpad then starts working.

I have exactly the same problem! Its not just the trackpad, but the keyboard, too. It never did this before, but I noticed it started happening around the same time as when I began connecting the laptop to an external display (with bluetooth mouse and keyboard). Lets hope a firmware update resolves this issue.

Hi there,

I have a macbook here with the very same spec as yours Cocolocoi5 (except the processor is 2.9ghz) but im on Sierra with the latest 10.12.3 update. Waking from sleep mode when i open the lid the screen comes on but both the trackpad and keyboard will not work, however if i use an external mouse/keyboard and it will respond so i can log in. its happening right now and i've disabled bluetooth as i read on another thread it can sometimes interfere, still not working.

I know if i restart it will probably work again do but id like it to work from sleep state. i had tried SMC and NVRAM before but issues still persists, also safe boot just yesterday. i am going to try an Apple hardware test to see if anything comes up if nothing there im thinking it might be an OS reinstall.

any other suggestions peeps?

thanks in advance🙂

Eddie