Charlie Tully
Level 1 (8 points)
Peripherals

Q: Using Magic Trackpad to Bypass Built in Trackpad

Genius diagnosed bad trackpad in my MacBook 2012. Rather than send in for repair ($310) I bought Magic Trackpad 2 to bypass the problem. Genius directed me to go to Accessibility preference and click "ignore built in mouse or trackpad when wireless trackpad is present." I've done that and can use Magic Trackpad 2 to point and click HOWEVER no other features are available. I cannot tap, pinch, rotate, etc. When I click Magic Trackpad 2's preferences, I see a screen indicating that trackpad prefs are turned off, offering no way to turn on Magic Trackpad 2's features. Does anyone know how I can unleash all of the features of Magic Trackpad 2 while ignoring the built in trackpad?

Posted on Jul 10, 2016 8:01 AM

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Charlie Tully

Q: Using Magic Trackpad to Bypass Built in Trackpad

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  • by Roger Wilmut1,Helpful

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Jul 10, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Charlie Tully
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 10, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Charlie Tully

    As long as the built in trackpad isn't interfering with your input in some way (for example causing unwanted cursor movements)  I would have thought you could turn off 'ignore' and simply use the external trackpad.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Jul 10, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Charlie Tully
    Level 6 (15,383 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 8:05 AM in response to Charlie Tully

    Have you tried turning off the' ignore built in trackpad'.   After all you are using another trackpad not a mouse.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Jul 10, 2016 8:14 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 10, 2016 8:14 AM in response to seventy one

    seventy one wrote:

    After all you are using another trackpad not a mouse.

    There's no problem about having a mouse and a trackpad connected at the same time - I have a trackball (left hand) and a magic trackpad (right hand) running together with no problems.

  • by Charlie Tully,

    Charlie Tully Charlie Tully Jul 10, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Thanks for your response! The built in trackpad IS causing unwarranted cursor movements. The Genius suggested two problems: 1) swollen battery causing the unwarranted movements; 2) bad trackpad. I brought the computer in because the cursor was going crazy...flying all over the screen and opening windows randomly. There is no controlling it. I bought the trackpad and clicked "ignore built in" in order to bypass the crazy cursor problem. Are you saying that you don't think this fix will work?

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Jul 10, 2016 8:33 AM in response to Charlie Tully
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 10, 2016 8:33 AM in response to Charlie Tully

    If the internal trackpad is causing interference then you are rather stuck, since the Prefs pane will apply to any connected trackpad - it's not anticipated that anyone would want more than one, with different settings. I don't see any way round this.

     

    However there is an app called BetterTouchTool which adds a large number of configurable gestures to a trackpad. I don't know whether it will still work with the trackpad Prefs pane turned off but there is a free trial so you could try it out.

     

    Incidentally if the problem is indeed caused by a swollen battery you are going to have other problems fairly shortly. And I wouldn't leave it charging when you're not around, just to be on the safe side.

  • by Charlie Tully,

    Charlie Tully Charlie Tully Jul 10, 2016 8:36 AM in response to Charlie Tully
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 8:36 AM in response to Charlie Tully

    That's what I thought, Roger. Thanks. I will return the trackpad and then go ahead with the $310 repair. The Genius said that they would replace it and run several other diagnostics that would get the machine back on track. I hope he is more accurate on that count than he was about this trackpad serving as a backup. It's a retina and only 4 years old so there are probably a few more good years left in it. Thanks again for your help!

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Jul 10, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 6 (15,383 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 9:15 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Somewhere along the line I may have mis read something.   We seemed to say the same thing and there appeared to be no mouse involved.   Ah well, perhaps it was Sunday lunch and the tennis. 

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Jul 10, 2016 9:42 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 9 (78,557 points)
    iTunes
    Jul 10, 2016 9:42 AM in response to seventy one

    I wasn't contradicting you, simply adding (perhaps redundant) info.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Jul 10, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 6 (15,383 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 10:18 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Thanks Roger, but I truly wasn't thinking that way.   I am far more likely to mis-read something than you ever would.

     

    Anyway Charlie Tully seems happy and that's all that matters.

  • by Charlie Tully,

    Charlie Tully Charlie Tully Jul 10, 2016 1:31 PM in response to Charlie Tully
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Peripherals
    Jul 10, 2016 1:31 PM in response to Charlie Tully

    FIXED!

     

    If anyone else is interested...I discovered that Magic Trackpad 2 requires El Capitan or later. So, I upgraded my OS and reattached the Magic Trackpad. I am now able to use the device while the "Ignore" button is checked in the Accessibility preferences. I was prepared to go with the repair, but will stick with this workaround for now!