Magic trackpad 2 only works when plugged in

This one works!

-First connect your magic keyboard/trackpad with your mac using a lightning cable(in case if it was not already)

-Turn off your bluetooth from system preferences( you will have to use a wired mouse if you are doing it in a imac or mac mini)

-toggle the keyboard/trackpad power to "off"

-disconnect the lightning cable

-Now turn on bluetooth from system preferences

-Then, toggle the keyboard/trackpad power to "on"

-It will connect and work without any issues

Hi thanks but unfortunately this hasn't worked for me. I have a Magic Trackpad 2, using an iMac 27" c/w Sierra 10.12.6 and have tried everything to get this trackpad to work. Had had 3 calls with Apple so far to turn this off, ditch preference files, do a fresh installation of the OS etc etc without success. Their last solution was to do a complete reformat of the hard drive and installation of everything. Now call me cynical, but with all the hassle I had to re-install all my legacy programmes (e.g. Adobe CS3) that is not going to happen.

Therefore someone out there must have a solution please...

My issue is as follows:

1. The trackpad DOES work when connected via Bluetooth but only as a conventional mouse, i.e. I cannot use any of the gestures.

2. When it's connected with the Lightning cable, everything is fine - I can use the gestures.

So can someone please advise!

Many thanks.

I had the same issue but found that the Bluetooth in the iMac wasn't functioning properly. I followed this Apple Support article "If your Apple wireless mouse, keyboard, or trackpad aren't working as expected - Apple Support" and found that whenever I tried turning off the Bluetooth it would remain in the On position regardless.

I restarted the iMac, went to System Preferences, clicked on the Bluetooth icon, and found that it was in the Off position. I turned it back On, disconnected the lightning cable, and the Magic Trackpad 2 reestablished the Bluetooth connection and started working again.

Don't know if you've already solved your issue but figured I would share my fix.

Hope this helps.

This comment ultimately provided a solution for me. My MBP has a faulty built-in trackpad, and I've been trying to use the external magic trackpad 2 as a substitute. I was experiencing this issue of the MT2 initially working well over bluetooth, but after a few days, only working when wired via a USB-lightning cable.

@QuietMacFan's comment was to try a "powering on" of the trackpad to initiate a reconnection. To do this, I did the following:

1. With the wired MT2, I hovered the cursor over the BT icon in the menu bar, and clicked to turn off BT.
2. I turned off the trackpad and disconnected the wire.
3. My built-in trackpad does not work well, but still does register a signal; it was quivering and occasionally clicking. I have only partial control over it. I clicked again on the BT icon to access the menu, then quickly used cursor keys on the keyboard to scroll down and turn on BT by pressing Return.
4. With BT on, I then turned on the switch on the MT2, and it immediately registered as connected, wirelessly via BT.

If you're in this situation, it's important to check the Accessibility settings, to insure that the built-in trackpad turns off when the external MT2 is attached.

I have seen this rarely on both bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Usually charging or what else has no bad effects.

For mouse, just plug and unplug lightning wire likely revives it.

For keyboard it seems at first it only works when lightning wire is plugged in, not when removed. Rebooting doesn't help.

ANSWER: there's a little power switch on each having green and red to indicate position. Just turn the device off for a few seconds, turn it back on, keyboard automatically detects

Why? Devices are detected when powered on. If for some reason the bluetooth gets (out of range, say blocked by a book or hand) it will not re-detect until a "powering on" is happening.

My Trackpad 2 stopped working in wireless mode and would only work if connected by cable. After reading your reply I switched of Bluetooth and then switched it on after which I disconnected the cable to the trackpad. After a while the trackpad connected via blue tooth and started working without any problems.

I have no solution, but I would start by trying the trackpad on another

Mac. Just to find out where the problem is.

Btw, my problem was slightly different, it would not work at all unless

plugged via the cable.

Have a good Christmas.

Roberto

On Mon, 18 Dec 2017 at 21:24, Apple Support Communities Updates <

Thank you. This was very helpful but did not work. After trying what you did (and it didn't solve it), I added the following steps, and it worked.

-- Unplug the device from the USB/Lightening cable

-- System Preferences > Bluetooth > [Select Device] > [Right Click] > Disconnect

-- Power off the device / Wait 5 seconds / power it back on

-- System Preferences > Bluetooth > [Select new device] > Pair

This worked for me. I hope it helps everyone else.

Wilx

I've had a problem where my trackpad 2 loses it's connection for a second and then reconnects, and then goes dead about three seconds later, over and over. Found out that connecting the lightning cord resolved the issue. But of course I want a wireless trackpad, so tried a few suggestions below, none worked.

Then I had the idea of turning the Trackpad on and then off again. While still connected to lightning, I turned the trackpad off (via the switch on the back). Waited a few seconds and turned it back on.

Disconnected the lightning cable and so far (for the past 30 mins) - no problems. Will report back if this problem returns - but for now, it's fixed.

I have kept it plugged in to my wired keyboard's USB hub

The connection must be between the Mac and the Bluetooth device, not a USB hub.

Follow the instructions here > Set up your Apple wireless devices - Apple Support

Unfortunately I don't have an answer, but I am experiencing the EXACT same behaviour - except for the fact that this only started once I upgraded to Sierra. I didn't need to have the Trackpad connected via Lightning until AFTER Sierra was installed.

I am hoping an update fixes this issue soon.

Ben

I have this same issue as well. Works fine while connected to a cable but does not when unplugged. I upgraded to Sierra as geekraver suggested and still have the same problem.

Hi. I had the very same problem and solved just by turning the trackpad off and on...

Hope it helps.