How to fix trackpad not working on Mac

The trackpad is a vital component for any desktop. It allows you to interact with the graphical user interface in ways keyboard shortcuts simply don’t allow.

With a trackpad not working Mac and PC devices may feel downright useless. As we’ve become accustomed to interacting with our computers using a trackpad or mouse, a Mac trackpad not clicking or responding to gestures is troubling.

We’ll discuss how MacBook trackpad problems can be solved, what to do when your trackpad fails, how to fix trackpad on MacBook, and the apps that keep any Mac running smooth so you can avoid issues with your trackpad in the future.

Why isn’t my trackpad working?

If a MacBook Pro trackpad not working is ruining your day, there could be a simple fix. First, let’s explore why your trackpad may be spontaneously unresponsive.

If the MacBook trackpad not working is an issue for you, the easiest fix is to plug in an external trackpad or mouse to your Mac.

The first thing to do is check if your version of macOS needs an update. To do so, click the Apple logo in the Mac’s menu bar, select ‘about this Mac,’ then ‘software update.’ If the Mac you’re using has new firmware available, download it.

The reasons for a MacBook trackpad not clicking are varied. It could be the macOS version it’s running, or an app that’s causing issues behind the scenes. It may even be that your system is overworked, and the trackpad is unable to keep up with your clicks and commands. 

Finally, your settings may be to blame, especially if an app changed them without notifying you. 

How to fix trackpad on your MacBook

There are six key ways to diagnose and fix an unresponsive trackpad on your Mac. Keep in mind an external mouse or trackpad plugged into a Mac is the simplest way to navigate these issues, as a plugged-in peripheral device has no connectivity issues.

Check system preferences

The aforementioned steps for updating Mac also apply, but you can do the same in system preferences. Here’s how:

1. Select the Apple logo at the top left corner of the Mac menu bar
2. Select “System Preferences”
3. Select “Software Update”
4. If prompted, download and update your version of macOS or OS X

Disable force click

The trackpad on your MacBook has two main interactivity types: force click, and tap to click. The difference between the two is how firmly you need to press your trackpad to get a response. Tapping allows you to simply tap the trackpad to select items, while force clicking demands you press firmly enough on your trackpad to hear (and feel) a click. 

If you’re tapping and not clicking, it may be the cause of your issues. Here’s how to toggle the setting:

1. Select the Apple logo at the top left corner of the Mac menu bar
2. Select “System Preferences”
3. Select “Trackpad”
4. Under the “Point & Click” heading, toggle the “Force Click and haptic feedback” off

In this heading, you can also tweak how forcefully you need to tap or click your trackpad to elicit a response. Simply select the “Click” slider, and change the setting to suit your needs.

Reset trackpad

A MacBook pro trackpad reset is not as daunting as it seems. All you’re really doing is toggling your MacBook’s trackpad back to the factory settings in System Preferences.

Most of us altered the settings of our trackpad to better suit our individual needs, and it may have caused issues in the background that causes a trackpad to become unresponsive. To toggle settings back to their original positions, follow the first three steps above to get into the “Trackpad” section in System Preferences.

Make sure “Tap to click” is unselected. In the “Scroll & Zoom” header, ensure “Scroll direction: Natural” is selected. These two settings should return your trackpad to its default state.

Reset NVRAM or PRAM

A lot of niggling issues can be solved with a simple NVRAM or PRAM reset. It’s a simple fix you can do any time. 

Note that NVRAM/PRAM reset can only be done on Intel-based Macs, though. On newer Macs with Apple’s native processors, NVRAM is reset automatically. 

Here’s how to reset NVRAM on Intel Macs: 

1. Shut down the MacBook completely
2. Wait 30-60 seconds
3. Open MacBook and press the power button
4. Once the MacBook screen illuminates, immediately press and hold the option, command, P, and R keys
5. Hold the keys down for 20 seconds, or until you hear a startup sound
6. Release the keys and let your MacBook boot up normally

Reset the SMC

The SMC reset protocol depends on which MacBook you have. On M1 Macs, there’s no such thing as SMC, which means newer Macs will take care of this setting without your involvement. 

For those Intel MacBooks introduced in 2017 or earlier, follow these steps:

1. Power down MacBook completely
2. With the MacBook off, press and hold the shift, control, and option keys
3. While holding those keys, press and hold the power button
4. Hold all four keys for ten seconds, then release
5. Press the power button to boot the MacBook

For Intel MacBooks 2018 or later (with a T2 security chip), follow these steps:

1. Shut down your MacBook, and make sure it’s unplugged from any power supply
2. Wait 15 seconds, and plug the MacBook in
3. Wait five seconds, then power MacBook on by pressing the power button

Run Apple diagnostics

Your MacBook can run a simple diagnostics check from startup. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Disconnect the MacBook from all external devices except a power supply (if necessary)
2. Shut down your Mac completely
3. Power the Mac back on while holding down the D key 
4. When you see a screen asking your language preference, release the D key and select your preferred language
5. Allow the diagnostics to complete its check

All of these diagnostic and repair steps may be avoidable, too. If you have CleanMyMac X on your MacBook, a routine checkup performed on a schedule of your choosing can help keep any Mac running in peak condition and your settings appropriately stable.

CleanMyMac X’s Smart Scan feature quickly checks the Mac for unnecessary files, privacy issues, and ensures its optimized for speed. There are also unique modules for speed optimization and privacy checks, which perform a deeper scan of a MacBook. CleanMyMac X is also the best way to update and remove apps from your MacBook, helping you feel confident the apps you love aren’t surreptitiously disabling your trackpad.

Use alternative tools for trackpad control

If you experience problems with certain trackpad areas or can’t complete certain actions (for example, tap), there are two great tools for trackpad control that might fix these issues. 

BetterTouchTool is an absolute favorite for customizing input devices. And its integration with macOS Shortcuts has been named Feature of the Year! Indeed, BetterTouchTool is great for setting up custom actions with trackpad, keyboard, mouse, etc. You can also use it to move some actions from trackpad to another input device. For example, if you use trackpad to enter Mission Control, you can easily do it with your mouse, Touch Bar, or keyboard — just set up a quick action in BetterTouchTool.

Swish is another trackpad automation tool. It’s only limited to trackpad gestures but it can help boost your speed enormously! Master some quick gestures to control windows and apps, arrange windows into a grid, and more. Swish covers many effective tapping and pinching gestures, which might help you in case swiping doesn’t work. 

Even after you’ve got your trackpad fixed, Swish and BetterTouchTool will serve as great enhancements to your flow. They are both on Setapp, so you don’t have to choose one of the two. 

Bonus tips for your Mac

Repairing and maintaining a Mac is always important, but so is diagnosing it. iStat Menus helps you know exactly what’s going on with your Mac in real time, and lives in the background to keep you focused.

iStat Menus only appears in the Mac’s menu bar, with rich icons that provide a glimpse into your Mac’s performance. If you’re curious about what a Mac is doing, simply click the iStat Menus icon to bring up a full menu of the Mac’s CPU, memory, disk, network, and sensors.

Hovering over any of those categories brings up a sub menu with even more detail – and hovering over sections in the sub menu will surface a chart detailing Mac’s performance statistics in real time. There’s simply no better way to know what a Mac is doing behind the scenes than iStat Menus.

After you’ve diagnosed your MacBook with iStat Menus and maintained it with CleanMyMac X, your next step is backing your system up. That’s where Get Backup Pro comes into play!

Get Backup Pro allows you full control over what you backup, and when. You have the ability to run routine, scheduled backups of particular folders, or your entire system. It’s great for those who want to keep daily backups of their documents or photos, but only want to backup an entire system on occasion. 

Get Backup Pro even provides the ability to create bootable backups of your entire system; it’s the perfect app for creating clean, thin, bootable backups in the event you need to restart from scratch.

A wonky trackpad is never fun to deal with, but it can be avoided. Often, trackpad woes are little more than an overtaxed system that can’t respond in time to your trackpad clicks and gestures. iStat Menus helps you understand if that’s the case.

CleanMyMac X allows you to keep Mac running smoothly better than anything else, even Apple’s own built-in tools. BetterTouchTool and Swish can help you customize and automate trackpad gestures — so maybe by getting your trackpad fixed, you’ll also build a much more effective workflow! Lastly, when you’re confident your Mac is in peak condition, creating a backup is always a smart idea.

All five of these wonderful apps are available for free during a 7-day trial of Setapp, an app platform that powers up your workflow on Mac and iOS.

In addition to these three apps, you’ll be able to use 240+ apps on Setapp. When your free trial is over, you can keep using all the apps on Setapp with a monthly subscription that starts at only $9.99/month.