[Solved] MacBook Air Trackpad Not Clicking? Fix It with 7 Efficient Solutions

Is your MacBook Air trackpad not clicking? You've come to the right spot! The trackpad on your MacBook Air is a vital input system, known for its multi-touch gestures, precision, and enjoyable user experience. However, when it fails to function as it should, it can be a significant annoyance, disrupting your workflow. Don't worry, we're here to help!

Fortunately, this annoying issue can be resolved promptly with some simple troubleshooting steps. In today's article, we have compiled a list of tested and practical solutions to easily fix the "MacBook Air trackpad not clicking" error!

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Solution 1: Disable Force Click to Fix the Trackpad Not Clicking Issue

Several significant causes of trackpad click failure include bugs in macOS, corrupted software, malware infections, trackpad damage, and more. Nevertheless, regardless of the reasons behind this error, it's crucial to address it promptly. The first solution to consider is disabling the force click feature.

The MacBook's trackpad features an assortment of unique touch gestures, with tapping and force clicking being the two most common actions. You select items by tapping on the trackpad, while a force click provides various options depending on what you're clicking on. A force click essentially serves the same purpose as a right click on a Mac. If you're tapping instead of clicking, this could be the source of your issue. To address this, follow these steps:

Step 1. Choose the main "Apple" menu, and then click "System Preferences > Trackpad."

Step 2. Tap "Point & Click," then switch "Force Click and haptic feedback" on and off.

Step 3. Carefully adjust the pressure level you'd like to apply for "Force Click" by moving the slider under "Click."

Solution 2: Check Your Trackpad Settings

The "MacBook Air trackpad not clicking" error tends to occur when you disable the trackpad. You can check your trackpad settings using these steps:

Step 1. Click on the "Apple" menu in the top-left corner of the screen and select "System Preferences".

Step 2. Select "Accessibility" and tap on "Pointer Control".

Step 3. Alter the settings that may affect the trackpad's functionality as per the guidelines below:

1. Uncheck the box labeled "Enable mouse keys."
2. Click "Trackpad Options" and turn off "Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on."
3. If checked, uncheck "Ignore built-in trackpad when wireless or mouse trackpad is present."
4. Set the double-click speed to maximum.

This method also applies when your MacBook Pro trackpad is not functioning properly.

Solution 3: Restart Your Mac to Solve the Trackpad Not Clicking Issue

Although it should be the first step in any troubleshooting process, it's quite obvious. Numerous issues and technological glitches can be resolved simply by restarting, including problems like a Mac's trackpad not working.

You can restart your MacBook Air using the "Apple" menu to see if this resolves your trackpad issues. If you're unable to access the "Apple" menu to restart the device, you might need to force shut it down by pressing and holding the "Power" button until the Mac turns off.

If you find this post informative, please bookmark it for future reference and share it on social media to assist others in resolving the trackpad not working issue on their MacBook Air.

Solution 4: Reset Your Trackpad to Enable Clicking

If the above solutions don't work, it's time to reset your trackpad to restore its clicking functionality. Here are the steps for Intel-based Macs:

Step 1. From the top menu bar on your desktop, choose "Go" and then select "Go to Folder."

Step 2. Type in /Library/Preferences/ and press "Return" afterwards.

Step 3. Drag the following files to the Trash to delete them after searching for them: com.apple.preference.track.plist and com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist

Step 4. Restart your MacBook now.

If you have an Apple Silicon Mac, here are the steps to take:

Step 1. Select the main "Apple" menu and go to "System Preferences > Trackpad."

Step 2. Disable "Tap to click" under the "Point & Click" tab.

Step 3. Natural scrolling must be enabled under the "Scroll & Zoom" tab.

Step 4. This will reset your trackpad to its factory settings or default.

Solution 5: Remove Trackpad Plist Files

Plist files contain properties for an application, which can be deleted just like any other file on a MacBook Air. The macOS uses these files to store a user's settings and details for installed apps on the device.

To delete the Plist files associated with your trackpad and mouse, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch "Finder" and click on "Go" then "Go to Folder."

Step 2. Type /Library/Preferences, and hit "Go."

Step 3. Next, search for the following plist files and delete them:

1. com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist (Magic Trackpad)
2. com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist (Magic Mouse)
3. com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist (wired USB mouse)
4. com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
5. com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist

You now need to restart your Mac to see if the issue has been resolved.

However, keep in mind that deleting the plist files for the trackpad may result in data loss. To retrieve the erased files, you'll need to download and install the tool Data Recovery Wizard for Mac. This software can recover your deleted files without relying on Time Machine or iCloud backups, even after you've emptied the Mac Trash bin.

You can recover permanently deleted files on a Mac in 3 simple steps: 1. **Stop Using Your Mac Immediately**: Once you realize you've accidentally deleted important files, cease all activities on your Mac. This is crucial because new data can overwrite the deleted file's location, making recovery more difficult. 2. **Utilize a Data Recovery Tool**: Download and install a reliable data recovery software, such as Disk Drill or tools Data Recovery Wizard. These tools scan your Mac's hard drive to locate and recover lost files. 3. **Perform the Recovery Process**: Launch the chosen software, select the drive from which you want to recover the files, and initiate the scan. After the scan is complete, preview the recoverable files and select the ones you wish to restore. Finally, click on the "Recover" button to save them to a safe location on your Mac or an external storage device. Remember, the sooner you act after deletion, the higher the chances of successfully recovering your files.

Step 1. Launch the Disk Drill data recovery software for Mac and select the HDD/SSD where your deleted files were stored.

Step 2. Click "Search for lost files". This powerful data recovery software will quickly scan all recoverable data on the selected disk.

Step 3. Use the "Preview" and "Recover" buttons to preview the file contents, recover them, and save them to a new and secure storage location.

Solution 6: Run Apple Diagnostics to Check the Trackpad

Apple Diagnostics is useful for detecting hardware issues, including problems with the trackpad. Before running the Apple Diagnostics to check the trackpad, you need to determine whether your Mac has an Intel processor or an Apple Silicon chip. To do this, navigate to the "Apple" menu > "About This Mac." After identifying the processor, follow these steps:

Steps for Macs with Apple Silicon ((Apple M1 chip/Apple M2 chip):

Step 1. Press the "Power" button on your Mac. If your Mac has a "Touch ID," press and hold the "Touch ID" button.

Step 2. Give your MacBook time to initialize by holding down the power button until it turns on and displays startup options. When you see the "Options" label, release the power button.

Step 3. On your keyboards, press and hold "Command + D".

Steps for Macs with Intel processors:

Step 1. Turn on your Mac by pressing the "D" key on your keyboard.

Step 2. Release the key when you see a progress bar, as prompted to choose a language.

Step 3. If pressing the "D" key doesn't initiate the diagnostics, try pressing "Option + D" instead.

Solution 7: Reset NVRAM

A simple NVRAM reset can often resolve various software glitches. Hence, you might attempt to reset NVRAM to fix the MacBook Pro trackpad not clicking issue. Follow these steps to do so:

Step 1. Close all applications on the MacBook and turn it off!

Step 2. Wait for a few minutes.

Step 3. Press the "Power" button to turn the device on.

Step 4. After the screen illuminates, press and hold "Command + Option + P + R" together for 20 seconds.

Step 5. Once you hear the startup chime, release the keys to allow the device to boot up as normal.

Conclusion

Numerous factors can contribute to the unresponsiveness of the MacBook Pro trackpad. These can be broadly categorized into software and hardware issues. On the software side, potential causes might include malware infections, a corrupted macOS operating system, or incorrect machine control settings. In the event that you encounter the "MacBook Air trackpad not clicking" issue, the seven solutions provided above are the most effective remedies. It's worth noting that this error might result in the deletion of files stored on your MacBook, hence it's advisable to use tools like Data Recovery Wizard for Mac to recover any lost files.

Frequently Asked Questions about MacBook Air Trackpad Not Clicking

Here are the FAQs to consider for a better understanding of the topic:

1. Why isn't my touchpad clicking?

A outdated or missing driver could be the reason your touchpad isn't working. Using the Device Manager utility to update or reinstall your touchpad components can help fix this issue.

2. How do I disable the trackpad click on my MacBook?

Restoring the trackpad to its factory settings is one of the most effective solutions to fix the MacBook trackpad not clicking issue. To do this, please follow the steps outlined below:

1. Navigate to "Apple menu > System Preferences." 2. Proceed to "Trackpad" settings and enable "Tap to click." 3. Verify that "Natural scrolling" is selected under "Scroll & Zoom."

3. How do I enable clicking on my MacBook Air trackpad?

You need to press down anywhere on the trackpad. Alternatively, you can enable "Tap to Click" in the trackpad settings and simply tap on the trackpad to register a click.