How to repair not clicking MacBook Pro trackpad

posted in: Apple Products | 12

If a MacBook Pro trackpad stopped clicking there are a few things you can try to troubleshoot and repair the problem.

This could be related to:

  1. Failing (swollen) battery.
  2. Wrongly adjusted trackpad screw.
  3. Failed trackpad.

Let’s go thought the troubleshooting techniques step by step.

MacBook Pro trackpad not clicking

STEP 1.

In order to check the battery you will have to remove it from the laptop.

Usually there are two or three screws securing it to the case.

Remove battery

These screws are Y shaped. You need a special tri-wing screwdriver.

You can try removing these screws with a small flat head screwdriver.

A Wiha 1.5×40 slotted screwdriver worked for me. It fitted into two out of three wings and I was able to remove both screws.

Y shaped battery screw

Unplug the battery connector from the logic board using a plastic stick or finger nails.

Disconnect battery

Remove the battery from the laptop and place it on a flat surface.

Check if the battery appears to be thicker than it should be.

When a MacBook Pro battery fails, in some cases it stars swelling.

If a swollen battery located inside the laptop, it pushes on the bottom side of the trackpad and it stops clicking properly.

Check battery swelling

Remove the swollen battery and test if the trackpads clicks normally after that. If it does, replace the battery.

STEP 2.

If the trackpad still doesn’t click, even after removing the battery, try adjusting the screw shown on the following picture.

You’ll need a T6 torx screwdriver for that.

Turning the screw counterclockwise will loosen the trackpad.

Turning it clockwise will  tighten the trackpad.

Trackpad adjustment screw

Place your MacBook Pro on one of the sides and continue clicking on the trackpad while adjusting the screw.

Find the position that works best for you.

Adjust trackpad

STEP 3.

If the trackpad still doesn’t click, even after removing the battery and adjusting the screw, most likely it failed and has to be replaced.

Here’s the removal and replacement procedure.

By the way, if you have MacBook Air, check out this trackpad replacement guide.

Carefully disconnect the trackpad cable using a plastic stick or finger nails.

Disconnect trackpad cable

Remove four silver screws.

You will need a small and sharp Phillips screwdriver. These screws are very small and easy to strip.

I’m using a Wiha precision screwdriver, Phillips #00.

Remove trackpad screws

While removing the screws, support the trackpad on the bottom with your fingers.

Support trackpad on the bottom

After all screws are removed, lower one part of the trackpad and slide it to the shown direction to separate from the palm rest.

Separate trackpad from palm rest

Pull the cable though the opening in the case.

Pull the trackpad cable

Remove the failed trackpad and replace it with a new one.

Replace trackpad

Start the re-assembly process with inserting the trackpad cable back in place.

You can guide the connector using a small flathead screwdriver.

Insert cable

Install the trackpad back in place.

Position trackpad on palm rest

Secure it with four silver screws but do not tighten them up yet.

Install trackpad screws

Turn the MacBook Pro over and adjust the position of the trackpad.

Make sure all gaps between the trackpad and palm rest are equal.

After it seated properly, you can tighten up four silver screws on the other side.

Adjust trackpad gaps

It might be necessary to adjust the new trackpad screw as mentioned earlier.

Adjust trackpad screw

Finally, install the battery back in place, secure it and connect to the logic board.


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12 Responses

  1. Matt

    Great walk through! My battery is swollen just as you described, time for a new one.

  2. Joseph

    Nice guide. Does the Hex 6 screw come out? I received a new one with my TrackPad replacement that I ordered. Just want to know if the Hex 6 does indeed come out. I’m going to use metal glue to get the stripped Hex 6 that I have installed and replace it with the new one. Any suggestions or advice. BTW nice guide.

    • IML Tech

      @ Joseph,

      Does the Hex 6 screw come out? I received a new one with my TrackPad replacement that I ordered. Just want to know if the Hex 6 does indeed come out.

      Yes, you can remove the old screw and replace it with a new one but… I never do. I leave the old on in place and replace just the trackpad.

  3. 714OCguy

    Hey, i have a few questions. Sorry.
    I really love my mac book pro 13 inch, it has all my music i use to DJing.

    1st question, I am having trouble trying to find the right battery, and unsure which is the correct one for my mac. The serial number on hardware just tells me 13 inch, mid 2009. Can you help?

    2nd question: With my mac book pro, can i use an SSD drive or would it not be able to work with 10.5.8 ? Thank you.

  4. Takedowncoach

    Thank you for the excellent article. Going to replace battery (maybe the trackpad) and save myself hundreds of dollars. You need to install a “tip jar” for your website…I’d throw some cash in there as a thank you!

  5. Bill

    Brilliant. Soon as I got the swollen battery out, it fired back up

  6. Miguel Tejada

    I’ve been dealing with a spotty trackpad for 2+ years now and had resorted to just using the ‘tap’ to touch feature found under system preferences>trackpad. I stumbled across this post just today and after adjusting the screw found in step 2 above my trackpad works again!! Thank you so much. I just loosened the screw very slightly and it works like new again.

    For the battery I used a small flat head and it came out no problem. Thanks again for the fix. Now I can sell the laptop without having to replace this part. +1

  7. alberto

    In windows 10 on macbookpro when trackpad doesn’t work i solved simply going to start – control panel – found and solve problems, a few time and all work fine.

  8. Paul Schreiber

    Regarding method #2 (wrongly adjusted trackpad screw): note that you have to adjust the screw in very small increments. Too much one way or the other, and it won’t help.

    • IML Tech

      Agree. That’s why you have to keep the laptop on its side and keep clicking while adjusting the screw. You have to feel the click.

  9. Stephanie

    My battery is not swollen, I just replaced the old one with a new one. When the battery was out, the trackpad clicked just fine. Once I installed the new battery, the trackpad won’t click. Any ideas are welcomed!

    • IML Tech

      Stephanie,
      1. Make sure there are no debris between the new battery and the trackpad. Maybe something blocking the trackpad from clicking properly.
      2. You can try adjusting the trackpad. There is a torx screw on the bottom, under the battery. Very little rotation needed for the adjustment.
      3. Did you buy a third party replacement battery? If yes, most likely it’s not shaped properly. Remove the battery and place it on a flat surface. It must be as flat as the original Apple battery.

      When I have replace a battery, I always go with a used genuine Apple part. Why used? Because there are no new genuine Apple batteries on the market. Apple just don’t sell them. Most “genuine batteries” on eBay are fakes. If you need a real genuine battery, search for a pre-owned one.

      A good third-party brand is “NewerTech” sold by OWC. It’s not cheap but from my experience doesn’t last long.
      Go with a USED but GENUINE part when you can.