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Macbook pro keyboard and trackpad disabled - posted in Mac OS: The onboard keyboard and trackpad on our macbook pro 2015 wont work, weve reset the pram and smc and have even changed the oem cable. Press Touch ID to turn on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air if it's open and turned off. If your Mac is closed and turned off, simply open it to turn it on. Unlike with older Mac notebooks, holding down Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air doesn't display a dialog with options to Sleep, Restart, or Shut Down. How to unlock macbook pro: how to unlock apple laptop: Unlock MacBook with a padlock on the screen on startup: how to remove pin code on macbook pro: How do I unlock my MacBook Air: How to unlock power pc applications on mac: Mac OS X Admin Password reset guide: Hw do i unlock an apple powerbook laptop: Unlock disk in apple pro notebook. In an effort to disable the trackpad as well, I paid $7.77 for Lockey, which can disable the keyboard alone or both keyboard and trackpad. Once both are locked, you can theoretically disable the program by using command-tab to get to the app, then using command-Q to quit. What you are experiencing is the haptic feedback from the Force Touch Trackpad available in your MacBook Pro. Starting 2015, the MacBook (Retina) and MacBook Pro Trackpads include a technology called Force Touch which can be configured to provide haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is experienced only when the MacBook Pro is powered on.
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You generally buy a MacBook because you want a quality laptop that’s easy-to-use and doesn’t suffer from bugs or hardware failures. So it’s truly disheartening to discover that there have been a slew of MacBook keyboard issues plaguing recent models.
Is your MacBook Pro keyboard not working? You’re not alone. Lots of users have been experiencing issues with their Apple butterfly keyboards as well.
Naturally, Apple is working to fix the problem in upcoming models of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, but if you’ve bought one in the last few years, unfortunately, those fixes aren’t going to help you.
Let’s find out the steps you need to take to fix your MacBook keyboard quickly.
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Why Is Mac Keyboard Not Working?
Before you can fix the problem, first you have to determine exactly what the problem is. There are a few possible issues that could lead to your MacBook keyboard not working.
One thing to note is that a MacBook keyboard isn’t like most other keyboards on the market. Instead of using a scissor-like mechanism, MacBooks feature a proprietary Apple butterfly-like keyboard with a slightly different design.
Ever wondered how Apple laptops are so slim? Part of that is the butterfly keyboard mechanism. Whereas most keyboards’ scissor mechanism provides tension on keys so that they click back into place once you finish typing, Apple designed a minimal switch as slim and elegant as a butterfly — hence the name.
Unfortunately, the butterfly keyboard is also just as fragile as a butterfly too. If even one spec of dust gets under a key and into the mechanism, it can lead to problems like a key repeating, sticking, or not registering hits at all.
It’s one thing if your Z key sticks occasionally. It’s another if your spacebar won’t work. Thus, fixing your MacBook keyboard can’t be put off for very long once it’s stopped working.
How do I fix a MacBook keyboard or MacBook Pro keyboard?
The short answer is: not you. The longer answer is an authorized Apple dealer will fix your MacBook Pro keyboard for free.
In some rare cases a blast of compressed air could clear the dust from the keyboard. Even though it won’t do the job for most, it’s worth trying since a can of air only costs a few dollars. But don’t expect salvation.
Apple has admitted that there’s a flaw with their design and as long as your MacBook is recognized as one of the afflicted models (if your keyboard isn’t working, it probably is) then all you have to do is take your laptop to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, Apple Retail Store, or Apple Repair Center, and they’ll handle your MacBook or MacBook Pro keyboard replacement.
It’s worth noting, however, that Apple created this service program after three class-action lawsuits. There were a lot of users with a Mac keyboard not working, and if they hadn’t taken action this fix would cost hundreds of dollars.
Part of the problem is that it isn’t simply a matter of replacing a single key on the butterfly keyboard — the entire MacBook keyboard has to be replaced, making it a fairly significant repair job. It can take up to five days before the shop is able to get the right parts and make the replacement.
Remember: Before taking your computer into the shop, always back up its most important data — even if you have to use a USB or Bluetooth keyboard to get it done.
MacBook or MacBook Pro trackpad not working?
The MacBook trackpad is one of the best on the market. Responsive and precise, it’s a dream to work with… at least, when it’s working correctly.
If you find your MacBook trackpad not working, there are a few steps you can take.
1. Turn it off and on again
It’s true that restarting something is an ongoing joke most of the time, but it’s also great advice. Try rebooting your MacBook and see if that clears up the issue.
While you’re at it, close the lid when you shut your laptop down as well. For some reason many Mac users have reported this solves their MacBook trackpad not working issue.
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2. Disable the Force Click option
In some cases, if your MacBook Pro trackpad isn’t working, you can try to disable Force Click to fix the issue:
- Open System Preferences in your Applications folder
- Click Trackpad
- Navigate to the Point & Click tab
- Uncheck the Force Click option
Note: This fix will only work for MacBooks with 3D Touch, but it’s relatively easy to do and worth a shot.
3. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
A lot of bugs and performance issues can be solved by resetting your Mac’s System Management Controller. There are two ways of doing so. For Macs with a non-removable battery:
- Shut down your MacBook
- Plug in your MagSafe adapter
- Press and hold down: Shift, Control, Option, and the power button
- If your MagSage adapter changes color, you’ve reset the SMC
If your MacBook has a removable battery:
- Shut down the laptop
- Remove your battery and MagSage adapter
- Hold the power button for 10 seconds
This simple reboot can take care of many of your Mac’s problems. It’ll reset some options like the time it takes for your MacBook to go to sleep when left idle, but it won’t change any truly important settings.
MacBook Pro keyboard and trackpad not working?
If both your MacBook keyboard and trackpad aren’t working, then there are a few possible problems that might be causing the issue: hardware and software. Here are a few more tips to test before taking your MacBook into an Authorized Apple Service Provider.
1. Delete .plist files
It’s possible that somewhere along the line your software settings have changed and contributed to keyboard and trackpad malfunction. Try setting them back to their factory defaults by deleting your .plist (or “property list”) files.
- Back up your computer with the Time Machine fist
- Open Finder
- Press ⌘ + Shift + G
- Enter ~/Library/Preferences/ into the new bar and hit Go
- Find and highlight these files:
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist
com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist
- Delete them and reboot your Mac
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2. Reset PRAM
Getting your Parameter RAM back to zero is a useful way of removing prescient glitches from your system:
- Shut down your MacBook
- Reboot, but while the computer is booting press and hold ⌘ + Option + P + R until the gray screen appears
- Release the keys after you hear the reboot sound
3. Restore your Mac to an earlier version
If your keyboard or trackpad issues have just started, it’s possible that a recent change in software or settings has caused the problem. To fix it, just roll back your Mac a few saved backups:
- Restart your Mac
- While the system is rebooting, open the Recovery Tool by pressing ⌘ + R
- Choose Restore from the Time Machine backup
- Proceed according to instructions
How to prevent software issues on your Mac
Truth is not every issue with your MacBook is a hardware problem. Sometimes software conflicts can arise and create irritating, persistent issues that you don’t know how to resolve. So instead of trying to figure out what’s going wrong with your Mac, get CleanMyMac X to do it for you.
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Software problems might cause keyboard misbehavior. Get CleanMyMac X and it will help you keep your Mac healthy, always.
CleanMyMac X is by far the best Mac maintenance app on the market with a whole range of tools, including a full-system cleanup, a professional uninstaller, malware scanner, a file shredder, and an ever-updating set of optimization tweaks. If malware is to blame for whatever is happening with your Mac:
- Open CleanMyMac X
- Navigate to Malware Removal in the sidebar
- Click Scan and delete anything suspicious if found
Of course, the best treatment for your Mac overall is prevention — using thoughtful analysis to see premonitions. For that, just download iStat Menus and you’ll be able to monitor your Mac’s performance in real time effortlessly.
iStat Menus shows you exactly when your computer starts slowing down. Designed to sit in your menu bar and give you detailed rundowns at a glance, this optimization utility is bar none when it comes to knowing what’s happening with your machine.
Best of all, both CleanMyMac X and iStat Menus are available for a free seven-day trial from Setapp, a platform with over 150 Mac apps that make your digital life a breeze, from creating backups to working with documents to managing your finances. And if CleanMyMac X has just helped you avoid a MacBook Pro keyboard replacement, why not try it out?
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For some it’s the MacBook keyboard that’s not working, for others, it’s the trackpad that’s acting up. For a worrying number of people, the issue is with both. Worse still, the problem doesn’t seem to be affecting a particular type of MacBook but both Pro and Air models from 2011 onwards.
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Download FreeWhether it’s one key or all of them, if the keyboard isn’t working, your MacBook is all but useless. Here are a few things you can try to kick it back into life.
1. Clean the keyboard
That’s right. Cleaning is actually Apple’s recommended fix for unresponsive keyboards. To make this work you’ll need a can of compressed air and a straw to control the airflow. If you have those things, here are Apple’s suggested steps:
- Hold your MacBook at a 75-degree angle.
- Use the compressed air to spray the keyboard in a left-to-right motion.
- Rotate your MacBook onto to its right side and spray the keyboard again, from left-to-right.
- Repeat with the MacBook rotated to its left side.
At the very least, using compressed air rules out any crumbs or bits of debris being the cause of the Apple keyboard not working. Hopefully, though, it provides the fix you’ve been searching for.
2. Check for updates
Is your system up-to-date? It seems obvious, but there’s every chance that outdated firmware, drivers, or even the operating system, is affecting the keyboard.
To check for updates, open the App Store and click on the Updates icon. Free programming software for mac. If updates are available, click on the Update or Update All button to install them.
It’s worth having your MacBook check for updates automatically. You can do this by going to System Preferences > App Store and checking the “Automatically check for updates” box.
3. Delete recent apps
Is the problem a recent one? 3d real time animation software. Has it occurred only after downloading a new app? It’s not unheard of for app to cause conflict and knock other things out of sync. Try deleting recent apps to see if the keyboard regains proper function. If it’s doesn’t work you can easily reinstall them.
You can delete applications manually in one of two ways: using the Launchpad and the Finder.
Deleting apps using the Launchpad
- Click on Launchpad icon.
- Position the pointer over the app you want to get rid of and press and hold until all the icons start to jiggle.
- Hit the Delete button.
Deleting apps using the Finder
- In the Finder, click on Applications.
- Find the app that you want to delete and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Go to Finder > Empty Trash to permanently remove the app.
Deleting apps with CleanMyMac
Removing apps manually is quick and easy, but it’s not comprehensive. Traces of the app can be left behind in files. To fully remove any trace of the app, CleanMyMac X’s Uninstaller feature is the best solution.
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- Download and launch CleanMyMac X (It’s free to download).
- Click on the Uninstaller tab.
- Click View All Applications.
- Check the box for any app that you want to remove.
- Click Uninstall.
It really is as simple as it sounds.
What to do if your MacBook trackpad is not working
The trackpad on MacBook is one of the best around and it works brilliantly with macOS… When it actually is working, that is. If you’re having trackpad troubles, work your way through these possible fixes.
1. Reboot and close the lid
This one is a bit of a strange tip, but it’s worked for a few people. It’s basically the old “switch it off and back on again” fix that works for anything and everything.
- Reboot your MacBook from the Apple menu.
- Once rebooted, close the lid to put your MacBook to sleep and leave it for 2-3 minutes.
- Open the lid and the trackpad should be working as normal.
This tip might also work for the keyboard so if your keys aren’t working give it a try.
2. Disable Force Click
If a failure to register clicks is the problem for the trackpad not working on your Mac, you can disable Force Click.
- Go to System Preferences.
- Click on Trackpad and locate the Point & Click tab.
- Uncheck the Force Click and haptic feedback option.
Note: this fix will only work on MacBooks that include 3D Touch.
3. Reset the Mac SMC
Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) is a proven fix for all manner of hardware and power-related issues. How you do this depends on whether or not your MacBook has a detachable battery.
Resetting the SMC in MacBooks with non-removable batteries
- Shutdown your MacBook.
- Connect the MagSafe adapter.
- Hold down Shift+Control+Option and the Power button at the same time.
- Release the keys and look to see if the MagSafe adapter briefly changes color. If it does, the SMC reset has worked.
- Reboot your Mac and test the trackpad.
Possible fixes if both MacBook trackpad and keyboard aren’t working
If both the keyboard and trackpad are not working, your MacBook is nothing more than a monitor, albeit a very pretty one. You can use a Bluetooth or wireless mouse or keyboard, but if you wanted to do that you could have just bought an iMac instead.
Here are some troubleshooting tips that have worked for dual keyboard and trackpad issues
1. Delete .plist files
Property List (plist) files are used to store user preference files related to software. Deleting them will reset your keyboard and trackpad back to factory settings. Before you go ahead and do this, you should backup your Mac using the Time Machine in case anything goes wrong.
1. Press Command+Shift+G in the Finder.
2. Enter ~/Library/Preferences/ and click Go.
3. Locate the following files:
- com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist - Magic Trackpad
- com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist - Magic Mouse
- com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist - wired USB mouse
- com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
- Com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist
4. Delete the files.
5. Reboot your MacBook.
2. Reset PRAM
Resetting Parameter RAM (PRAM) is similar to resetting the SMC in that it’s a good fix for a wide variety is issues.
- Fully shut down your MacBook.
- Reboot your MacBook and press and hold Command+Option+P+R before the gray screen appears.
- Wait until you hear the reboot sound and release the keys.
- Let the system reboot normally.
3. Restore system to an earlier point
If problems with the keyboard and trackpad have recently appeared you can restore your Mac to a previous date using the Time Machine. The issue could be due to a recent system change and a restore can repair it.
This method will require you to have Time Machine set up to backup data to a storage device. We’ve written an article on how to do that here.
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- Restart your MacBook.
- When the system restarts, press Command+R to open the Recovery Tool.
- Select Restore From Time Machine Backup. This will restore your Mac back to 24 hours previous.
Each of these fixes have worked for one or more MacBook users, so it’s worth trying each one until you find the solution. Once you’ve found a fix, use CleanMyMac regularly to maintain your system and prevent junk files affecting keyboard and trackpad performance.
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Stay in control of your Mac’s activity
If none of that works, your Mac will need a more comprehensive checkup. This is possible if you own a tool like MacPilot. Basically, it’s an uncomplicated version of Terminal that allows you to dive under the hood of your macOS. Using the app on a regular basis is also a good way to prevent your keyboard and trackpad from misbehaving in the first place.
MacPilot covers 1,200+ features — all of them accessible from one handy window. Whether you use the app for macOS activity monitoring or to investigate keyboard and trackpad issues, you’ll appreciate the help:
- See advanced data about each of your files, including the hidden ones;
- Reset DNS cache and clear the print queue;
- View and manage login settings;
- Monitor battery and network use.
In case you want a simpler version of a monitoring tool, use One Switch. It’s a set of toggles available from the menu bar. Works perfectly for searching hidden files, enabling Sleep Time or Dark Mode, etc.
If the unthinkable happens and you’re still experiencing issues, you might need to contact Apple Support or visit an authorized service provider for repairs — but hopefully, that’s not the case.