Mac Trackpad Not Working or Pointer Won't Move? Here's the Fix
The pointer won’t move when you touch your MacBook trackpad, or the trackpad feels unresponsive.
Why: The most common cause is using more than one finger (two fingers scroll instead of moving the pointer) or a low-battery alert you can’t see that’s freezing input. Both are quick to rule out before you suspect a hardware fault.
Fix 1: Use only one finger to move the pointer
Make sure you’re touching the trackpad with only one finger to move the pointer. Two or more fingers are reserved for scrolling and gestures, not pointer movement — so resting a second finger on the trackpad can make the pointer seem stuck.
Fix 2: Rule out a hidden low-battery alert
Your Mac may be showing a low-battery alert that’s blocking input, even if you can’t see it. Connect your Mac to power, or connect an external keyboard so you can see and dismiss the alert. Once the alert is cleared, the trackpad should respond again.
Fix 3: Check settings that intentionally disable the trackpad
If an external mouse works, use it to open Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control:
- Turn off Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present if you want to use both.
- Check Mouse Keys. Open its information/options button and turn off Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on, or turn Mouse Keys off if you do not use it.
- Disconnect external mice and wireless trackpads, then test the built-in trackpad again.
On older macOS versions, look under System Preferences > Accessibility > Pointer Control (or Mouse & Trackpad).
Fix 4: When the trackpad needs service
If the pointer still won’t move after the steps above, you may have a hardware problem. Contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple notes that repairs done by untrained individuals or with non-genuine parts can affect the safety and function of the device, so use an authorized repair path.
FAQ
My gestures stopped but the pointer still moves — same problem? No. If the pointer works but multi-finger gestures don’t, that’s a settings issue — check System Settings > Trackpad and turn the gestures back on rather than treating it as a dead trackpad.
A USB mouse works but the trackpad doesn’t. That does not establish a hardware fault. Check the two ignore-trackpad settings in Fix 3 and test with external pointing devices disconnected. If the built-in trackpad still fails after those checks and a restart, use the mouse temporarily and contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
Sources: Apple Support — If the pointer doesn’t move when using the trackpad with Mac · Apple Support — Pointer Control settings