Trackpad left clicking force is not consistent

[Sig_Dude]

Something is not right with the left-clicking on my trackpad. I have to press harder than I feel like I should...sometimes...to get it to click.

Sometimes I can just barely touch the left click zone and it clicks.

Is this a DIY fix?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[B S Magnet]

Something is not right with the left-clicking on my trackpad. I have to press harder than I feel like I should...sometimes...to get it to click.

Sometimes I can just barely touch the left click zone and it clicks.

Is this a DIY fix?

Thanks for any replies.


View attachment 2257391

The short answer: I’m not sure there’s a quick fix, but there is probably a DIY/assisted fix.

The longer answer: when force touch/multitouch trackpads on MacBook models begin to become tougher to press down to experience a “click”, or when barely any touch triggers a click action, this tends to point to what’s happening underneath the physical trackpad. In essence, the trackpad is getting sandwiched beyond what it’s designed for, leading to response/tactile problems.

On several models, including yours, the 2021 M1, part of the battery assembly is fitted beneath the trackpad assembly. From iFixit, there are two cells of your model’s battery located directly beneath the trackpad:

Signs one of these cells may be on its way to bloating (and in need of a battery replacement, whether by Apple, a repair centre, or yourself) is in changes to how the trackpad behaves/reacts.

Oftentimes, early cell expanding/bloating won’t register changes to the battery’s health diagnostic (something you can check in either the menubar pulldown for the battery, under “Condition”; in System Information > Power; or with a free utility like Coconut Battery. Signs that the battery may be deteriorating are when cells start to swell.

If you’re comfortable with doing so and have the toolkit for it, iFixit have a guide on removing the battery, but you shouldn’t need to do that in order to look at the cells and, perhaps, run your fingers over each cell to feel for signs of early swelling.

In your case, the steps you’ll need to follow are Steps 1–7: you just need to be able to visually inspect and to touch the six cells. If I were to take a guess, the cell on the “right” side of the trackpad (as seen while the laptop is resting on its lid) might be starting to swell (highlighted in the oval below):

If so, then you should be able to either see and/or feel a difference in the “flatness” of that cell, relative to the others. If it’s swelling, then you’ll need to have your battery replaced soon — or, replaced immediately, if you want your trackpad to behave as you expect it to behave.

 

[Sig_Dude]

The short answer: I’m not sure there’s a quick fix, but there is probably a DIY/assisted fix.

The longer answer: when force touch/multitouch trackpads on MacBook models begin to become tougher to press down to experience a “click”, or when barely any touch triggers a click action, this tends to point to what’s happening underneath the physical trackpad. In essence, the trackpad is getting sandwiched beyond what it’s designed for, leading to response/tactile problems.

On several models, including yours, the 2021 M1, part of the battery assembly is fitted beneath the trackpad assembly. From iFixit, there are two cells of your model’s battery located directly beneath the trackpad:

Signs one of these cells may be on its way to bloating (and in need of a battery replacement, whether by Apple, a repair centre, or yourself) is in changes to how the trackpad behaves/reacts.

Oftentimes, early cell expanding/bloating won’t register changes to the battery’s health diagnostic (something you can check in either the menubar pulldown for the battery, under “Condition”; in System Information > Power; or with a free utility like Coconut Battery. Signs that the battery may be deteriorating are when cells start to swell.

If you’re comfortable with doing so and have the toolkit for it, iFixit have a guide on removing the battery, but you shouldn’t need to do that in order to look at the cells and, perhaps, run your fingers over each cell to feel for signs of early swelling.

In your case, the steps you’ll need to follow are Steps 1–7: you just need to be able to visually inspect and to touch the six cells. If I were to take a guess, the cell on the “right” side of the trackpad (as seen while the laptop is resting on its lid) might be starting to swell (highlighted in the oval below):

View attachment 2257744

If so, then you should be able to either see and/or feel a difference in the “flatness” of that cell, relative to the others. If it’s swelling, then you’ll need to have your battery replaced soon — or, replaced immediately, if you want your trackpad to behave as you expect it to behave.

@B S Magnet

First, my apologies for such a delayed response. I missed the email notification of a reply.

Second, thank for for posting such a helpful, comprehensive reply. Without your info, I would have never in a million years thought it was a battery issue.

Would Apple be likely to cover this under warranty?

I was hoping there was some sort of software fix.

Thanks again.