How to properly clean touchpad without causing damage.

Will give this a try once I get the chance!

I notice that you said 91%, but would 99% still be okay to use?

@danj - I do fully suspect the fact that the problem is caused by a build up of dirt and grime.

As for the battery, I missed that bus, replaced it a month ago! And I would rather leave the battery be as it’s working just fine and I don’t have the tools to remove it and put it back in.

I will also fully admit that I haven’t been as good with my computer as I usually am, in terms of making sure to not get the trackpad and keyboard dirty. Life has decided to throw some major and difficult to deal with things at me, for 6 months straight. And as a result I do admit that my poor computer has been a bit neglected in its care.

@computermoth - I get it, life and it’s events controls one’s time offering little to deal with the maintenance of things.

Apples engineering may be great from the outside, but still has along way internally! Even the assembly process could be faster with better human engineering (even with automation too). The easier it is to assemble often makes an easier system to service!

@oldturkey03 - Perhaps, I’ll point out that my main issue is with moving the mouse, like swiping.

Clicking is fine.

Dragging is fine.

Double tap is fine.

Lightly moving finger over the trackpad to move the mouse from point A to point B is where it decides to be difficult with me. But it only does this in the middle of the trackpad, say for example I drag my finger from the top left corner to the top right corner, no issues.

I’m also aware that some types of trackpads have a sort of coating or something that can rub off over time, I’ve seen this firsthand on a couple thinkpads. But I’m not sure if the MacBook is like that in terms of trackpad design.

@computermoth anything is possible, just difficult to troubleshoot.

@oldturkey03 - Indeed, I’m planning to try Dan’s suggestion first, and well, if nothing changes, I guess I’ll look into troubleshooting it.

@oldturkey03 - First off AST is an Apple tool and only authorized service providers have access to it. Even the newer version has its limits as any 2015 and older systems are not supported within it and so far the supported creep is now at 2018 systems and newer. So that doesn’t help us here either. While Apple has opened a crack (a small one) only M series systems and newer are covered with the open version of AST2 as of today.

Just like the openness of the service manuals is only M series Apple doesn’t offer older stuff and they are now altering the manuals to be web pages Vs a PDF! Which puts their availability at risk when they decide to stop posting it unlike a downloadable PDF (and how the older Apple manuals where made available to the authorized servicer’s and how many made it to the public ream. Lastly, even today not everyone has a nice internet pipe to access the Apple servers nor should we allow them to gain metrics on the folks who do access these servers and what they are reading.

Just like books we don’t allow the publishers access to what I buy and why I choose to read within it.

And lastly, the calibration steps is not practical for most and you still need access to AST the test tool and weights to preform it. You just as well just replace the trackpad at that point.

As to the trackpad very true! It is not a mechanical touch surface like older units. The reason to clean the edge has to do with skin oils and salt buildup which tends to collect along its edges. The effectiveness of the capacitance drops off often from this dirt. Taking it out is the last direction as you need to deal with the removal of the battery! If the battery also needs replacement is really the only time I go that far giving it a good clean.