Difficulty

Easy

Steps

4

Time Required

                          5 - 10 minutes

Sections

1

  • Rubber Feet
  • 4 steps

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Introduction

The secret to the Magic Trackpad’s clicking ability is in those innocuous looking round rubber feet on the bottom. They’re not just there to be normal old rubber feet that merely provide grip to keep it from sliding around on your desk. And they’re not entirely rubber, either. The rubber you see and feel protruding from the bottom is only a very thin and fragile sheath covering a hard plastic foot.

The feet need to be rigid. When you click the surface by pressing down on it these rubber/plastic feet are the only parts of the trackpad that don’t move.

This guide will explain how to re-insert one (or both) of the Magic Trackpad’s rubber feet

What you need

Step 1

              Rubber Feet
  • Unscrew the battery door by turning the screw counter-clockwise with a flat edge screwdriver, coin, plastic opening tool, or fingernail.

Unscrew the battery door by turning the screw counter-clockwise with a flat edge screwdriver, coin, plastic opening tool, or fingernail.

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Step 2

  • The rubber buffer consists of two parts: a rigid part made ​​of plastic and the sheath, which is made ​​of rubber.
  • The shape of the foot may not be perfectly spherical, as in the photo. This can occur when a portion of the rubber flap has come out of the notch. When you put it back in, it will become spherical again.

The rubber buffer consists of two parts: a rigid part made ​​of plastic and the sheath, which is made ​​of rubber.

The shape of the foot may not be perfectly spherical, as in the photo. This can occur when a portion of the rubber flap has come out of the notch. When you put it back in, it will become spherical again.

Step 3

  • Using a spudger or small flathead screwdriver, gently break the seal between the white plastic backing and the metal top near the missing foot opening.
  • Pry up the corner slightly to allow the foot to be replaced.
  • Place the rubber foot back in place.
  • Squeeze closed the backing and metal top (it will snap into place).
  • Click on trackpad to test.
  • Insert the battery and screw the battery cover closed.
  • A foot may again dislodge, for example when you inadvertently move a sheet of paper under the trackpad. Repeat steps as needed to replace.

Using a spudger or small flathead screwdriver, gently break the seal between the white plastic backing and the metal top near the missing foot opening.

Pry up the corner slightly to allow the foot to be replaced.

Place the rubber foot back in place.

Squeeze closed the backing and metal top (it will snap into place).

Click on trackpad to test.

Insert the battery and screw the battery cover closed.

A foot may again dislodge, for example when you inadvertently move a sheet of paper under the trackpad. Repeat steps as needed to replace.

Step 4

  • If you want to remove the plastic cover completely, it is better to open it starting from the top,
  • Opening from the top will reduce the risk of breaking any of the clips at the bottom.
  • The cover is attached to the trackpad through rubber glue on the plastic grid and four clips on the bottom.
  • Take your time to slowly open the plastic cover from the top side.

If you want to remove the plastic cover completely, it is better to open it starting from the top,

Opening from the top will reduce the risk of breaking any of the clips at the bottom.

The cover is attached to the trackpad through rubber glue on the plastic grid and four clips on the bottom.

Take your time to slowly open the plastic cover from the top side.

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Author

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                    revher

Member since: 08/17/2013

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Lorraine Hughes - Jan 21, 2014

Reply

where can i buy the plastic feet?????

Rick Sciranko - Feb 3, 2018

Yes. Where can I buy the rubber feet?

James Sanday - Feb 20, 2019

I bought mine off Ali Express. There’s quite a few stores on there that sell them. Here’s the one I bought from.

Jeremy Johnson - Sep 5, 2014

Reply

Found this guide confusing. Here’s what worked for me:

  1. Place the tip of a butter knife inside the hole and gently lift the plastic high enough to place the tip of another butter knife on the side and hold the plastic up.

  2. Remove the first butter knife from the hole. Gently raise the plastic with the second butter knife high enough to slide the foot underneath.

  3. Use the first butter knife to slide/rotate the foot into place

Frances Darwin - Feb 11, 2019

The butter knife technique worked for me! I just cracked open the bottom edge of where my little rubber foot had fallen out. (Somehow the plastic was still in there so I was able to stick the foot back in and it works!)