How to enable "tap to click" using keyboard only?

Question

My trackpad started to work incorrectly: when I double-clicked and draged, I couldn't select text anymore. Even though when I just double-clicked a word, it was being selected as usual.

I tried to troubleshoot this issue and went into Trackpad preferences. I tapped "Tap to click" option, and now I cannot click anything at all! And I cannot turn the option back ON. Also, I don't have a mouse to connect...

Question

How to turn "tap to click" back ON using only keyboard?

Versions

Mac OS X 10.14.6 Build 18G3020
MBP 13" 2017

Do you have "Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls" enabled? — Mateusz Szlosek, Feb 14 '20 at 13:59
For the selection problem the solution is here. It's due to a recent update of macOS Mojave. — Andriy Makukha, Feb 14 '20 at 15:02

score 5 · Accepted Answer · edited Oct 30 '22 at 09:20

5

You can do it via Terminal.app with those commands:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad Clicking -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad Clicking -bool true

You may need to restart the System after that. Or, run the following:

/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/SystemAdministration.framework/Resources/activateSettings -u

edited Oct 30 '22 at 09:20

RexYuan

247

answered Feb 14 '20 at 14:09

Mateusz Szlosek

23,919

1

Thanks. It doesn't work, though. I can read this flag as true, but when I go to the preferences, "Tap to click" is still unchecked. – Andriy Makukha Feb 14 '20 at 14:32
1

This is what worked for me: defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad Clicking -bool true. From here. Thanks! Restart was needed. – Andriy Makukha Feb 14 '20 at 14:37
2

I Didn't know about that, I've edited the answer :) – Mateusz Szlosek Feb 14 '20 at 14:52
1

Adding to this: According to this answer, you can make defaults write take effect without logout-login/restarting with activateSettings -u – RexYuan Oct 30 '22 at 08:09

How to enable "tap to click" using keyboard only?

1 Answers1