How to disable trackpad/mouse via the Mac OS X command line?

Is there a terminal command in Mac OS X to disable/enable the trackpad/mouse? I know that I can disable the trackpad of my MacBook Pro when an external mouse is connected. But is this also possible without a peripherial connected?

Solution 1:

You would have to unload the kexts, which would remove support for the hardware until reloaded. I don't really recommend this.

Disable

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBTopCase.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBTrackpad.kext

Enable

sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBTopCase.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBTrackpad.kext

Solution 2:

I tried this in OS X 10.9.5

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBMultitouch.kext

it gives error "(kernel) Can't unload kext com.apple.driver.AppleUSBMultitouch; classes have instances" but it disables the Trackpad successfully.

Then after

sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBMultitouch.kext

it enables the Trackpad again.

Solution 3:

In OS X 10.9 I tried

sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBMultitouch.kext/

to disable a temperamental trackpad, but that gave an error and didn't do anything. But moving the extension elsewhere, i.e.

sudo mv /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBMultitouch.kext ~

and restarting did the trick—though for some reason it also disabled the internal keyboard (except for the power button).

FYI, Apple menu > About This Mac > More Info... > System Report... > Extensions (under Software) shows which kernel extensions are currently active.