This sounds like it could be a macOS 27.2 (Golden Gate) issue, particularly since you mentioned that the "Force Click and haptic feedback" option itself sometimes disappears from System Settings.
That is an interesting detail because it suggests macOS may not be consistently detecting or initializing the Magic Trackpad's Force Touch capabilities, rather than simply having haptic feedback disabled.
Since you have already restarted your Mac mini M4 and unpaired and re-paired the trackpad, I would suggest trying the following:
Connect the Magic Trackpad Directly to Your Mac mini
This would be my first recommendation.
- Connect the Magic Trackpad directly to your Mac mini using its USB-C or Lightning cable, depending on your model.
- Leave it connected for a minute or two.
- Go to System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click.
- Check whether "Force Click and haptic feedback" appears consistently.
- Test haptic feedback while connected, then disconnect the cable and see whether the problem returns over Bluetooth.
This should help narrow down whether the issue is related to Bluetooth or macOS.
Apple's guide: Use a Magic Trackpad With Mac mini.
Check the Trackpad Settings
Under System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click, verify that:
- Force Click and haptic feedback is enabled.
- Click pressure is set to Medium.
- Look Up & Data Detectors is configured to use Force Click with One Finger, if available.
Close and reopen System Settings to see whether the haptic feedback option remains visible.
Apple's explanation: How to Force Click and Get Haptic Feedback.
Perform a Complete Shutdown
Rather than simply restarting:
- Disconnect the Magic Trackpad.
- Shut down your Mac mini completely.
- Wait approximately 60 seconds.
- Start your Mac and reconnect the trackpad using its charging cable.
- Check whether haptic feedback works again.
Test in Safe Mode
This helps identify possible interference from third-party applications or background utilities.
To start your M4 Mac mini in Safe Mode:
- Shut down your Mac.
- Press and hold the power button until startup options appear.
- Select your startup disk.
- Hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
- Log in and test the Magic Trackpad.
If everything works normally in Safe Mode, a third-party utility, login item, or background application could be contributing to the problem.
Apple's guide: Start Up Your Mac in Safe Mode.
Test With a New macOS User Account
I would also recommend this step, as it helps determine whether the problem is specific to your existing user profile.
- Go to System Settings > Users & Groups.
- Click Add User and create a temporary Standard account.
- Log out of your existing account and sign in to the new one.
- Connect or pair your Magic Trackpad.
- Check whether haptic feedback works consistently and whether the Force Click option remains visible.
How to interpret the results:
- Works normally: The issue may be related to your original user profile, preferences, login items, or background utilities.
- Problem persists: A system-wide macOS issue, Bluetooth problem, or hardware fault becomes more likely.
Apple's guide: Add a User or Group on Mac.
Check the macOS Input Service
Open Activity Monitor and search for hidd (Human Interface Device Daemon). This macOS process handles input devices, including trackpads and keyboards.
Check whether it is running. I would not recommend manually terminating system processes; a normal restart is safer.
Test the Magic Trackpad With Another Mac
If possible, pair the trackpad with another Mac and check whether Force Click and haptic feedback work consistently.
If everything works normally on another Mac, this would point more towards an issue with your Mac mini's macOS installation rather than a defective trackpad.
Check for Newer macOS Updates
Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and check for newer releases.
I would also recommend reviewing Apple's macOS Release Notes for any documented issues or fixes relating to macOS 27.2.
When reporting the issue, specifically mention that the haptic feedback preference itself intermittently disappears. This is an important diagnostic detail that could help Apple investigate a possible macOS regression.
User level: Level 1 (8 points)
