Trackpad gets stuck

The trackpad intermittently gets stuck.

I am having the same problem. The stupid glass trackpad on my laptop keeps forcing itself into drag mode.
It is as if I have somehow clicked the trackpad and held it down while moving the cursor around. (When in fact, I have NOT, I repeat NOT clicked or otherwise inadvertently touched the trackpad in any manner other than tracking the cursor about the screen.)
Random UI elements suddenly start being dragged around the screen by the cursor. Or selecting massive amounts of text from some unknown origin selection point. Hitting the esc key does nothing.
The only thing that seems to work is forcefully hitting the trackpad, but I'm sure that will just wind up exacerbating the issue or outright breaking the trackpad entirely.
Meanwhile something has usually been dragged into the trash, or off the dock, or text is removed from my document and clipped onto the desktop.
It is very annoying and frustrating.

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My trackpad gets stuck in scrolling mode

It seems as if it thinks that I've got more than one finger, so it scrolls. Is that a known problem or can it be caused from usage?

There are two thing that come to mind when this problem happens. Make sure your figures are dry and have nothing on them. If you clean you ibook and some water seeped in that also would cause it to do this, just let it dry. If this doesnt help go to system preferences>keyboard & mouse>track pad, you should see ignore accidental trackpad imput make sure it's checked. Hope this helps.

Program gets stuck in the middle of a click

When I'm using Google Chrome for browsing this happens a lot. It's when I'm clicking something, like a new tab, a link that opens a new tab or basically anything, Chrome gets stuck, does not freeze or anything, just stuck. The mouse, keyboard and everything works. But because of that, all pages stops loading until I click the trackpad once again. Then everything is back to normal.
It almost seems like the OSX thinks I'm "dragging" something. But I can't see that there is anything under the mouse pointer.
The issue have been present for more then a year.
I've also never ever had any issues with my trackpad in any sense. I think this is software related.
The problem occurs frequently in Google Chrome. I can't remember if it happens in any other application.
I also can't reproduce it. Problem seem to happen randomly.
Anyone else have the same issue?
Suggestions on how to fix this? Or what it could be?

Hi IamMille and welcome to Apple Support Communities,
First update your software to at least 10.6.8.
Then reset PRAM and SMC:
http://www.guidingtech.com/30498/what-is-pram-smc-mac-reset/
>It almost seems like the OSX thinks I'm "dragging" something<
It might be that there is a cable problem w/ the trackpad or the track pad needs an adjustment.
Worst case, replace the track pad.

Pinch zoom is often getting stuck and going to the full extent of zoom since Yosemite upgrade

Are any other users experiencing an issue where pinch zooming is broke since upgrading to yosemite? When I use the two-finger pinch zoom, the zooming often seems to get stuck and keeps going after I lift my fingers. Whether zooming in or out, the zoom will often continue to the full extent of zoom capability in whichever direction it started. Tapping on the trackpad while it is in runaway zoom has no effect and I just have to wait for it to finish, then resize things manually. Is anyone else having this problem? I did a fresh reinstall of Logic but that didn't help any.

Are any other users experiencing an issue where pinch zooming is broke since upgrading to yosemite? When I use the two-finger pinch zoom, the zooming often seems to get stuck and keeps going after I lift my fingers. Whether zooming in or out, the zoom will often continue to the full extent of zoom capability in whichever direction it started. Tapping on the trackpad while it is in runaway zoom has no effect and I just have to wait for it to finish, then resize things manually. Is anyone else having this problem? I did a fresh reinstall of Logic but that didn't help any.

Indesign CS6 hand tool gets stuck and can't use selection tool

In Indesign CS6 using Mountain Lion, the hand tool appears and I can't select or work with any other tool. All I can do is move the document around. After trying the space bar and other key commands I restarted and it worked for a while. Then it happened again. I work on a Macbook pro, so when I removed the mouse and worked only with the trackpad there was no change. When I quit and reopened, no change. I then deleted prefs and restarted and it worked, but it's been happening from time to time. Anyone know any other fix without restarting or deleting prefs.

Yes, this is an intermittent problem between Adobe and Apple: InDesign CS6 getting stuck in the hand mode. This happens to me when I am working by remote desktop using Screen Sharing. The cursor turns to a hand tool and you can't change it.
I stumbled upon a quicker solution (to restarting, etc.) by depressing the Control-Command-Spacebar keys cumulatively in succession. (I just happened upon this out of frustration--it is an old PageMaker toggle sequence.) When I clicked on the screen after doing this, the hand reverted to the pointer. Sometimes you may have to click on the pointer in the tool palette first before the sequence to make it revert.
I would like to see if this trick works for others. I see on another forum posting about Adobe CC that many people are experiencing this problem there as well. An Adobe moderator has listed the posting as "correctly answered" and solved that the issue is not an Adobe issue (rather bad keyboards, etc. etc.). But it still remains a problem with many Apple users of Adobe products. (It has only happened to me with Adobe products...no other vendors...both in Mavericks or Yosemite.)

My trackpad is stuck down and won't click

HI All,
The trackpad is stuck down and wont click. It happened gradually over a week or so, it was getting harder and harder to click. It seems to be slightly depressed at the clicker end (nearest me) which makes me think its stuck?
Its a newer style macbook, where the mouse buttons are part of the trackpad itself.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Tom

Hello lanabug,
lanabug wrote:
My ipod is stuck on and won't scroll through the menues How do I unstick it?
Have you tried to reset it yet? To do this, press and hold both the Select and Menu buttons together until the Apple logo appear. You should try this more than one time if necessary.
Any luck there?
B-rock

Mousepad keeps getting stuck

Hey! Since a week the left button of my mousepad keeps getting stuck. I can't use my mousepad when that happens.
I have a Macbook Pro from end 2008, so it's a little old.
Is there a way to fix this or prevent it from happening again?
Thanks for your help in advance.

Check the battery which resides under the track pad and see if it has expanded. It may be interfering with the trackpad operation.
If not, bring it to an Apple store genius bar for a free evaluation.
Ciao.

My apple wont turn on. it gets stuck on the gray screen with the spinning wheel and the apple on the screen

My macbook air turns on but not completely, it gets stuck on the grays screen.   It shows an apple an a spinning wheel and that is as far as it gets. sometimes I can get to an screen that shows macintosh hd and i clicked on it and the computer turned off.

Take each of these steps that you haven't already tried. Stop when the problem is resolved.
Step 1
The first step in dealing with a startup failure is to secure the data. If you want to preserve the contents of the startup drive, and you don't already have at least one current backup, you must try to back up now, before you do anything else. It may or may not be possible. If you don't care about the data that has changed since the last backup, you can skip this step.
There are several ways to back up a Mac that is unable to start. You need an external hard drive to hold the backup data.
     a. Start up from the Recovery partition, or from a local Time Machine backup volume (option key at startup.) When the OS X Utilities screen appears, launch Disk Utility and follow the instructions in this support article, under “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility.” The article refers to starting up from a DVD, but the procedure in Recovery mode is the same. You don't need a DVD if you're running OS X 10.7 or later.
b. If Step 1a fails because of disk errors, and no other Mac is available, then you may be able to salvage some of your files by copying them in the Finder. If you already have an external drive with OS X installed, start up from it. Otherwise, if you have Internet access, follow the instructions on this page to prepare the external drive and install OS X on it. You'll use the Recovery installer, rather than downloading it from the App Store.
c. If you have access to a working Mac, and both it and the non-working Mac have FireWire or Thunderbolt ports, start the non-working Mac in target disk mode. Use the working Mac to copy the data to another drive. This technique won't work with USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
d. If the internal drive of the non-working Mac is user-replaceable, remove it and mount it in an external enclosure or drive dock. Use another Mac to copy the data.
Step 2
If the startup process stops at a blank gray screen with no Apple logo or spinning "daisy wheel," then the startup volume may be full. If you had previously seen warnings of low disk space, this is almost certainly the case. You might be able to start up in safe mode even though you can't start up normally. Otherwise, start up from an external drive, or else use the technique in Step 1b, 1c, or 1d to mount the internal drive and delete some files. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of available space on the startup volume (as shown in the Finder Info window) for normal operation.
Step 3
Sometimes a startup failure can be resolved by resetting the NVRAM.
Step 4
If you use a wireless keyboard, trackpad, or mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. The battery level shown in the Bluetooth menu item may not be accurate.
Step 5
If there's a built-in optical drive, a disc may be stuck in it. Follow these instructions to eject it.
Step 6
Press and hold the power button until the power shuts off. Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed to start up, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Use a different keyboard and/or mouse, if those devices are wired. If you can start up now, one of the devices you disconnected, or a combination of them, is causing the problem. Finding out which one is a process of elimination.
Step 7
If you've started from an external storage device, make sure that the internal startup volume is selected in the Startup Disk pane of System Preferences.
Start up in safe mode. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Post for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know the login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
When you start up in safe mode, it's normal to see a dark gray progress bar on a light gray background. If the progress bar gets stuck for more than a few minutes, or if the system shuts down automatically while the progress bar is displayed, the startup volume is corrupt and the drive is probably malfunctioning. In that case, go to Step 10. If you ever have another problem with the drive, replace it immediately.
If you can start and log in in safe mode, empty the Trash, and then open the Finder Info window on the startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) Check that you have at least 9 GB of available space, as shown in the window. If you don't, copy as many files as necessary to another volume (not another folder on the same volume) and delete the originals. Deletion isn't complete until you empty the Trash again. Do this until the available space is more than 9 GB. Then restart as usual (i.e., not in safe mode.)
If the startup process hangs again, the problem is likely caused by a third-party system modification that you installed. Post for further instructions.
Step 8
Launch Disk Utility in Recovery mode (see Step 1.) Select the startup volume, then run Repair Disk. If any problems are found, repeat until clear. If Disk Utility reports that the volume can't be repaired, the drive has malfunctioned and should be replaced. You might choose to tolerate one such malfunction in the life of the drive. In that case, erase the volume and restore from a backup. If the same thing ever happens again, replace the drive immediately.
This is one of the rare situations in which you should also run Repair Permissions, ignoring the false warnings it may produce. Look for the line "Permissions repair complete" at the end of the output. Then restart as usual.
Step 9
If the startup device is an aftermarket SSD, it may need a firmware update and/or a forced "garbage collection." Instructions for doing this with a Crucial-branded SSD were posted here. Some of those instructions may apply to other brands of SSD, but you should check with the vendor's tech support.
Step 10
Reinstall the OS. If the Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade.
Step 11
Do as in Step 9, but this time erase the startup volume in Disk Utility before installing. The system should automatically restart into the Setup Assistant. Follow the prompts to transfer the data from a Time Machine or other backup.
Step 12
This step applies only to models that have a logic-board ("PRAM") battery: all Mac Pro's and some others (not current models.) Both desktop and portable Macs used to have such a battery. The logic-board battery, if there is one, is separate from the main battery of a portable. A dead logic-board battery can cause a startup failure. Typically the failure will be preceded by loss of the settings for the startup disk and system clock. See the user manual for replacement instructions. You may have to take the machine to a service provider to have the battery replaced.
Step 13
If you get this far, you're probably dealing with a hardware fault. Make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store, or go to another authorized service provider.

Mouse Getting Stuck

Hey there everyone. I recently bought a black Macbook (about a month ago), and lately I've noticed the mouse randomly getting "stuck" every now and then. This problem used to occur when I brought the Macbook out of sleep, but now it seems to be happening at random intervals, and it's really getting on my nerves. The trackpad will just become unresponsive unless I FORCIBLY push hard on it, at which point the mouse will move a little bit, and I'll have to keep waving my finger around for a few minutes until the mouse responds.
When I pay nearly $2000 for a computer, I don't think it's fair that I have to deal with problems like this. If anyone has any solution, it would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise I'll bring it in to the Apple store, though I have so much software and files on this computer I don't want to have to try to transfer everything unless I REALLY have to. Thanks in advance!

Try going to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad and then unclick "Ignore Accidental Trackpad Input." That might fix your problem. It fixed mine when the same thing was happening to me.
Zeb
EDIT: Just beware that it WILL pick up "accidental trackpad input" when you turn that off. So when typing, try not to get your hands too close to the trackpad.

Mouse getting stuck in scrolling function in scroll boxes

Hi, as the title says, occasionally the cursor gets stuck in scroll mode, where i can't move the cursor independently, the window just scrolls when i move the trackpad up/down. This only happens with the trackpad on my macbook, but when i use a mouse, there aren't any problems. I'm guessing it's just a function I don't know about that I accidentally activate, but I can't find it!
any help is appreciated! thanks, joe

Try going to System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad and then unclick "Ignore Accidental Trackpad Input." That might fix your problem. It fixed mine when the same thing was happening to me.
Zeb
EDIT: Just beware that it WILL pick up "accidental trackpad input" when you turn that off. So when typing, try not to get your hands too close to the trackpad.

Why keyboard get stucks under ML?

Keyboard gets stuck for some unknown reasons since I installed ML. Did that happen to you too?

Ended up not reinstalling but was able to fix this by copying over some of the prefpanes from: /System/Library/PreferencePanes/ from a good install. I thought I looked here first but apparently not, this did fix the issues i was having.
I moved the hard drive into my MacBook Pro to see if the keyboard prefpane changed appropriately (it did as it showed my keyboard backlight settings) and then I noticed that the trackpad prefs were dead too.
And this one was dead too...
Old (replaced the bottom 4 prefpanes with ones from 10.9.2):
New:
Seems odd that the version numbers are lower on the newer prefpanes...
but now all works as it should
Will never upgrade in-place again.

My wireless usb mouse freezes or gets stuck on right click/drag

My wireless usb mouse has been getting stuck on right click and/or drag, or the right click just freezes and becomes unusable. Sometimes, my mouse jumps erratically and opens anything that the arrow crosses. I can't use my trackpad because it's broken, but the trackpad itself isn't causing any problems. My system preferences for mouse and trackpad are all fine. My bluetooth is turned off in accordance with the recommendations of people having similar problems. My anti-virus programs don't detect a macro virus or any other problems. Only restarting in safe mode temporarily solves the problem. Does anybody know how to fix this?
Some people have suggested this may be caused by a swollen battery. However, my laptop is a somewhat more recent model and I don't have a portable/removable battery, so I can't solve the problem by taking it out and back in as some people have. Other suggestions?
Thanks!

Update: I've also tried repairing permissions and that doesn't help.
I've experimented with other mouses just to see if there'd be a difference, but the problem is definitely with the computer. All plug-in or wireless mouses have the same results. Right click still won't work.

I was editing photos and it was getting stuck or frozen and working really slow, so I attempting to close aperture and reopen it but it won't quit aperture and now it won't open up to my photos either. Any ideas?

I was editing photos and it was getting stuck or frozen and working very slowly. I attempted to restart the computer but it would not allow me to quit aperture. Now aperture appears in my toolbar but will not open up so I can work on any photos. Any ideas?

Did you try opening from the Applications folder?
Depending on how far that gets you, I would also take a look at the Troubleshooting Basics.

I am unable to email an image from camera roll. the image gets "stuck". cannot input email address or subject line. am unable to cancel and go back to camera roll

i am unable to email images from my camera roll. the image gets "stuck". cannot insert email address or subject line. cannot cancel... return to camera roll.
what to do. i tries taking new picture and sending it in an email... same thing... gets "stuck "
Waht to do ?

Hello lohmann8,
Thank you for providing so much detail about the issue you are experiencing with emailing photos from the Camera Roll.
The first thing I recommend is quitting and relaunching the applications on your iPhone:
Double-click the Home button.
Swipe left or right until you have located the app you wish to close.
Swipe the app up to close it.
You can find the full article here:
iOS: Force an app to close
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5137
If you are still seeing the same issue after quitting and relaunching the Photos and Camera app, I recommend restarting your phone and then resetting if it's still not working:
Restarting your device
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red "slide to power off" slider appears, and then slide the slider.
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.
Note: Reset your device only if you are unable to restart it.
Resetting your device
Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button and the Home button together for at least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
You can find the full article here:
iPhone, iPad, iPod touch: Turning off and on (restarting) and resetting
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430
If the issue persists, the last thing I recommend is backing up and restoring your iPhone:
iOS: How to back up and restore your content
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766
iTunes: Restoring iOS software
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1414
Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Sheila M.

Logout, restart, shutdown all get stuck

After Quicksilver G4 has been idle for a few hours and I come along to shut it down or log out, it starts the process but gets stuck at the blue screen and spinning doohickey. (not the beachball). I've let it sit for over a half hour.
I can SSH into it and there are no stuck processes, no CPU overload, no memory overruns. It's just sitting there drooling.
The only other symptom is that the eject key doesn't function sometimes. If it is one of those times, I can be sure it will hang on reboot. Other times the eject key works fine regardless of whether there is a disc in there or not.
Happened with 10.5, 10.5.1, 10.5.2, but never with 10.4.x
Strange huh?

Open Activity Monitor (/Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor.app), and see if you can spot any thing to do with Safari or Firefox in there.

Trackpad gets stuck

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