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Disappearing Mouse Cursor when using Command + Tab

Whenever I use Command Tab to switch between apps on Mojave, my cursor disappears. Even when I hit Command Tab again to come back to the app I was in before, the cursor is still missing. I can use right-click or go to Mission Control to bring it back, but this is a new issue I've never had before, and it's really bothersome to have to keep doing this to stop my mouse from disappearing.


Any tips?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.14

Posted on Feb 21, 2020 2:41 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 22, 2020 7:39 AM

On my Mojave system, when I press Command-Tab, my cursor turns into a white gloved hand.


So I would suggest booting into Safe mode to see if it is 3rd party software

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564

This will not load any 3rd party additions, it will load some more conservative Apple drivers (may cause screen flicker), and it will clear some kernel caches (a cache is saved data in a form that can speed up a program, but is totally redundant to the original source, and thus can be safely cleared).  Booting into Safe mode is just an experiment, but can frequently eliminate any 3rd party interference, or a cached item out-of-sync with the world.  (Verify Safe mode via Applications -> Utilities -> System Information -> Software -> Boot Mode -> Safe vs Normal)


You should also try an SMC reset and an NVRAM reset 

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

How to reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 22, 2020 7:39 AM in response to JackTheSon1

On my Mojave system, when I press Command-Tab, my cursor turns into a white gloved hand.


So I would suggest booting into Safe mode to see if it is 3rd party software

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564

This will not load any 3rd party additions, it will load some more conservative Apple drivers (may cause screen flicker), and it will clear some kernel caches (a cache is saved data in a form that can speed up a program, but is totally redundant to the original source, and thus can be safely cleared).  Booting into Safe mode is just an experiment, but can frequently eliminate any 3rd party interference, or a cached item out-of-sync with the world.  (Verify Safe mode via Applications -> Utilities -> System Information -> Software -> Boot Mode -> Safe vs Normal)


You should also try an SMC reset and an NVRAM reset 

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC) on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

How to reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

Feb 22, 2020 6:30 AM in response to JackTheSon1

You do not say what exact Mac /model /year /size /retina /touchbar is this

or

what exact macOS you are currently running?


I have been seeing some reports here of this issue— it seems a possible bug...


Non the less—you can try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

and

Try resetting the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295


To trouble shoot further you can:


Try a SafeBoot https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201262

Takes noticeable longer to get to the login screen, does a 5-15 minute disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, including dynamic loader cache, etc. Login and test. Reboot and test —sometimes a Safe Boot is all it takes to resolve anomalies like yours.

This test will tell you if third party interference; extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.


Test issue in another user (or guest user) account  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 




Disappearing Mouse Cursor when using Command + Tab

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