MacOS 26.1 Still not fixing trackpad issues

desertfool wrote:

I wanted to fix a drag and drop issue, like I can move files from one finder window to another. After trying to fix that my trackpad went insane. Clicking where I didn't want it, right clicking where I didn't want it. I hoped this upgrade would fix it... but nope. Still not working,

if it is a hardware issue—

In or out of warranty you can get a free over the counter 'Apple Service Diagnostics' test /assessment

Make an appointment for a "hardware issue"

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Outside the USA

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

To trouble shoot further you can:

unplug all non-essential peripherals when testing

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS

—A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.

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

—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

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

***wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries— connect the charging cable, this will make the wired keyboard successful Safe Boot your Mac.

desertfool wrote:

This is not a hardware issue. This is a bug in Tahoe. Nothing was bad until I tried to fix a ''drag and drop" issue between 2 finder windows. That didn't work, so I reversed it. But the bad issues with the trackpad stayed. I now click on things just by lightly touching the trackpad, not clicking them.

FIX THIS, APPLE!

Apple is not responsible for you making things worse by using unknown "fixes". Sometimes things cannot be easily reversed. The Internet is full of suggestions that can easily break a system with no easy way to undo the changes & damage.

Seems like you need to start over from scratch with a clean install & migrating from a backup made prior to the "fixes" you attempted or the initial problem occurring if "reversing" the changes did not get back to the previous state.

If you want Apple to fix something, then you can either provide Apple with product feedback here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Or better yet, you can open an official support ticket with Apple so you can work with Apple directly to resolve the problem. If the first tier of support cannot resolve it, then you can have them escalate the issue to engineers (assuming the issue even warrants an engineer).

Apple is not here on this forum & will not see your attempt at communication so Apple will never know you have an issue which needs resolving. If you want the community of normal users who are unaffiliated with Apple to assist you with resolving an issue or advising you, then you need to provide us with enough relevant details to attempt to assist you.

Writing an effective Apple Support Communities question - Apple Community

ajmfarlish wrote:

I’m facing the exact same issue too! It’s definitely not a hardware problem — this is a well-known OS bug.

This thread is the first I've heard of it. So not so well known & probably not wide spread.

I’ve been looking for a fix, but even after updating to 26.1, the trackpad dragging issue still remains. Really disappointed to see it hasn’t been addressed yet.

Have you reported the issue to Apple? See my post earlier in this thread:

MacOS 26.1 Still not fixing trackpad issue -- @HWTech post - Apple Community

For context, my old Mac running an earlier OS version works perfectly fine with the same trackpad.

It was also fully functional on my Mac mini until the Tahoe upgrade — that’s when the issue started. Please, Apple, fix this soon. 🙏

The first thing I think of when people report issues with an OS upgrade is that the problem is likely with some third party software. Of course there can be some sort of bug with Tahoe as well, but you would need to perform a clean install of macOS to test whether the Trackpad still has the issue. A clean install must be tested before installing any third party apps & before migrating/restoring from a backup.

FYI, Apple is not here on this forum. If you want Apple to fix something, then you need to report the issue to Apple.

ajmfarlish wrote:

I’m using a Mac mini M4 with an external Jomaa trackpad.

According to the ad on Amazon, the Jomaa Trackpad is compatible with Windows 10/11 and devices, suitable for laptops, desktops, tablets, and more. Note: Not compatible with Mac/Chrome/Linux OS devices.

Luis Sequeira1 wrote:

For what it's worth, dragging from one Finder window to another works as it always has worked.

In my experience, that is not true. In Sequoia (and prior macOS versions), one could drag a file/folder into another window and drop it onto a folder icon when the destination folder is in list view, and the target file/folder would move into that folder. In Tahoe, that doesn’t work. If you drop on the destination folder name, it’s fine. You just need to hover the file over the destination folder to see the issue.

Hovering over destination folder icon, the folder is not highlighted.

Drop the file, it lands in the enclosing folder of the destination folder, not in the destination folder:

Hover over the name of the destination folder, the destination folder is highlighted.

Dropping it puts the fine inside the destination folder, not the higher level folder.

It's a simple workaround, but certainly seems to be a bug in Tahoe. Doesn't happen in Icon view, though.

ajmfarlish wrote:

Thanks for your reply and for sharing your thoughts. Just to clarify — I’m using a Mac mini M4 along with an external third-party trackpad, which had been working perfectly on both my Mac mini and my MacBook Pro (Late 2016 earlier os) until the macOS Tahoe upgrade.

Third Party Trackpad using Third Party Software may have worked on an Older Version of macOS

Third Party Software used to make the Third Party Trackpad very often get Broken when used on a New Version of macOS like Tahoe 26.1

To reiterate

Apple is responsible for addressing issues with its own services, applications, operating systems, and accessories. However, Apple cannot rectify user choices of third-party products  installed and used on their computers.

This responsibility lies solely with the third party to evaluate the performance of their products when used on an Apple Computer running the intended version of macOS's ie macOS 26.1 Tahoe

How to contact an app developer

If it’s a third-party device issue as suggested, then it’s worth noting that the same trackpad worked flawlessly before the Tahoe update — on the exact same setup and hardware. Nothing else changed except the OS. So it’s hard to say it’s purely a third-party fault when the functionality was fine up until the upgrade.

It is the responsibility of the device manufacturer to make sure it works with the OS, not the other way around. If it is a standards-compliant device that doesn’t require any additional software, it should continue to work after an upgrade. If it requires additional software, then the software is likely incompatible with Tahoe and needs to be updated. If it is otherwise compliant, but has special features enabled by the software, you may be able to get it working as a basic input device by uninstalling the software.

Between what my colleague @Barney-15E and self 🦉-53 have mentioned

I see very little options but to contact the Maker of this Jomaa trackpad device

I see very little options but to contact the Maker of this Jomaa trackpad device

To draw a parallel

You have a High Performance Vehicle ( M4 Mac Mini ) that requires a High Performance Fuel ( Apple Trackpad )

You choose to use a Lower Octane Fuel ( Jomaa trackpad )

The vehicle may work , just not at Peak Performance Levels

I’m facing the exact same issue too! It’s definitely not a hardware problem — this is a well-known OS bug. I’ve been looking for a fix, but even after updating to 26.1, the trackpad dragging issue still remains. Really disappointed to see it hasn’t been addressed yet.

For context, my old Mac running an earlier OS version works perfectly fine with the same trackpad. It was also fully functional on my Mac mini until the Tahoe upgrade — that’s when the issue started. Please, Apple, fix this soon. 🙏

ajmfarlish wrote:

For context, my old Mac running an earlier OS version works perfectly fine with the same trackpad. It was also fully functional on my Mac mini until the Tahoe upgrade — that’s when the issue started. Please, Apple, fix this soon. 🙏

This is the first time I have seen a Mac Mini that came with a Builtin Trackpad

The Mac Mini is a Headless, keyboard-less, mouse-less, trackpad-less computer

Wherein, the user needs to Add the corresponding Display, Keyboard, Mouse or Trackpad

In your case, the Trackpad is made my who.

Details please and perhaps someone may consider helping resolve you trackpad issue

Certain misconceptions that persist regarding the relationship between Apple Computer and third-party devices, applications, extensions, services, and accessories.

These misconceptions often arise when third-party products fail to function or meet user expectations.

Apple is responsible for addressing issues with its own services, applications, operating systems, and accessories. However, Apple cannot rectify user choices of third-party products  installed and used on their computers.

This responsibility lies solely with the third party to evaluate the performance of their products when used on an Apple Computer running the intended version of macOS.

How to contact an app developer

Stringray wrote:

Of course they are here. They just don't officially admit it, as they don't want to commit to fixing stuff. But they are definitely reading these topics.

That is incorrect. If you want Apple to see your feedback…

Feedback - macOS - Apple

ajmfarlish wrote:

For context, my old Mac running an earlier OS version works perfectly fine with the same trackpad. It was also fully functional on my Mac mini until the Tahoe upgrade — that’s when the issue started. Please, Apple, fix this soon. 🙏

This is the first time I have seen a Mac Mini that came with a Builtin Trackpad

The Mac Mini is a Headless, keyboard-less, mouse-less, trackpad-less computer

Wherein, the user needs to Add the corresponding Display, Keyboard, Mouse or Trackpad

In your case, the Trackpad is made my who.

Details please and perhaps someone may consider helping resolve you trackpad issue

Thanks for your reply and for sharing your thoughts. Just to clarify — I’m using a Mac mini M4 along with an external third-party trackpad, which had been working perfectly on both my Mac mini and my MacBook Pro (Late 2016 earlier os) until the macOS Tahoe upgrade.

If it’s a third-party device issue as suggested, then it’s worth noting that the same trackpad worked flawlessly before the Tahoe update — on the exact same setup and hardware. Nothing else changed except the OS. So it’s hard to say it’s purely a third-party fault when the functionality was fine up until the upgrade.

And yes, I’m fully aware that the Mac mini doesn’t come with a built-in trackpad 😊 — I was referring to my external one.

I’ve also tried reporting this to Apple multiple times, but I can’t find the chat support option that used to be available. The system only redirects me to book a store visit, which isn’t practical since I’m in far. Possibly a regional support limitation.

Hopefully, Apple takes this seriously and provides a fix soon — since multiple users seem to be facing the same issue after the Tahoe update.

Apple is not here on this forum & will not see your attempt at communication

Of course they are here. They just don't officially admit it, as they don't want to commit to fixing stuff. But they are definitely reading these topics.