User profile for user: Matthew Burgener
Matthew Burgener Author
User level: Level 1
48 points

How Can I disable Screen Zoom on new MacBook?

I'm getting quite frustrated with Safari and the new MacBook buttonless trackpad. Because I still use my thumb to "click", I am frequently triggering the screen zoom feature. It is really annoying. I can't seem to find a way to force zoom to be completely disabled.

Anyone know how to do this? Otherwise, I am going to have to return this computer.

24" iMac 2.4GHz, 4GB RAM; MacBook Air; 8GB iPhone, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Oct 18, 2008 6:16 PM

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35 replies
User profile for user: Matthew Burgener
Matthew Burgener Author
User level: Level 1
48 points

Oct 20, 2008 10:11 AM in response to M. R.

Unfortunately this is a deal breaker. I just can't use Safari with the screen zooming all of the time. With no disable button and the buttonless trackpad, Safari font sizes are constantly zooming in and out.

I am going to return the MacBook today. I'll be frustrated if they charge me a restocking fee since they disabled common functionality found in other versions and this is clearly not an intended flaw (screen zooming when I don't want it to). I am going to purchase a MacBook Air while they still have a physical button. I suspect Apple will resolve this eventually.
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User profile for user: Douglas McLaughlin
Douglas McLaughlin
User level: Level 9
63,786 points

Oct 20, 2008 11:06 AM in response to Matthew Burgener

Thanks for the clarification. My "Two Fingers" "Screen Zoom" does have a check box to disable it under the "Options" window. When I uncheck it or check it on, the com.apple.universalaccess.plist preference file is modified. You might try deleting that file from your user's Library/Preferences folder. Perhaps it's corrupted? You might also try running the Software Update. There is a software update specifically for the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros. It's already installed on mine, perhaps one of the many "fixes" available is to turn on that check box for you?

-Doug
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User profile for user: M. R.
M. R.
User level: Level 2
365 points

Oct 18, 2008 6:42 PM in response to Matthew Burgener

Matthew Burgener wrote:
Nope. Tried that. There is not really a "disable" option in the System Preferences. In fact, it says that I should have to hold down the Control key to enable Zoom, but it zooms without that key pressed.

This is really a bad design to not have an option to disable such an annoying feature. Really impacting my ability to do work.

but there is a blue box with a check mark there, uncheck that. At least that works on my MBP (not new)
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User profile for user: Douglas McLaughlin
Douglas McLaughlin
User level: Level 9
63,786 points

Oct 20, 2008 10:19 AM in response to Matthew Burgener

I'm a little confused. First, I there is no "trackpad" option in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preferences on my new MacBook. There is, however, a completely separate "Trackpad" preference pane. Does your new MacBook really have a "trackpad" option in the Keyboard & Mouse System Preference? If so, you may need to re-install Mac OS X from the included disks to get your options back to the correct configuration.

For what it's worth, I'm unable to make the screen zoom at all using the keyboard configurations in my Trackpad System Preferences. You might check to see in the Universal System Preferences if the Zoom option there isn't turned on by accident.

-Doug
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User profile for user: Matthew Burgener
Matthew Burgener Author
User level: Level 1
48 points

Oct 20, 2008 10:34 AM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

No, it is in a separate icon within System Preferences (sorry for not being precise). But screen zoom does not have the checkbox next to it like it did for non "buttonless" MacBooks. It only has an options button that takes you to a screen with options including the checkbox for a hotkey (physical key to enable). But it doesn't matter what you choose, screen zoom still is enabled.

In fact, I went into an Apple Store and played with some of the older MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs. You can't seem to permanently disable screen zooming, its just that with the physical button, you aren't setting yourself up for trouble. With the buttonless MacBook, I keep my thumb resting on the touchpad (for single clicking) and move my index finger. But the slightest movement of the thumb while moving the index finger triggers screen zoom (since it simulates the screen zoom motion). This is likely an inherent issue of not having a physical trackless button.

I'm not sure they can eliminate this problem. I hope they can, because without it, I don't think I can ever buy a buttonless Mac 😟. My wife was having the same problem but not as frequently. That is because she doesn't have the tracking set as high (sensitivity-wise) as I do. She still encounters the issue and finds it annoying.

Another solution would be for Safari to allow me to disable the feature. I don't run into the problem in FireFox because screen zooming doesn't work in FireFox. But I prefer Safari. Again, hope I don't get a restocking fee...
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User profile for user: rferrentino
rferrentino
User level: Level 1
0 points

Dec 12, 2008 6:00 PM in response to Douglas McLaughlin

The problem is NOT screen zoom - the problem is "Punch Open & Close".
The problem is caused (for me) by resting my thumb where the button use to be on my old MacBook Pro.

If you need help duplicating this problem, use your NEW MacBook (or pro) with a BLACK Keyboard, and try pinching when in Safari. You will notice the text getting larger or smaller.

There needs to be a checkbox to disable this feature in the Trackpad Preferences.

Additionally, I have tried the One-Finger Secondary Click and like it, but it's annoying too. The area of the touchpad for this function is too large, I want the area to be only a small patch in the corner (like 5mm by 5mm square would be much better). This would prevent all the accidental right-clicking I am doing. (Until then, I am using 2-finger right clicks)
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User profile for user: JE13
JE13
User level: Level 4
3,938 points

Jan 8, 2009 10:40 PM in response to jacomar

Agreed. I do this all the time as well and I want there to be a way to disable the "pinch" option. When you use two fingers on the trackpad--your index on one hand to move the pointer and another on the other hand, like your thumb, to click, you sometimes have both on the trackpad and the trackpad mistakes what you're doing for a "pinch."

It zooms in or out. The trackpad preferences do not allow this feature to be disabled. I'm trying to train myself not to do it, but I did it so much on my old Macbook, with the separate key for clicking, that I'm finding it hard to stop.
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User profile for user: JE13
JE13
User level: Level 4
3,938 points

Jan 9, 2009 9:55 AM in response to eckndu

never had accidental zoom but are u using ctrl+click to get the right click menu?


No, this has nothing to do with that. This has to do with the fact that the trackpad is also a button rather than a trackpad AND a separate button. Some of us got used to having a finger on the trackpad and a finger on the button. Move pointer with finger on trackpad, click with finger on button. As the trackpad on the new Macbook is both trackpad and button, we end up with two fingers on the trackpad. And the trackpad sometimes thinks we're pinching when we move the pointer and click simultaneously with these two fingers.

It mistakes this for the "pinching" motion that activates the "zoom" and so things--like, say the font size of what you're reading here--get larger or smaller. The "pinch" option to zoom in or out CANNOT be disabled. Go Pref>Trackpad>Two Fingers>Pinch Open & Close.

See? No way to disable it.
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User profile for user: JE13
JE13
User level: Level 4
3,938 points

Jan 10, 2009 4:59 PM in response to Nocutrnal22

Wow i really cant believe how picky people are is it not easy to just click wherever your finger is i got used to it in a day and it would be weird to go back to a seperate button how hard is it to learn that and get used to it?


Wow, I really can't believe how rude people like you are. Yes, some of us ARE trying to re-train ourselves because, hey, there is no disable option. But NO, I don't think it "picky" of us to want to have that option. It would be picky if it was a deal breaking and we said we weren't buying the machine because of it, but as we've bought the machines and we're happy with the machines, then we're not being "picky" at all. We're just pointing out something we'd like which would make us "happier" with the machines. And something that we suspect might not be too difficult to put into the software.
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User profile for user: Crimguy
Crimguy
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jan 12, 2009 8:31 PM in response to JE13

I bizarrely happy to see I'm not the only one who accidentally zooms on the new MB. The trackpad preference needs options to enable/disable all of the gestures.

Shoot - I'd like Apple to do something uncharacteristic and have these features switchable on a per-application basis (I think I'd like the zoom feature in, e.g., iPhoto, but disabled in Firefox).

Dare to dream.
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How Can I disable Screen Zoom on new MacBook?

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