trackpad handwriting problem

Same here…
Sometimes, I cannot switch the handwriting on, I click the language icon on the menu bar to turn it on. However, there's risk that you cannot turn it off afterward and stuck there.

Anyone can help? Or someone from Apple please give us hands.

Same issue here. I can't close and have to restart the computer as the only way out. The problem is easily reproducible on Safari, Firefox, and Chrome browser. The handwriting functionality is practically useless.

I am getting the same issue. Inconsistent performance in trying to open and close it. I have found a way to get it to respond without restarting. I open up system preferences (with the keyboard using finder) and that seems to get it to respond to the open/close command.

It is very annoying and I hope Apple fixes it.

I have same problem...
I phoned Apple technical support this morning, the technician said that he'd never heard any complain on it which was weird to me, becoz I can see other users are having the same problem in this forum.

How can we get apple to solve the bug??????

they lie. i have visit genius bar in person and they also told me they don't have any complain

handwriting will only appear on space 1, if you have it stuck, you can disable the touchpad by ctrll-F8, navigate to language menu and hide it with your keyboard.

btw i have a way to reproduce this bug 100%, try using google chrome.

completely close google chrome(not even a dot on the dock), make sure your handwriting hotkey works. then run google chrome and try the handwriting input on the url field.

everyone have this problem should go to genius bar and tell them about it. if they said no one complain about this because let us know here. i can show them the receipt i got from genius bar.

I am having a similar problem when using the Magic Trackpad with an iMac.

When I turn on my computer (from a complete off state) or restart, I can't get the Trackpad Handwriting screen to come up by using Control ShiftSpace, and the Trackpad Handwriting option is not available under the input menu in the menu bar. The Trackpad Handwriting option is available and selected in Preferences --> Language and Text.

Using Control ShiftSpace to bring up the Trackpad Handwriting does work in Firefox and other applications (e.g., Word).

I found two ways that makes the Trackpad Handwriting work again:
1) Log off and log on again.
2) Relaunch Finder (holding down Option, right-click on Finder, select Relaunch).

i found that with the System Preference window active, the trackpad handwriting screen will turn on/off in a breeze. so, until the problem is solved, i will have the system preference window opened in the background and in case i need to switch off the trackpad handwriting, i can just use Command+Tab to get back to the system preference window and do so.

Hi I'm a newbie this is my first post.
I have a similar problem and that's how I got here.

I can reproduce the problem with the Trackpad Handwriting when Spaces is activated. I have 6 spaces. Currently pressing Shift-Control-Space brings up the Handwriting, but always only shows up on Screen #1. The cursor then goes disappear. Press the same combination again will bring back the cursor. I have not been able to make it showing on any other screen than #1. It is annoying and not useful to me as I web browse on screen #2, so I am hoping Apple will look into this matter.

I got the same issue. The chinese hand writing could not be enabled anywhere outside System Preferences by Crtl-Shift-Space.

Safari -> No
Firefox -> No
SpotLight -> No
Notes -> No

By the way, it seems all the issue is related to enable/disable, but all the symptoms are not the same. Any one could reproduce the issue on a different computer?

my workaround on that is to open another application then(which has not been launched yet) (tried Terminal.app; not expecting every application works). Ctrl-shift-space works again temporary.

pls see if it works in your case.

I got exactly the same issue. The handwriting program could not be turn off. This happen to my MacBook Pro (with the built-in) trackpad and my iMac (with the Magic Trackpad). This is definitely a program bug. Apple supporting team, please help to fix it!!!

To temporary resolve the "Unable to close Trackpad Handwriting with Control ShiftSpace" until Apple release a fix, try this:

1. Open a terminal screen before launching Trackpad Handwriting
2. Launch Trackpad Handwriting
3. Try to close it, but failed
4. Switch to Terminal session using "Command+tab"
5. Find the process id of "Finder", command is "ps -aef|grep Finder"
6. the second number in the line is the process ID
7. Restart the Finder process by "kill -HUP xxxxx", where xxxxx=process id
8. This will issue a soft restart of Finder and now you can close the Trackpad Handwriting by "Control ShiftSpace"

PS. if you didn't have an active Terminal session when Trackpad stuck, use "Command ShiftU" to open Utility folder, select Terminal, launch it by "Command+O". Then continue with Step 5.

Hope this helps.

I have a similar issue, where it only works on one screen when spaces is activated. Are you using spaces? Try activating it (CTRLSHIFTSpace) on screen number one.