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Anyone having some strange symbols popping up?

Hello, seems like when the iMac is inactive overnight and I start using it in the morning all of a sudden the cursor moves on it's own and I am not able to type and some strange symbols with numbers pop up on the screen as the attached pic shows:


https://i.postimg.cc/Zqxq6BH4/IMG-0057.jpg


My only option then is to restart then it doesn't happen anymore until some other morning. If this was happening every morning then it would be easier to troubleshoot but it doesn't;t have any particular schedule so hard to figure out.

Posted on Aug 9, 2019 9:52 AM

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Posted on Aug 12, 2019 2:02 PM

Allan is correct that what you are seeing are the diacritical marks that you can enable by holding a key such as 'e' or 'i'. Rather than quickly pressing the key, press and hold the key down and the diacritical mark options will appear as you showed in your image. You should be able to make the diacritical mark options disappear by pressing the escape key rather than restarting the iMac.


If the diacritical marks are appearing without you pressing any keys then I suggest using the information in this Apple article to enable the on-screen keyboard viewer to determine whether one or more of your keyboard keys might be stuck. If you see one of the keys highlight on the keyboard viewer when you aren't pressing it then the keyboard may have an issue. It will also tell you whether your iMac is correctly recognizing the type of keyboard and key layout that you have.


Use the Keyboard Viewer on Mac - Apple Palaikymas

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 12, 2019 2:02 PM in response to mikehende

Allan is correct that what you are seeing are the diacritical marks that you can enable by holding a key such as 'e' or 'i'. Rather than quickly pressing the key, press and hold the key down and the diacritical mark options will appear as you showed in your image. You should be able to make the diacritical mark options disappear by pressing the escape key rather than restarting the iMac.


If the diacritical marks are appearing without you pressing any keys then I suggest using the information in this Apple article to enable the on-screen keyboard viewer to determine whether one or more of your keyboard keys might be stuck. If you see one of the keys highlight on the keyboard viewer when you aren't pressing it then the keyboard may have an issue. It will also tell you whether your iMac is correctly recognizing the type of keyboard and key layout that you have.


Use the Keyboard Viewer on Mac - Apple Palaikymas

Aug 14, 2019 9:23 AM in response to mikehende

Let's go back to basics.

How long has the issue been occurring?

Did the mouse and keyboard issue start occurring at the same time?

What model iMac do you have?

What version of macOS are you running?

What brand/model mouse and keyboard are you using? (Your previous screenshots indicate wireless, but no details)

If you are using the current generation Apple Wireless Keyboard, are you using it in the wireless mode, or with the USB->Lightning cable plugged in? If it's in wireless mode, try connecting the USB->Lightning cable so it works in the wired mode to see if the issue changes.


Has there ever been another mouse and/or keyboard paired to this iMac? A couple years ago I purchased a new keyboard with a keypad and set the old wireless in a pile of stuff on my desk. A couple weeks later my iMac started acting strange as if someone was pressing keys. After much frustration I found my old keyboard buried under a pile of stuff that had been piled on top of my desk. I had forgotten to turn the old keyboard off and the weight of the pile was randomly pressing keys as things were shuffled about. I learned my lesson. You can check your Bluetooth preferences to see what devices are paired with your iMac, then delete any older devices that you are no longer using with your system. Be careful not to delete your current keyboard and mouse.


If you have another keyboard and mouse, try disconnecting and powering down (if applicable) the old keyboard/mouse to see if the issue goes away. You indicated that the cursor moves and the keys on the keyboard are also apparently being pressed to bring up the diacritical menu which is odd and could be an indication that software could be involved. Have you installed any new software or utilities recently?


It may also be helpful to create another user account and see if the issue also occurs there. If the issue disappears then look closely at your problematic user account and troubleshoot for software/configuration issues. You can also use Safe Mode to help determine whether you are experiencing a software issue. Here's more information:


Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support


Although I can't imagine what parameter could generate the type of issue you described, resetting the NVRAM won't hurt, and could possibly help. For more information refer to the following Apple article:


Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support


It would be helpful to understand what you mean by the cursor moving on its own. How far does the cursor move? Does it appear to move in a controlled fashion, or does it jump around? How long does it last? What, if anything, do you do to stop it so you regain control of the iMac? Is restarting the only solution? Do you have any kids, friends, (or cats?) that might be playing a practical joke on you?


Sorry to throw so many questions and information at you. I'm just trying to figure out all of the different ways that this type of issue could occur.

Aug 11, 2019 11:51 AM in response to mikehende

Sorry to be slow getting back. Weekends, ya know!


I've not yet upgraded to Mojave so I cannot check. However, as Apple seem determined to carry out the "iOS-ificaiton" of macOS, they could have adopted the iOS methods of showing optional characters.


Again, I don't have Mojave but I would start with System Preferences > Keyboard and look for any options that control auto-correct, diacritical marks, or input methods.


Would you like me to have the Hosts move this to the Mojave forums? Might get more action there. Let me know.


Allan

Aug 15, 2019 6:42 AM in response to ProbsRus

Sorry for the late reply and no worries about the many questions, I appreciate your help.


Issue has been occurring for since a few months now


When I say mouse and kb issue, to clarify, nothing goes wrong with the Magic Mouse, this is only the apple wireless kb issue


2012 27" imac


Mojave


model A1314 Wireless kb and Magic Mouse. Both run in wireless mode.


No other mouse/kb used with this imac


With the cursor issue, whenever the symbols appear, the cursor starts moving on it's own forward or backward through whatever text I was typing.


I had tried with Apple support resetting the nvram. Also since this issue occurs only whenever it wants with no schedule so I can check in safe mode, support suggested I reinstall OSX which I am hesitant to do right now and will only do so as a last resort.





Anyone having some strange symbols popping up?

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