I have noticed that dialog boxes which open up for File Open or File Save As functionality in various applications do not respond to mouse clicks. I can close the dialog box by pressing on the "escape" key and can run default (highlighted) action by pressing the "enter" key. However, mouse clicks do not work. Has anyone faced this issue and is there a solution? I am using 2018 MacBook Pro 13 inch with Retina display.
I've figured out a way to resolve this on my machine (the System Preferences thing is the real bugaboo!): removing your `com.apple.systempreferences.plist` preferences file.
The step-by-step:
Restart the computer, open the System Preferences, and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop -- you won't need it anymore. If it didn't work, well, that sucks. Return the file from your desktop to the place you got it from, overwriting the newer one, then restart.
Hope that helps; let us know if it does!
Kind regards,
Erwin
So far, only thing that works for me is to log out and re login on my Mac. This is very annoying. Apple should be able to fix this. C’mon Apple!
I suggest doing an SMC reset. How to do that varies by type of computer. When I did the SMC reset, all these problems totally went away.
Honestly, I had this problem a couple of days ago, performed another os update, and now it's completely resolved.
You will maybe need to use the command line to actually execute the update
I have the same problem and have been using the resize work around.
FYI for dialog boxes that can't be resized, e.g. system preferences, you can minimize and restore the window to get it to respond.
We are running 12.6 here and I just saw someone have the issue. I restarted her and all is good right now.
I noticed that in my login items, I have parallels toolbox and two instances of oneDrive application. I removed the parallels toolbox (as I never use it) and one of the two OneDrive instance from login items. Rebooted.. now waiting with my fingers crossed . Hopefully issue does not happen now ..
I am also experiencing this issue on Big Sur - both the noted file dialog and System Preferences issues. If I restart, things are once again clickable but that is a super annoying workaround. However, I do think I found a workaround for the System Preferences issue. In System Preferences, make sure you are on the screen with items you need to be able to change (i.e. Bluetooth or General), minimize System Preferences, then reopen it from the Dock. Things on the screen you were on when you minimized should now be clickable.
This worked for me - minimise, restore and click away. Not every time but enough to occasionally work.
Resize dialog box if you can but doesn't work with preferences. I did a reboot yesterday and seems to have been ok for a while.
I also have the same issue too and am on Big Sur version 11.5.2
The resize trick works but some windows don't resize. in that case i can sometimes tab to the correct button and then press enter.
Hi the issue was solved in the latest upgrade
as I mentioned above
arr you still facing the issue after upgrade
Actually, it turns out that resize solution sometimes worked. it wasn't a complete solution.
My problem was specifically with gitk, a tool that is packaged with the Home Brew git-gui package.
You might find some relief by deleting ~/.config/git/gitk if that file exists.
I also ended up editing /usr/bin/local/gitk to point at the OSX version of wish (/usr/bin/wish) instead of the HomeBrew version.
In some instances even minimizing the dialog and reactivating it has helped me. Not all modal dialogs can be minimized though .. so this workaround has very limited use .. hope this helps in some situations at least.
Dear Missy5937
Sorry to tell you but you completely missed the point. In our cases, the trackpad and/or mouse still work perfectly, can select different windows, click everywhere and so on.
The problem lies in pop-up windows (as in "save as" for a document) as well most of the System Preferences windows* are irresponsive to the clicks. Those two types of windows refuse any input. The Tab key is often our only resort to interact with such windows.
For most "save as" and similar dialog boxes, resizing them (each one, each time) somehow allows mouse input again, which is a good but annoying workaround to this problem. However, as the System Preferences windows cannot be resized, many systems cannot be reached. The "lock changes" button is by the way not the cause as this one cannot be clicked either.
*only System preferences responding to the mouse clicks in my case :
This makes it difficult to update my mac, as, well, the Software Update menu is not in the above list...
By the way, I am running BigSur 15.5.2 on an M1 chip macbook pro 13 inch.
In the hope this helps the support in identifying the bug,
Started happening to me on Monterey, 12.2.
The minimize-the-unminimize hack works most of the time, but for something like System Preferences > Notifications > Focus > Options (a small pop-up dialog within a pref. pane), the hack does not working. I cannot change any Focus option settings on my laptop.
Mac OS Big Sur - Dialog box not responding to mouse clicks
