M1 MacBook Air - freezing cursor and stuck track pad

A couple of times I had my M1 mac use stability....cursor jumping around and much larger than usual. Did not respond accurately to mouse input (seldom use the trackpad).

I those cases I suspected it was something on a web page that messed the system up. In both cases I restarted the M1 and the problem was resolved.

Sooooooo....looks like a incompatibility issue with a script from a couple of web sites.

I fixed the freezing cursor by:

1. uninstalling Chrome and Firefox video related plugins. 2. disabling all permissions for camera in the privacy panel . 3. Shift-control-option restart.

I don't know which of three measures did the trick. Of course after that I re-enabled permissions.

Good article https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.howtogeek.com/682516/mac-camera-not-working-heres-how-to-fix-it/amp/

My MacBook Air M1's trackpad also has issues. The multitasking feature suddenly stopped working at times. The force click, two finger scrolling are working but the four/three finger gestures like mission control and show desktop stopped working. How to resolve this please, its really annoying that I have to restart every time this happens.

After struggling with this issue for weeks, I found that changing the Trackpad Click setting to Firm appears to have resolved all of my issues with the cursor getting stuck or jumping around.

I assume this is a software issue with M1 MacBooks and that the Trackpad may be too sensitive. The firm setting seems to remove the Force/double click and that seems to resolve the issue. Please note I am on the latest OS.

Go to Settings - Trackpad - Click set to Firm on slider.

This may not work for everyone but hope this helps others.

When new I had a problem on a couple of websites with the cursor changing size, see previous post.

Did not like the trackpad when new, used my mouse.

Now am used to the trackpad and web pages no longer cause that effect. Could have been a software update?

Glad the poster got his trackpad working ok.

New MacBook M1 trackpad faulty - creaking noise - not responding as it should - 2 laptops with same problem - Apple refusing to acknowledge it as a fault or problem they need to fix. Expecting customer to be without a computer for weeks and possibly even 'buy a replacement' before returning faulty item. Apple staff completely unable to be human - company policy prevents it. Awful company.

I shall repeat what I said months ago:

Get your money back and buy M1 MacBook Pro.

I am already 7 months on it.

A superb machine that with OS 11.5 is trouble free.

If Apple refuses credit cost of your Air towards payment for a MBP – take them to your local Small Claims Court.

Prepare your case carefully.

Bring with you evidence from this Forum and you'll win.

Good luck!

(I won't be surprised that Forum moderator will axe this note.)

Dr Abe Ariel, PhD University of NSW. (Down Under)

Hi, Daniel! Did the replacement MacBook have the same issues? What did Apple say was the cause of the freezing cursor track pad. I also noticed that on a new M1 MacBook Air that we purchased last month and in addition to the cursor, the keyboard would also freeze. Have no recourse but to just reboot the computer, which sometimes means losing some edits on files that we’ve been working on…

Hope you can share your experience with the replacement.

I guess it’s not just me. Hope we get a fix soon coz it sucks that I only found this problem exactly 31 days after I bought it so I don’t think i’ll be getting a free replacement from the shop.

This happens just every single time I close the lid of my Macbook Air M1 or put it to sleep. Once it wakes up the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad automatically stop working. Connected peripherals like a mouse and drawing tablet still work, as well as my Bluetooth keyboard. I can keep my laptop open and stop it from Sleeping as a solution but that just makes using it so sensitive - not what I bought this for in the 1st place.

Please help fix this, Apple.

Not pretending to be a tech, but what I would do is disconnect the bluetooth keyboard, tablet and mouse. If the problem goes away then try connecting those bluetooth devices one at a time and see which one causes the problem

if problem does not go away then contact Apple support.

Have had mine for six months and do use a Logitech bluetooth mouse, Samsung usb solid state drive for time machine and a usb HP laser printer. No such problem with freezing trackpad or keyboard.

Thanks for the tip! I tried it though and I'm still getting the same issue despite disconnecting and connecting all the peripherals. Looks like it's a software issue maybe since it only happens when I close the laptop lid or put it on sleep otherwise the keyboard and trackpad work perfectly fine. Really hoping it's not a major issue that needs a replacement.

Albert Einstein is widely credited with saying, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results." Professor Einstein or Dr anonymous, it does not matter. It' time for the Mac community to stop experimenting and draw the right conclusion: This Air is a lemon, as was Ford's Edsel.

I suggest you return it and get a refund towards a new MacBook Pro. Slightly heavier than than the Air, I have found MBP to be most enjoyable machine. Now – with upgraded OS – it is free of any trouble and a pleasure to work with. Go for it!.

Your current nightmare will be replaced at once by a wide smile on your face. Enjoy!

Honestly what the **** is going on. My track pad started acting up all of a sudden after nearly 9 months of no issues. But its not consistent, sometimes it works perfectly and other times the trackpad doesn't respond at all. Is Apple seriously just going to ignore its users? Why aren't we getting answers? Seriously disappointed and I don't think I will buy apple again after this experience. If someone figures out a fix please let me know.

I have see this on some of the new M1 MBPs recently, but only at the login screen after a reboot and often stays frozen for a minute or longer before username can be entered. Sidenote: trackpads on MBP haven't physically clicked in at least 5 years. They don't move at all, the click sensation is simulated, but never really moves at all. So, with the cursor being frozen at a software level, it makes complete sense that the "click" is also frozen while the system is tripping over it's own feet.

This issue happens on the M1 MBP model as well, I have seen it on at least 3 of the last 14 we have purchased for our users. Also have one that will not mount another MBP that is in target disk mode no matter what I do, nor will it connect the opposite way putting the new one in shared disk mode. No it's not the cable, can use the same cable on another in the stack of M1 MBP just fine and mount in either direction. Apple quality has just went down the drain in recent years since that garbage 2019 model 13" MBP that need an SMC reset every 3 days in order to charge.