Level 1

30 points

M1 Mac Mini won't respond to keyboard presses or mouse clicks

Within the past week, my M1 Mac Mini (8/8/16GB/1TB, macOS 11.4 and 11.5) will stop responding to mouse clicks and keyboard presses. The mouse cursor remains movable but the computer will not respond to input. Pressing the power button will bring up the menu to restart etc., but no options can be selected. Only a power down will fix the issue, often resulting in a loss of work.

This is happening once or twice a day.

How can I prevent this?

Mac mini, macOS 11.5

Posted on Jul 27, 2021 3:24 AM

Top-ranking reply

Ben Hourigan Author

Level 1

30 points

Posted on Sep 23, 2021 7:23 PM

After noticing a freeze while the system was displaying a Safari tooltip, I started to look into what applications on my system displayed an overlay on mouseover. One of the candidates was Hyperdock, a utility not updated since 2017 that displays Windows-style window previews when mousing over application icons in the dock: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/hyperdock/id449830122?mt=12

I uninstalled this on 17 September and have not had the input issue since. Not 100% sure that's what did the trick, but it could be.

Is anyone having this issue using Hyperdock or a similar application?

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41 replies

stibbsy

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2021 7:18 AM in response to den.thed

I have the same issue too, I think Tommassvitorka was asking if the issue had been solved or if any progress had been made.

im lucky enough to have an M1 MBP and iMac and they both do it, it’s bonkers…. But impossible to talk to support about it or visit a store…..

stibbsy

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2021 8:37 AM in response to tomassvitorka

I have a Mighty Mouse per device which usually isn't far away.... but then it can happen when the Mighty Mouse isn't connected (happened on holiday last week for instance).

I contacted Apple support and they asked me to reset the SPRAM and NVRAM (M1 Macs dont let you do this). Support advisor told me to reinstall OS X which I will try but not holding out much hope as this happens on my iMac as well as the MacBook Pro

Aug 26, 2021 8:47 AM in response to hcsitas

Hi, it seems like the device type is irrelevant.

keyboard - wired via usb (stops working)

mighty Mouse - Bluetooth (clicking stops working)

3rd party mouse - connected via usb Bluetooth receiver (clicking stops working)

stibbsy

Level 1

4 points

Aug 26, 2021 8:50 AM in response to tomassvitorka

Yeah it's just when the issue happens without a mouse or keyboard attached at all this makes me suspicious. Obviously on the laptop the keyboard and mouse are built in.... Ill try reinstall the OS and see - I'm just amazed at how random this is, it can either not happen at all or happen 2 or 3 times.... Thanks for the chats on this :) nice to know I'm not alone.

As you said it's a very hard issue to Google/speak to chat about.

One funny thing is that video calls still work whilst this issue happens, i.e. the input freeze can happen so I cant change my mouse but the call still carries on so video and microphone are fine - I just cannot mute myself ha..... which in 2021 is not great.....

Ben Hourigan Author

Level 1

30 points

Aug 29, 2021 7:36 PM in response to Terza36

This is more along the lines I've been thinking of—that if it's not an OS issue it could be some software that is messing up the input system or window server. I do have TeamViewer on the system but neither it nor any of its services are running and I don’t have the sound device. So for me it must be something else.

Sep 15, 2021 7:29 AM in response to Ben Hourigan

Exactly the same issue for me.

Happening at least once a week and I am using Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Keyboard so the theory that this is caused by 3rd party peripherals doesn't stand up unfortunately. Forced power cycle is the only option to rectify this atm

Nothing illuminating in console either.

I know 3 people with an M1 MacBook Pro and two of us are experiencing this. Not great.

One of my mates reinstalled macOS and the issue retuned the following day.

Likelihood is that Apple are already aware of this and are working on it but the more people that report it to their support the better really.

Ben Hourigan Author

Level 1

30 points

Sep 15, 2021 7:20 PM in response to justingarrett1970

I've also been checking the console after the reboot and removing anything that was happening when the input problem came up. For example I had a Spotify launch agent that was doing something, so I uninstalled Spotify. But none of this has made a difference and doesn't seem to be connected.

Something else I've noticed: when the system stops accepting clicks or keyboard presses, but lets you move the mouse pointer, if you move the pointer and then stop, the pointer will return to what I guess is the last thing it was on or interacting with before the freeze. Yesterday during one of the freezes it was a Safari Developer Preview tab that was showing a tooltip with the tab title. But the issue is not specific to that application.

Anybody else noticed this? I wonder what it suggests.

stibbsy

Level 1

4 points

Oct 20, 2021 4:57 AM in response to JemandS

Absolutely same, thanks so much everyone for the help here as this I think was definitely the issue.

I am using this now: https://www.macenhance.com/dockmate.html

Now crashes but not as smooth as Hyperdock so win some/loose some ha.

Ben Hourigan Author

Level 1

30 points

Jul 27, 2021 8:51 AM in response to tbirdvet

The keyboard is wired. Also, I can still move the mouse cursor, so it’s not likely an issue with the trackpad.

Ben Hourigan Author

Level 1

30 points

Jul 27, 2021 11:32 AM in response to den.thed

It's not possible to do this: the system will not respond to clicks or keypresses of any kind. Cmd-Opt-Esc doesn't work either.

Aug 16, 2021 7:07 AM in response to den.thed

I have exactly the same issue.

Not sure how to solve it and Apple customer support is just as helpless.

Have you managed to resolve it?

den.thed

Level 10

92,512 points

Aug 16, 2021 7:21 AM in response to tomassvitorka

Please start a new question of your own.

see > https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209030

Aug 26, 2021 8:35 AM in response to stibbsy

Hi Stibbsy, are you using 2 mice by any chance?

Aug 26, 2021 8:37 AM in response to den.thed

Thanks @den.thed but they are of no help. All they suggest is to restart the computer. Never though of that.

hcsitas

Level 6

13,970 points

Aug 26, 2021 8:44 AM in response to tomassvitorka

Details on mouse/trackpad and keyboard, please.

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M1 Mac Mini won't respond to keyboard presses or mouse clicks