When traversing through the hierarchy and I reach some column deep enough that the horizontal scroll is active in the window. Then when I want to go back to one of the first columns by scrolling horizontal, the window scrolls/jumps back to show the last column.
I need to deselect the last objects (folders or files) to prevent the jumps.
It's like the window wants to keep showing the selection.
It happens on 2 machines, since Monterey.
Mac Pro, macOS 12.0
Did you try this? It worked for me to go to system preferences>general> Under show scroll bars select: when scrolling. That resolved it for me, when it was on automatic that is when it was jumping like crazy. I am also using Monterey and was about to pull my hair out, it's annoying for sure, but changing the above settings and doing a restart fixed it for me.
Just updated to macOS 12.5, it messes up all the Google Drive shortcuts but as for the column problem, it seems to be resolved!
youcanrunnaked wrote:
This did not work for me.
Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and try the fix again to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following;
• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed
• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)
• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically
• Disables user-installed fonts
• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files
I think quirkymissy is on to something. I also verified that the problem is with cloud-based files and folders. The local drive folders / files do not behave the same. This may also explain why there are so many different results for people in this thread. Perhaps this information can help someone resolve the problem. Why do cloud-based files and folders present differently in the window?
Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?
Boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.
Maybe, but I do not see it. I can easily scroll left and right to my heart's content.
All I'm saying is that maybe there is something peculiar to some systems that has an adverse effect.
Can you check if the same happens:
a) In Safe Mode;
b) While booted normally, and using a different user account
The "escape key" method seems to work, but only if you have a folder selected, not a file. The escape key does nothing to a selected file... so if I need to drag a file from one folder into another further up in the hierarchy, the view jumps back to the file's original folder repeatedly and won't allow me to move it. The only workaround I'm finding so far is to just move the file a few columns at a time (so the original never scrolls off screen). Or to create a new folder, place the file into it, move the folder as you describe, then remove the file from the folder and delete the folder. Obviously either method is big bother compared to simply selecting and dragging to another folder as I used to do. The first method risks losing track of your file and leaving it in the wrong place. The second method is just too many extra steps to do something so simple.
EDIT: As soon as I posted this the problem came back. I'm even MORE perplexed because this did fix it for a few minutes. Back to square one :( Definitely feels like a glaring bug!
I'm a longtime Apple user but just got a brand new Macbook and was having this issue. I think I just fixed it! I went to System Preference > General > then for "Click in the scroll bar to" I changed it to "Jump to the spot that's clicked". Really hope this helps someone, it was sooo annoying.
The issue for me isn't scrolling left or right across columns, it is scrolling vertically in a column that is several columns to the left of the last folder viewed. This is also sporadic, sometimes it works but most of the time it doesn't. I haven't determined the trigger to failure, but any time it won't scroll, if I click in the left column I want to vertically scroll it lets me scroll there. The bug is that I shouldn't have to click first. It was never required before Monterey and it isn't always required now. For example for some reason, I was just able to scroll vertically in column 2 when I had folders in four more columns selected (plus 5th column with documents in it). I closed finder, then opened it again, navigated to the same folder, scrolled left to the second column, and when I tried to scroll down in that column the screen bounces back to the far right column. It is a defect, no way this is a feature, and if it was the use case is rediculous because it breaks prior useful user experience for no rational reason and is inconsistent.
Wodan wrote:
Hey, thanks for your reply but... I'm using Macs since 1989 so I do know how the Finder works. :-)
The whole problem is that it doesn't work like it used to.
You should be able to scroll the window to view the hierarchy in both directions. It shouldn't jump back to the last column automatically.
I think it's a bug, but I wanted to find out if others have seen this too.
Compare to List View and see if it sorts your issue—
Change view options in the Finder on Mac - Apple Support
MacBook Pro 13" circa 2019. I've reinstalled Monterey. I've updated to 12.2.1. I've switched from automatic scroll bar appearance to show scroll bar when in use only -- and restarted -- and switched back and restarted. I removed the Logitech software that controlled my external mouse. None of that has cured this behavior.
I spent a long time on the phone last week with second-tier Apple support, which including running several diagnostics and screen sharing. Nothing we tried worked. The support specialist had me send him a disk image and a screen capture video of the behavior for forwarding to Engineering. Apple called me back on Wednesday of this week to say that they were still looking into it, but had no solution. At least they acknowledged that the problem was widespread and not limited to my device.
When I'm using the Finder, several columns deep into subfolders, and I want to look back at a column to the left, the finder keeps jumping to the last highlighted file to the right, So frustrating!
I am also a long time Mac user and I have this problem as well. I would agree that this is a Monterey bug. Hoping it gets fixed quickly but it's really frustrating.
Remember, it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Tell Apple what missing features you'd like restored or fixed or new features added to the system via Feedback - macOS - Apple.
I have sent feedback to Google, but I am going to send one to Apple too. If anyone wants to do the same, here is where we could send feedback: Feedback - macOS - Apple
Hey, thanks for your reply but... I'm using Macs since 1989 so I do know how the Finder works. :-)
The whole problem is that it doesn't work like it used to.
You should be able to scroll the window to view the hierarchy in both directions. It shouldn't jump back to the last column automatically.
I think it's a bug, but I wanted to find out if others have seen this too.
I am not seeing this. I have some long folder hierarchies, open in Column View, and I can scroll left and right using my trackpad without a problem. I have "Show scroll bars" set to "automatic based on mouse or trackpad", in System Preferences->General; I only use a two finger gesture on the trackpad and do not click on any scroll bars (just in case this may be relevant).
Finder columns jump back to last column
