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Trackpad pinch to zoom gesture fails occasionally

I have a new M1 Pro MBP, with Monterey 12.0.1 - I use spread/pinch gestures a lot (in Figma design tool), and frequently the gesture isn't recognized.


About 80% of the time it works correctly; about 15% of the time neither finger is detected (I can keep pinching/spreading my fingers as much as I want, and nothing happens to the zoom/cursor).

About 5% of the time one finger is detected, and the cursor moves, but zoom is unchanged.


I can reproduce this in safe mode, across different apps (Safari, Figma, Chrome), and I was also able to repeat it in an Apple store with one of their M1 MacBook Pros, and also when using one of their external Magic Trackpad. So it's highly likely a software bug.


There are several reports of trackpad issues with tap to click:


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253316982

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253297056

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/253344390

https://piunikaweb.com/2021/11/01/some-macos-12-monterey-users-are-having-issues-with-the-trackpad/ 



While testing for the pinch/spread gesture bug on my old 2018 MBP (still on Big Sur), I couldn't reproduce the bug, but did get something related.

Occasionally in Safari, I can spread my fingers to zoom in on the page, but when I pinch to zoom out, it immediately switches to thumbnail view of my tabs (the equivalent of pinching from 100% view). When I click back into the page, it's still in the zoomed-in view. Essentially, the pinch gesture skips zooming out the page, and goes straight to zooming out to thumbnails. I can reproduce this in Monterey on the M1 Pro MBP, so it's possibly a bug that still exists. Mentioning it in case it's related.



MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 12.0

Posted on Nov 10, 2021 3:03 PM

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Posted on Dec 16, 2021 7:44 PM

I'm not on the M1 you have, but I'm on a very high end configuration of a 16" MacBook Pro 2019 edition (32gb ram 2TB ssd, 8Gb VRAM variant), and I have been having an AWFUL time with pinch to zoom not working properly at all. I had the problem on the previous MacOS 12, but after yesterday's update, or the one I just saw yesterday, (MacOS 12.1), the bug is MUCH worse. I have a difficult time reading text on webpages and rely on pinch to zoom. I also look at coins online and need pinch to zoom there as well. It's not the websites, it's the trackpad/ MacOS issue as it got much worse after the latest update. Please help Apple!

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Dec 16, 2021 7:44 PM in response to Isaak

I'm not on the M1 you have, but I'm on a very high end configuration of a 16" MacBook Pro 2019 edition (32gb ram 2TB ssd, 8Gb VRAM variant), and I have been having an AWFUL time with pinch to zoom not working properly at all. I had the problem on the previous MacOS 12, but after yesterday's update, or the one I just saw yesterday, (MacOS 12.1), the bug is MUCH worse. I have a difficult time reading text on webpages and rely on pinch to zoom. I also look at coins online and need pinch to zoom there as well. It's not the websites, it's the trackpad/ MacOS issue as it got much worse after the latest update. Please help Apple!

Jan 2, 2022 2:18 PM in response to Sir Steevus

I have the same issue on my Macbook Air M1 + Montery 12.1.


It is not related to a specific software for me, but occurs when I'm using intensively the pinch to zoom.

Sometimes, the pinch to zoom is dead for all the applications. Sometimes it works for some of them and not for the others (eg : it works for Word but not for Preview).


Closing the screen for 1 second so the computer enters sleep mode and re-opening the screen restores the trackpad functionality for all the apps.

This is a poor user experience. Please Apple, fix this issue on the next OS release, as it is a basic functionality that *must* work painlessly.

Nov 11, 2021 11:14 AM in response to cls34

Hello cls34,


Thank you for reaching out to Apple Support Communities, and we'll be happy to help in any way we can. We understand you're having issues with gestures on your Mac. As the issue is intermittent, and you've done excellent troubleshooting so far, we recommend reaching out to Apple directly to continue working with you to resolve this. You can reach out to them directly here: Get Support


We hope this helps.


Cheers!

Nov 11, 2021 12:05 PM in response to cls34

Thanks for posting. I'm seeing the same thing. I was wondering if it was a software problem or a hardware problem. Some people are reporting that downgrading to Big Sur fixes it. I can't do that on my new computer. But it is good to know that it is a software problem.


Most of these posts reference a failure to register a tap to click. I definitely experience that. But my bigger complaint is that sometimes the mouse cursor has a mind of its own. When it does register a click, it is sometimes nowhere near the location that I actually clicked upon.

Jan 7, 2022 4:13 PM in response to hai123xx

There still has not been a patch, BUT, another forum member came up with a annoyingly temporary solution.


“Put the Mac to sleep by selecting the apple icon in the top bar, then wake the laptop and pinch to zoom will work again temporarily. “


I can confirm this does work short term. You’ll have to do it repeatedly, but works.


PLEASE PATCH THIS SOFTWARE BUG APPLE!!! YOU ARE BEING TOO SLOW.

Jan 11, 2022 3:12 PM in response to cls34

Same machine, same operative system and the same problem; I use a lot Indesign and Illustrator, working 5 - 9 hours per day; everyday happen at least 2 time that pinch to zoom fail for like 30 - 40 seconds. Each programme that I use is original and I'm sure that is a Mac problem because I tried to test in photos app and is the same, when it bug is for everything. You think that is a software problem (that we hope will be fixed) or hardware; I've to change my machine?

Jan 14, 2022 1:11 AM in response to cls34

Given the lack of any sort of speedy resolution and what seems to be an apparent and total disregard to owners from Apple, I will allow these devices to run their course, then I will shop serious competitors. Premium devices that lose their functionality after a simple update, ARE NOT WORTH THE PREMIUM!!!


I will be VERY slow to update my computer and apple devices after this awful experience is resolved. I'm simply fed up waiting. They know about this issue and its daily repeated failures. This makes using my $4k+ MacBook Pro unproductive and costly in terms of sheer frustration and dollars lost to inhibited productivity. Unacceptable. I've been patient and so have MANY others!!. This is far too slow. A simple patch for this one issue was all that was needed. No major anything. Just a simple 12.1.1 or for crying out lout, 12.1.0.1. Just fix the blasted track pad! Update to resolve and then work on larger bug fixes later. Shame on Apple!

Jan 14, 2022 1:03 AM in response to cls34

Also, anyone else notice the complete inability to rate macOS Monterey in the Apple App Store? It's sitting there with a 1 review 5 star rating, and no way to review the software. Massively misleading and wildly unethical. This "update" broke key functionality of the Apple Track Pad with no fix and no direction on one coming. It is not a 5 star software. Why is rating and writing a review unavailable?

Jan 18, 2022 12:46 AM in response to 52pd

Macbook Pro ''14 2021


Same issue here. It apears every day in every Native Mac app (safari, fotos, previews...).


It can only be fixed by manually reseting the trackpad pinch in function, under system preferences - trackpad - 2nd tab "scroll zoom" - click "zoom in/out"


Very frustrating and not worth the premium.



Jan 20, 2022 9:36 PM in response to Utah Cowboys

I have to agree with this wholeheartedly. I just bought a brand new 14" M1 Pro and have never been so disappointed in a products functionality. This is the first month that I have had it and this issue makes working, web browsing, and general application use a very annoying experience. Imagine watching a movie on a brand new 70inch OLED ultra high contrast immersive display you just spent a great deal of money on, but, there is one catch; for every 30 seconds of content there will be a 2 second pause. It destroys the user experience pretty quickly. I am always rooting for you Apple, but, this is a too big of a blunder for a company that has a trillion dollar market cap.

Jan 22, 2022 3:44 PM in response to cls34

Similar issue here. Mine is MBP 14" M1 Pro, Monterey 12.1


Not always, but sometimes pinching to zoom stops working, as described by others.

Mainly switching between Chrome, Safari and Figma, but sometimes also with other apps like preview.

I have not found a pattern for which the problem occurs under certain conditions.

When it occurs, the other gestures keep working, 2 finger scrolling is ok as well as 3 finger and 4 finger gestures.


The only workaround I found is to put the mac to sleep and wake it up immediately (after 1 second) and usually everything goes back to working properly.


It's annoying. Waiting for fix.

Trackpad pinch to zoom gesture fails occasionally

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