Disable automatic window snap and highlighting list items in macOS 15.2

LDA_GA wrote:

different apps:

Pages: I scroll thru some pages and find a place I want to insert more text - I click on the spot where I want to add, and the whole test jumps upward so that where I clicked is now a couple inches above where I clicked with no insertion point, I have to reposition cursor to where I want to add and click a second time at that spot, and now get an insertion point and can add the text I want.

Music: I click on a playlist on the left frame and the playlist data is displayed on main frame of app, and I click on 'Shuffle' and the data in main frame jumps vertically, hiding the Shuffle button I had just clicked on, I then scroll the main frame down so that I can see the Shuffle button and this time I can click on it and it works.

MS Excel: I click on row 27 near bottom of window and row 27 jumps to the middle of the screen with no insertion point. I reposition cursor to the cell on row 27 i want to do data entry and this time I get an insertion point and can enter data.

Preview: I open a window with an image, open the tools, select a tool, and the window jumps vertically, with no tool selected, I reposition cursor over the tool and click second time and tool is selected. I reposition cursor over point of image to use tool on and click, the point on the image jumps to top of window with no insertion of tool, I reposition cursor to editing point and click second time and am able to use tool on the image.

Safari: I go to a web site using bookmarks top menu, the web page displays, I click on a button near the middle of the page, the page jumps upward so the button is now at the top of the Safari tab window, I reposition cursor over the button I had just clicked on and now the button result takes place,

Adobe Reader: I open app, and click on one of the files listed, the line of the file jumps to the top of the adobe window, I reposition cursor over the file I want to read for the second time, and this time the click opens the file.

This window snap EFFECTS EVERY APP ON THE MACBOOK (16", M3 Pro chip)

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.2

Your mac sounds possessed by the devil... never heard of such thing.

To trouble shoot further you can:

 —A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot  as normal and test.  Caches get rebuilt automatically.

This test will tell you if third party interference; most extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode. 

—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

 This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 

***if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect the charging cable before booting to Safe Mode.  

       This will make it act as a wired keyboard and a successful Safe Boot mode.

unplug all non-essential  peripherals when testing

Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS

no insight —

You can get a good look at your User/System config. and reveal conflicts or issues, you can download/run this trusted utility https://etrecheck.com  

If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.

no resolve—

Erase all content and settings on Mac

Erase your Mac and reset it to factory settings - Apple Support

Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon

Use macOS Recovery on a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac

Use macOS Recovery on an Intel-based Mac - Apple Support

How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Try going into System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Under the Windows subsection, Turn off feature called, "Tile by dragging windows to screen edges". This might help your problem.

LDA_GA wrote:

Using apple mail as an example (happens in every app I've used), when mail app is opened, it hoghlights the email at the top of list, and when an email display is clicked, it shifts position without transmitting the click to the button or link that was allegedly clicked on to begin with.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

I have no idea what you are try to say here.

What Mail>View(?) the old "Column Layout" or the newer 3 column view

Make changes to Mail>Settings and make some changes to suit your needs.

Maybe a series of screen shots with annotations to better describe what is happening and not happening— you can redact any personal information/address.

LDA_GA wrote:

The problem is not only with the mail app, but with EVERY APP ON THE MACBOOK PRO.

Maybe pick a different application using less verbiage to describe what is going on exactly...

highlighting list items?

" My mail app contains 4 different email addresses belonging to several users, and the automatic highlighting frequently is on someone elses email, and it makes it look like I'm reading their email. And when I click over a link or button in the email, I want the link or button to get the click immediately, and not have to reposition and click again. this windiow smap and auto highighting is an irritation and makes it take longer to get my work done because of having to click-move-click-again in every app I use. I want it completely done away with and my best wishes to the inventor(s) is for them to be fired for demonstrated stupiitiy and incompetence. How do I get this irritation turned off?????????????????? I have already searached System Pref's for 'smap', 'window', 'click' and several other things, and have not found anything that helps."

if you can not supply screenshots or use your words to describe more succinctly —

you can Call Customer Support  (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

another wild guess...