Cursor randomly jumps when typing in Messages

Question

Cursor randomly jumps when typing in Messages

Cursor jumps randomly when typing in MAC Apps (Messages, TextEdit, etc)

I have tried resetting pram, running countless diagnostics, CleanMyMac, Utility Disk, and more with no success in figuring out a solution to my cursor randomly jumping to different lines when typing in Messages or other Mac-based apps. I use my 16" 2019 MacBook Pro keyboard when I travel, but use Bluetooth keyboard at home in my studio. It happens the same for both. I've updated to Sequoia and the issue followed me. I bought a new MacBook Pro M4 Pro last week and migrated over. The issue followed me to the new computer. It's obviously not a HARDWARE issue. It's not a keyboard or trackpad issue. I have seen online that certain applications could interfere. I have not found it yet. I can't force it to happen (usually when I'm on with AppleCare...it works just fine). It's completely random. It's not happening right now. I have 1,500 plugins installed for my music production and would rather not start my computer over from scratch. I've done that once before and it took a couple weeks of installations and reactivations. PLEASE! Does ANYONE have an idea? I probably haven't tried EVERYTHING...but I can't think of what I haven't at this point. It SEEMS to only happen when I'm using mac-based apps (email, messages, textedit, etc).

UPDATE:

I have uninstalled CleanMyMac. It's only been a day...so I'm waiting to see what happens today. I also downloaded EtreCheckPro from a suggestion in another thread. I have a readout, but I have no idea what I'm looking at. I still can't find anything online to help me with this issue. I've booted in SAFE MODE...and it SEEMS like I don't have the issue...but I can't work all day in SAFE MODE. So how do I determine what software is causing the issue? I've turned off STARTUP ITEMS one by one with no results.

MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 2024)

Posted on Dec 3, 2025 5:34 AM

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Answer 1

Owl-53

Level 10

102,355 points

Dec 10, 2025 2:25 AM in response to randomstuff67

There are two schools of thought

They are specific to CleanMyMac ( aka BrickMyMac )

Even if and after it has been removed

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, is an invitation for disaster.

Certain Applications maybe available on the Apple Apps Store - this only means the Developer is prepared to pay Apple a percentage on each sale.

What the Application may do to the computer is up to the User to check this out before purchase

Disk Cleaner

CleanMyMac , aka “ BrickMyMac “

The steps in #1 below is predicated on the Offending Application has been Removed as per the Developers Specific Instruction

# 1 Some Contributors suggest restarting from Recovery Mode and choosing to Reinstall the Operating System over the existing installation.

This may or may not replace elements of the Home Folder ( User Account ) and replace any corrupted or removed elements and make things right.

#2 - Then there are Other Contributors ( like myself ) would suggest from this link Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon.

Thereafter to start from scratch and install all Required Applications directly from the Apple Apps Store or Directly from the Developer.

If going this route - I suggest Not using Startup Assist to migrate things back as this will probably Re-Introduce the existing issue at the time TM Backup was made

While you are it

Unless there is a very specific reason to run the computer this way " Secure Boot: Reduced Security"

You may consider changing this to Full Security

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Answer 2

Dec 7, 2025 7:11 PM in response to randomstuff67

Your cursor-jumping issue is almost certainly caused by software at the user level, not hardware, and it is most likely coming from:

👉 A background agent, Input Manager, typing enhancer, clipboard tool, automation tool, audio plug-in background service, or a leftover kernel extension you migrated to the new Mac.

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Answer 3

Dec 7, 2025 7:14 PM in response to randomstuff67

Post the etrecheck report here:

Use the additional text button located at the bottom of text window where you type your reply to this post.

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Answer 4

Dec 8, 2025 7:54 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Hi Luis. I know CleanMyMac is not well-liked by a lot of people. I did delete CleanMyMac for about 2 weeks and it was still happening. So in this particular case...CleanMyMac is not the problem.

UPDATE SINCE THE REPORT:

I removed the kext files that were in question and the issue of the cursor jumping is still happening. I'm trying to keep a record of what I'm doing...small step by small step...so I can hopefully find out what's causing this issue. No one has been able to narrow it down to anything specific...maybe we can figure it out!

Thank you!

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Answer 5

Dec 8, 2025 8:11 AM in response to randomstuff67

I don't know if this helps...but here you go. Maybe something stands out.

2025-12-08, APPS on MAC

Addictive Keys.app

Adobe Acrobat DC

Adobe After Effects 2025

Adobe Audition 2025

Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Illustrator 2025

Adobe Illustrator 2026

Adobe Media Encoder 2021

Adobe Media Encoder 2025

Adobe Photoshop (Beta)

Adobe Photoshop 2025

Adobe Photoshop 2026

Adobe Premiere Pro 2025

Adobe Premiere Rush 2.0

Ample Sound

AmpliTube 4.app

App Store.app

Arcade.app

AudioNote 2 LITE - Notepad and Voice Recorder.app

Authorization Manager.app

Authorizer.app

Automator.app

Books.app

Burn

Calculator.app

Calendar.app

Canva.app

Carbon Copy Cloner.app

Chat.app

Chess.app

CleanMyMac.app

Clock.app

Contacts.app

CrossOver.app

Custom Shop.app

Dictionary.app

Dropbox.app

EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard.app

Elegato Video Capture Folder

EtreCheckPro.app

EZdrummer-3.1.2

FaceTime.app

Figma.app

Find My.app

Firefox.app

Font Book.app

Freeform.app

GarageBand.app

Google Chrome.app

Google Docs.app

Google Drive.app

Google Sheets.app

Google Slides.app

GoPro Quik.app

Handbrake

Home.app

HP Easy Scan.app

HP Easy Start.app

HP Smart.app

IK Product Manager.app

ilok

iLok License Manager.app

Image Capture.app

Image Playground.app

iMovie.app

Intel Power Gadget iPhone Mirroring.app

¡Zotope Ozone 9.app iZotope Product Portal.app

Keka.app

Keynote.app

Launchpad.app

LG Screen Manager.app

Logic Pro.app

LUNA.app

Lurssen Mastering Console.app

Mail.app

Maps.app

Maxon Cinema 4D 2025

Melodyne 5

Messages.app

Microsoft Excel.app

Microsoft OneNote.app

Microsoft Outlook.app

Microsoft PowerPoint.app

Microsoft Word.app

Miroslav Philharmonik 2.app

Mission Control.app

MODO BASS.app

MPKMini Mk2 Editor.app

Music.app

Native Instruments

News.app

Notes.app

Numbers.app

Output Hub.app

PA-InstallationManager.app

Pages.app

Passwords.app

PhoneView.app

Photo Booth.app

Photos.app

Plugin Alliance

Podcasts.app

Preview.app

PrintFriendly.app

QuickTime Player.app

Quik.app

Reason Lite 10

Relab

Reminders.app

Safari.app

Shortcuts.app

Siri.app

Skype.app

Softube Central.app

SoundID Reference Measure.app

SoundID Reference.app

SoundID Virtual Monitoring PRO Measure.app

Soundtoys

Speedtest.app

SPL HawkEye.app

Spotify.app

Stickies.app

Stocks.app

System Settings.app

T-RackS 5.app

TextEdit.app

Time Machine.app

Tips.app

Toontrack

Truelron-1.1.3

TurboTax 2023.app

TurboTax 2024.app

TurboTax Deluxe 2016.app

TurboTax Home Business 2016.app

TurboTax Home Business 2017.app

TurboTax Home Business 2018.app

TurboTax Home Business 2019.app

TV.app

Twitter.app

JA UA Connect.app

Universal Audio

Utilities

VLC 2.2.1.app

Voice Memos.app

Waves

Waves Central.app

Weather.app

Wine.app

WineBottler.app

WordService.app

XLN Audio

Youlean Loudness Meter

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Answer 6

Dec 8, 2025 8:37 AM in response to randomstuff67

One last UPDATE for today that may or may not help...I've noticed today (and for some reason never over the last year)...that it has happened twice when I typed a capital "i"...not sure if I hit the space key or not before it jumped.

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Answer 7

Dec 8, 2025 11:42 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

2025-12-08, EtreCheckPro, Scan 2, 130PM

Here is a SECOND scan today at 130pm after getting rid of some kernels and CleanMyMac. I'll try what I can to keep working on this. I noticed that the cursor randomly moved to a different line after typing a capital "i". After more searches, I did a few other things:

-Changed/Deleted TEXT REPLACEMENT features

-Turned off text substitutions

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Answer 8

Dec 10, 2025 12:29 AM in response to randomstuff67

My issue seems intermittent, but my cursor jumps two or three lines when i type a "-". Really annoying since I'm not a touch typist, so often I don't realise I'm typing into a completely different part of the document until I look up

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Answer 9

Dec 8, 2025 6:03 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Thank you for your reply! I'll keep an eye out for these and see what the report says.

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Answer 10

Dec 8, 2025 6:05 AM in response to BobTheFisherman

2025-12-08, EtreCheckPro, MacBook Pro Scan

Here is the report from this morning: 2025-12-08, EtreCheckPro, MacBook Pro Scan. I hope I did the "additional text" correctly. Thank you for looking at this!!!!

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Answer 11

Dec 8, 2025 7:04 AM in response to randomstuff67

You still have cleanmymac running, as per the report.

This horrible **** does not solve anything, and has been known to cause all sorts of trouble.

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