Macbook - Drag & Drop not working

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Macbook - Drag & Drop not working

Hey, I have an issue using my Macbook Pro M3 Pro 14" for maybe a month now. I am an editor and I drag and drop files from finder to the software, however sometimes when I want to drag and drop, it doesn't let me. It just doesn't grab the file... I will attach a video (hopefully) so that you can kind of see my issue.

Now, this is a BIG problem for me, I use the mac for work, and restarting the laptop (only solution I found) 5-10 times a day is time consuming.

Since there is no way to contact Apple other than to call them, I am trying to ask you, or hopefully someone from Apple might see this and help? (definitely not, but hope dies last :))

I don't think there is a solution for this, and I assume it's a bug. Has anyone else had this problem?

Because the BIGGEST reason why I bought a mac is because I was fed up with Windows not working...

Please help me, I don't want to switch to Linux...

https://youtu.be/reFDo4zbewE

[Edited by Moderator]

MacBook Pro (M3 Pro, 2023)

Posted on Dec 10, 2025 1:25 PM

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Answer 1

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leroydouglas

Community+ 2025

Level 10

198,738 points

Dec 10, 2025 1:30 PM in response to rx7r

rx7r wrote:

Hey, I have an issue using my Macbook Pro M3 Pro 14" for maybe a month now. I am an editor and I drag and drop files from finder to the software, however sometimes when I want to drag and drop, it doesn't let me. It just doesn't grab the file...

Sometimes I have to maybe grab twice in order for it to go— no explanation there.

To be proactive you can file a bug report / submit your feedback here: Feedback - macOS - Apple

The current stable release of Tahoe including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 26.1

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

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 are using a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries— connect the charging cable, this will make the wired keyboard successful Safe Boot your Mac.)

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

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