I finally gave in and upgraded to Tahoe, and now I'm having a problem with Finder I never had before. Basically, drag and drop doesn't work in List View - or to be precise I can move items out of a subfolder into the parent folder but not into another subfolder - but works fine in Icon view. Any suggestion please?
Thanks
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 26.2
Peter Roussak wrote:
PS I can't get EtreCheck to run - for some reason, it seems to think I'm on a beta version of an OS (I'm not - I'm on 26.2). Could that somehow be the problem, that I didn't get a proper version of Tahoe even though I upgraded through System Settings? Should I try reinstalling?
You're just running a very old version of EtreCheck, maybe even the old Mac App Store version. You can download the current version from the website that I can't mention.
However, EtreCheck's not going to help with this problem. It's just a buggy implementation in Tahoe. I tried it just now and it seemed to work fine. But I know I've experienced it. So when I keep trying, I can see the cause.
You're trying to drop onto the file icon. The icon itself is a dead zone for dropping. You can only drop onto the file name.
Peter Roussak wrote:
PS I can't get EtreCheck to run - for some reason, it seems to think I'm on a beta version of an OS (I'm not - I'm on 26.2). Could that somehow be the problem, that I didn't get a proper version of Tahoe even though I upgraded through System Settings? Should I try reinstalling?
You're just running a very old version of EtreCheck, maybe even the old Mac App Store version. You can download the current version from the website that I can't mention.
However, EtreCheck's not going to help with this problem. It's just a buggy implementation in Tahoe. I tried it just now and it seemed to work fine. But I know I've experienced it. So when I keep trying, I can see the cause.
You're trying to drop onto the file icon. The icon itself is a dead zone for dropping. You can only drop onto the file name.
Three quick things you can do:
(1) Carefully check ALL System Settings for the trackpad and (if you use one) mouse. If you are using a mouse, what make/model is it? Is the problem the same for the mouse and for the trackpad (if you are using a mouse)?
(2) When my 2019 Intel MacBook Pro 16" was upgraded to Tahoe, I noticed that both the menu bar and the dock were "hidden" -- they came back when I moused over them but I wanted them present all the time. Changing settings didn't work but I booted into Safe Mode and then restarted and the issue was fixed. I suggest that you boot into Safe Mode (Apple has instructions for different types of Macs). In Safe Mode (booting into Safe Mode takes quite a lot longer than a normal boot so be patient until it completes), then test to see if the issue is gone. If it is, reboot normally and retest.
(3) Create a new user and log out of your regular account and log in as the new user. Retest and report back.
If no resolution from the above, download and run Etrecheck and post its report here:
How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community
There is another similar thread that I think says you must drag to the folder icon and not anywhere on the line. I can't replicate that problem on my Macs, so I'm not exactly sure that is the correct workaround.
I rarely drag and drop files.
My alternative is to simply use keyboard shortcuts.
To move files, try the following:
Good luck! 👋🏼😉
Hey there!
Thanks for the info, several things come to mind as far as a fix:
Does this only happen in list view?
It may be good to know if you tried the other views, (Such as View as icons, or Gallery view).
What happens exactly when you try dragging a file into a sub folder? (Such as a prohibitory symbol, or does it just move back as if rejected?).
Does it make a difference if hat sun folder or directory you try to move it to? (Such as iCloud Drive vs. Downloads?).
I think a screen **** of the settings of any affected Finder view may help as well:
For the most part, when in this view > View > Show View Options.
Cheers!
Thanks to both of you for replying.
First Steve: I'm not using a mouse. I booted into safe mode and the problem persisted there and when I rebooted into the regular mode. However, I set up another user account and it worked ok there. But now I'm back to my regular user account and it's still not working.
And Barney, thanks, I am dragging to the icon, which "flashes" momentarily but does not accept the file. Was a solution found in the other thread?
PS I can't get EtreCheck to run - for some reason, it seems to think I'm on a beta version of an OS (I'm not - I'm on 26.2). Could that somehow be the problem, that I didn't get a proper version of Tahoe even though I upgraded through System Settings? Should I try reinstalling?
Thanks
Thank you, thank you! I don't recall this ever being an issue before Tahoe, I've been dragging onto folder icons for as along as I can remember and didn't realize it had changed.
And I've now updated my EtreCheck too, so thanks for that.
↑ No duplicates from my experience.
I have been performing manual backups since before I switched to Apple back in 2007.
What I described becomes second nature when you do it all the time. When a routine becomes a habit, you don’t even think about it.
Whenever I "move" files, I copy first, move to the destination, then immediately paste it to my backup drive.
I do that with my photos too because I don’t use the Photos app (I like being in control of my files and organizing them into proper folders). 📁
Smiliñ 😎 Brian
Hi Brian - thanks I do that when I want to copy, sure, but if I want to move then I have to go back to the source and delete or else i end up with duplicates, don't I?
Drag and Drop Problems in Finder (Tahoe)
