Drag and drop not working after new golden gate update

Since drag-and-drop stopped working after upgrading to macOS 27.0, first test whether you can drag a file between two Finder folders and then from Finder onto the Desktop. 

This establishes whether the problem is limited to the Desktop.

Next, disconnect any external mouse, trackpad, USB device, or hub and test using only the MacBook’s built-in trackpad. 

If you normally use an external pointing device, this provides a simple way to exclude it from the test. 

Apple’s basic drag-and-drop procedure is to press and hold the trackpad or mouse while moving the item.

Apple: Drag and drop items on Mac

Then check System Settings >> General >> Software Update and install any update that is offered.

Apple: Update macOS on Mac

If the problem remains, test in Safe Mode. 

Shut down the M1 Mac, press and hold the power button until the startup options appear, select your startup disk, hold Shift, and click Continue in Safe Mode. 

After logging in, test drag-and-drop again. 

Apple describes Safe Mode as a way to help determine whether software that loads during startup is contributing to a problem.

Apple: Start up your Mac in safe mode

If drag-and-drop works in Safe Mode, restart normally and review System Settings >> General >> Login Items & Extensions. 

Temporarily disable non-Apple login items and background items, then test again.

Apple: Open Login Items & Extensions settings

If the problem also occurs in Safe Mode, create a temporary user account and test drag-and-drop there. 

This can help determine whether the behaviour is specific to the original user account.

At this point, I would avoid deleting Finder preferences, using Terminal commands, or reinstalling macOS.

Update and workaround: this seems to be a known and widespread bug (that was reported widely by developers during beta testing) that largely seems to impact the icon view in finder. Users are reporting that the problem seems to not exist in the list view on finder. Until apple gets their act together with this update, the workaround that seems to be working so far is to change all finder views to list view. I have done so and I'm able to drag and drop as usual. See this thread for many other issues: https://www.reddit.com/r/MacOS/comments/1wgek2q/macos_27_golden_gate_bugs_and_issues_megathread/

Here are the instructions for changing the finder views to list view: To set List view as the universal default across all Finder windows and folders, follow these steps:

1.Open a fresh Finder window:Start in a standard folder like Documents or Downloads.Open Finder and navigate to your main Home folder or any standard directory.

2.Switch to List view:Press Cmd + 2 on your keyboard (or click the List view icon at the top of the Finder window) to change the view layout.

3.Open View Options:Press Cmd + J (or select View > Show View Options from the top menu bar).

4.Check 'Always open in list view':At the very top of the View Options panel, check the box for Always open in list view (and check Browse in list view if available).

5.Set as default across macOS:At the bottom of that same panel, click the Use as Defaults button.

Nuclear Option: Reset Folder Views via Terminal

If individual folders have custom view settings stored in hidden .DS_Store files, they might ignore the global default and stick to Icon or Column view. You can clear those custom settings system-wide using Terminal:

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run this command to delete custom folder view preferences across your account:
3. Bash
4. 
   

find ~ -name ".DS_Store" -depth -exec rm {} \;

1. Restart Finder:
2. Bash
3. 
   

killall Finder

Once reset, every folder will automatically conform to the global List view default you just saved.

Because drag-and-drop works in the new user account but not in the original account, the problem appears to be associated with something in the original account. 

This does not identify the specific cause.

I would continue troubleshooting the original account rather than reinstalling macOS. 

Restart the Mac and test dragging between Finder folders and from Finder to the Desktop. 

If it still fails, relaunch Finder by holding Option, Control-clicking the Finder icon in the Dock, and choosing Relaunch, then test again.

Next, go to System Settings >> General >> Login Items & Extensions and temporarily disable non-Apple login items and background items. 

Restart and test again. Apple: Open Login Items & Extensions settings

Also test drag-and-drop in another Apple application or location where it is supported. 

If it works there but not in Finder, that narrows the investigation toward Finder or the Desktop. 

If it fails elsewhere as well, another component of the original account may be involved.

If the problem persists with third-party login and background items disabled, run EtreCheck while logged into the original account. 

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid for added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - Share Report >> Copy , then  paste  >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

Its report can help identify third-party software, extensions, login items, and background processes that may differ from the new account.

At this stage, I would not delete Finder preferences, caches, or other system files. 

First identify whether Finder itself, a third-party component, or another account-specific setting is involved. 

If the cause cannot be identified, the functioning new account can also serve as a temporary workaround or, if necessary, the basis for migrating your work to a clean account.

Hamzasam wrote:

I have tried that as well i managed to move few items off the desktop but it basically a lucky guess which item will be able to move on the desktop at the moment the desktop is the only part giving me issues the rest of my folders are working perfectly fine i am able to move items between then without any issues

Suggest that you and the other poster follow Owl-53's advice to download and run the diagnostic tool Etrecheck.

How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community

Post the report in a reply in this thread. Etrecheck's report includes no identifying information, you can read it first to verify that.

Since a different account does not show the anomaly, it almost certainly is occurring in the original account due to something installed, which Etrecheck should reveal if you run it from that original account.

You can also boot into Safe Mode to verify that the problem is gone in Safe Mode, which again would point to something installed as the cause. In that case running Etrecheck is again the best way to identify the culprit.

Reed Curtis wrote:

I'm having the same issue, I've tried all suggested fixes here and nothing works. This essentially makes using finder impossible. An upgrade should not cause this level of systematic failure. We need a fix released asap.

Did you try booting into Safe Mode? See instructions above. Also, you too should follow Owl-53's good advice to download and run Etrecheck as it may identify the cause if it is caused by something installed. That is usually the reason for anomalies like this that surface after an OS upgrade as some installed extensions or background processes might need updating to be compatible with the newer OS.

I also thought it wasn't working on my M5 after the Golden Gate update. I discovered that if you press harder on the trackpad, the preview opens. If you press more lightly, drag-and-drop works.

This! I was just pressing "too hard". A lighter touch allowed me to drag. This is such a regression. Wow.

I got the same issue... exactly the same. but once I had replaced with the wired one then the problem is just gone and then I replaced the wireless one not the same model but same brand, logitech, the problem suddenly come back again

Has anyone the same experience, that when you have one or multiple files selected, drag-and-drop only works when you click while the mouse is hovering on the filename rather than on the icon (then it will just select)?

I still can drag-and-drop but I have to be super exact since the upgrade to macOS 27.

I have seen Drag and Drop stop working in several apps since upgrading, most irritatingly in BBEdit. Dragging a highlighted selection leaves my MacBook Pro unable to click on the screen to drop the selection. the only solution is to hit Command Period while BBEdit is still the foreground app.

Hamzasam wrote:

I have tried that as well i managed to move few items off the desktop but it basically a lucky guess which item will be able to move on the desktop at the moment the desktop is the only part giving me issues the rest of my folders are working perfectly fine i am able to move items between then without any issues

Does " tried all that " INCLUDE the Etrecheck application ?

I'm having the same issue, I've tried all suggested fixes here and nothing works. This essentially makes using finder impossible. An upgrade should not cause this level of systematic failure. We need a fix released asap.