Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

2 points

iMac sometimes ignores left click

Hello world,
there is this issue with OS X, which gets more and more irritating:
Frequently, mouse left-clicks are ignored by my iMac 27 (latest s/w updates).

You can click as often as you like, but the clicks are ignored, until you move away, click somewhere else and then go back.
Very annoying (esp. in Safari), as it badly interrupts smooth workflow.

This happens with all kinds of programs, independent of which mouse is connected (I tried USB Logitec, wireless Magic Mouse). It happened right out of the box, even before any 3rd party mouse drivers were installed.

Amazingliy, I do not see any discussion of this ugly UI issue!
Is this just me? What is going on?

Thanks for any help!
Mark

iMac 27, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 18, 2010 7:48 PM

Best reply

mnemonicj

Level 1

0 points

Posted on Sep 19, 2010 10:44 PM

I have searched continuously for the same problem and I've yet to come up with a resolution. I really can't believe nobody else is having this problem. I'm using a Macbook, late 2008 build, and like you said it really doesn't matter if you're using a trackpad, a mouse or whatever.

Please help people.

View in context

97 replies

Jan 19, 2011 5:59 PM in response to MacMark8

Just have the same kind of situation: longer clicks on toolbar to select menus, click on prefs icon from the dock produced a short sound. I have a china optical mouse. I tried to swap left with right buttons from prefs and the problem moved to context menu, now on the left. I change the mouse with one microsoft intellimouse and the problem disappear but is a bulky mouse for me. I concluded that left contact button china mouse was to blame. I opened the case and connected the mouse to my keyboard and push the click contact directly with my finger and it worked normal.
I don't know if the problem disappear because of switching with the other mouse or opening the case and try to repair the contact...
So, try to see if you have a defect mouse or switch to other brand mouse and back, it could just be a bad driver configuration.

Saxman

Level 2

278 points

Jan 19, 2011 6:18 PM in response to aplodocus

I've been having this issue too, although somewhat intermittently. I can usually get it working, sometimes by clicking more times, or even clicking with more force. It's quite aggravating, as it just won't react much of the time, although I've never had to do a re-boot to get it working...

My iMac was just bought a month ago, & I'm using a wired keyboard, & the wireless super-mouse.

nickba

Level 1

8 points

Jan 21, 2011 8:25 AM in response to MacMark8

I have the same problem!
I dont need to restart my mac. just moving the mouse away/clicking somewhere else helps. This is quite annoying interruption, i didnt have this problem before. Only recently with my new iMac 27' and logitech wireless mouse. Using mac wired keyboard.
Plugging Logitech usb receiver into iMac instead of keyboard doesnt help either.
I just had to click REPLY TO THIS TOPIC numerous times. then selecting the text as well...
Almost got used to it. but its quite annoying. Will continue searching on google.

Jan 27, 2011 6:10 AM in response to kevkrom

After trying all sort of things to get the mouse left click working I found an answer that worked for me.

I noticed that that the Double-Click Speed in the 'Mouse' preferences in 'System Preferences' was set to
the fastest, in other words set to the extreme right of the bar. I slid the pointer back 3 notches and the problem was solved.

Ieuan Rees

nickba

Level 1

8 points

Feb 1, 2011 7:56 AM in response to MacMark8

Same problem. Randomly stops working. Need to click elsewhere to make it work on the desired button/link/object.

Please report this bug! extremely annoying. This is just a discussion board.

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Who uses which mouse?
Any applications running on background?

I have little snitch, dropbox, transmit, among other regulars...

Feb 28, 2011 3:42 AM in response to nickba

I have just reported the bug, giving this link to show it has been discussed by a few people at least.

I also get the beachball sometimes for a very long time for what is after all a fairly fast machine, the fastest MBP you could get 2 years ago. Would this be connected?
--
pqb

zappled

Level 1

0 points

Feb 28, 2011 7:20 PM in response to nickba

I'd just like to report that I am also seeing the identical problem. Randomly, the left click event on my wireless mouse stops responding(Microsoft IntelliPoint because I don't like the movement of the Magic Mouse and it feels clunky under the palm). Right clicks do work (I have enabled these as I've migrated from Windows). The only solutions appears to be a reboot! Also seeing more beach balls than I would like. Help please Apple? I will report a bug (if this is one) on the feedback/macosx site.

Jun 23, 2011 3:21 PM in response to MacMark8

hello everyone.

i've been following this thread for a while and i can also replicate this error on my macbook whenever i want to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFCpZiUM3-E

this happens on every program, window, finder, etc.

regards.

Ragon

Level 1

15 points

Jul 25, 2011 3:36 AM in response to MacMark8

I have this issue as well on the new 21.5" iMac, Lion hasn't fixed the issue, and it's still annoying, has anyone found a way around it?

Sep 7, 2011 2:59 AM in response to Ragon

hello everyone,

I'm new on this forum.

The same pb here, on my iMac 27", (OS X v. 10.6.8) with my wireless magic mouse (left clic just stops responding, and even sometimes right clic)..nothing to do with the program i'm using, because it happens

all the time. (powercadd, archicad,photoshop, artlantis, safari,firefox, whatever)..

i even tried to connect the mighty mouse,and windows mouse always the same thing.

i'm using imac 10h/day and it's reeeally annoying,apple please do something..

Ragon

Level 1

15 points

Sep 7, 2011 4:55 AM in response to Ragon

I fixed the issue by reinstalling Lion, because I thought it was a program I checked to see if it was doing it after every program install, in the end, I had installed all my programs and It wasn't doing it, and to this day is not.

So the "fix" is to reinstall Lion and start from scratch, don't know if a time machine restore would fix it? Worth a try!

Sep 7, 2011 6:59 AM in response to Ragon

Thank you for your answer but i read somewhere ( i think another forum about the same issue)

that (re) installing Lion doesn't solve the pb..you're lucky if it did for you 🙂

Sep 9, 2011 3:18 PM in response to MacMark8

Just throwing weight on this pile. My computer is an iMac 27" 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 16 GB RAM. Left click stops working for now apparent reason, right click continues to work. Once or twice the left click has started to work again, but usually only a restart solves it. Even with a restart the duration of correct behavior may be as short as a minute or two. Logitech MX 1100 Wireless Laser Mouse is my mouse of choice, but the problem also occurs with the default magic mouse.

Once the problem occurs, unplugging/replugging the Logitech mouse's USB receiver has no effect. Turning off/on the magic mouse has no effect. When the problem occurs I can log into and control the iMac remotely, and the iMac responds correctly to left and right clicks from the remote machine.

I have "Enable access for assistive devices" checked (on) in the Universal Access System Preference Pane.

This problem just cropped up recently, and remains after updating from Mac OS X 10.6.7 to 10.6.8.

Oct 8, 2011 11:54 AM in response to geoffreyfrommatthews

I also have had this issue and have found that resetting the SMC worked for me...

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3964

Oct 8, 2011 4:50 PM in response to colinlawrenceuk

Not sure why you recommend resetting the SMC--the linked page does not contain the word "click" and I don't see anything in the list of symptoms that suggests mouse or trackpad performance issues are related to the SMC.

Did you experience the problem on an iMac? If so, which one? And did it stay fixed for an extended period after resetting the SMC?

iMac sometimes ignores left click