iMac sometimes ignores left click

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

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

mnemonicj

Level 1

0 points

Sep 19, 2010 10:44 PM in response to MacMark8

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.

Reply

Answer 2

blink_2

Level 1

0 points

Oct 11, 2010 6:09 AM in response to mnemonicj

I have the same problem on a MacPro running 10.6.4 and a Wacom Tablet. The only way to fix this is to do a option-command-esc then the left click works again. But this is very annoying.

I did not have a problem under 10.5.x. This problem only appeared when I upgraded to SnowLeopard.

Not something expected of Apple to sit on this problem for so long.

Reply

Answer 3

Pedro44

Level 1

0 points

Nov 14, 2010 1:52 PM in response to blink_2

My 'left click' problem started two weeks ago - and only a restart will correct this - well about 7 restarts before it works again, and then for a limited but inconsistent period.

Same issue whatever mouse is used/trackpad/pen. The machine is, in effect, useless. I'm still under warrenty and intend to get a full refund.

ggrrrrrr

from the inferior, but working - PC (PS, avoid windows 7 at all costs, or you too could qualify for a really bad experience!)

One last go : "Help!"

Reply

Answer 4

Ralli

Level 1

0 points

Nov 24, 2010 6:11 AM in response to Pedro44

Hello,

i've got the same problem, only with iMac, problem did never occur on macbook.
option-command-escape helps.
I often have the problem after return from screensaver or standby by moving the mouse, doing the wake-up by keyboard seems to help, but does not completely eliminate the problem.

regards,
Ralli

Reply

Answer 5

kevkrom

Level 1

14 points

Nov 24, 2010 8:19 AM in response to Ralli

I'm having the same problem -- the computer simply fails to recognize the mouse click, although the cursor still moves, and keyboard shortcuts still work. I have to reboot the computer to get it back.

At first I thought it has something to do with Firefox or Safari, but it happened to me after a cold boot before I had launched any programs.

I'm using the standard iMac mouse, so I don't think it's a third-party driver problem.

Reply

Answer 6

Jophan

Level 1

4 points

Dec 2, 2010 1:39 PM in response to kevkrom

I'm running plain old Leopard, and I'm having this problem too. It started a few months ago as an occasional quirk that I could deal with by clicking on the desktop, but lately it's started happening all the time, and clicking out of the current app doesn't help. It's gotten quite disruptive and I've searched in vain for a solution.

I wish we knew what was going on and that Apple was working on solving it. I've been a Mac user since the 80s and this is the first time I've had a problem like this that I couldn't solve myself.

Reply

Answer 7

kevkrom

Level 1

14 points

Dec 10, 2010 6:36 PM in response to MacMark8

Maybe it's a hardware issue with the mouse? Anyone have a spare mouse they can use to test that out?

Reply

Answer 8

Ralli

Level 1

0 points

Dec 11, 2010 4:03 AM in response to MacMark8

it's definitely not a mouse problem. Also no left-clicks with Magic Trackpad and a 2nd mouse.
No Bluetooth problem right-click and moving the cursor still works.
Also tried a really old usb mouse, also no left-clicks everything else works fine.

Only solution so far option-command-esc, but this does also not always help, reboot always solved the problem for me.

Reply

Answer 9

Dec 24, 2010 11:20 AM in response to kevkrom

I seriously doubt it's a hardware issue. I'm currently using the trackpad on my macbook and a razer orochi bluetooth mouse and the problem is present with both devices. Whenever I want to open a new tab on my browser, or click the red "X" button on any program the click does not respond. I have to click elsewhere and come back to what I wanted to click.

But I've never had to reboot to get it to respond again.

Reply

Answer 10

CT

Level 7

23,981 points

Dec 24, 2010 12:54 PM in response to MacMark8

The only times I've read of anybody successfully troubleshooting this kind of problem, it turned out to be a conflict with some third-party software. Sorry I can't supply more info - it's been a while since I read about it. One thing to try is to create a new user and see if the problem persists when logged in as the new user - that helps narrow down the possibilities.

charlie

Reply

Answer 11

Dec 25, 2010 11:46 PM in response to MacMark8

I am having the same problem!
I click once and it doesn't respond, such as on the close window "X". Then, if I click on something else, I can go back to the "X" it will respond the next time I click it.
I reformatted and reinstalled my computer to a fresh 10.6.3 install and it worked like a charm. As soon as I updated it to 10.6.5, the clicking problem came back.

This is especially bad when I'm working in Safari and I have multiple tabs open. They don't close unless I click on something besides the "X".
HELP APPLE!

Reply

Answer 12

Jan 10, 2011 8:07 PM in response to MacMark8

Same issue. Newest model of Macbook Pro, straight out of box, with both trackpad and magic mouse.

Not too severe, so I can deal with it...but I'd much rather it fixed. Having to click somewhere outside of what I'm trying to click, and then going back and trying again? It's getting old fast.

Reply

Answer 13

Jan 11, 2011 3:31 AM in response to tis_a_quandry

I have the same issue on my MacBook Pro. Have tried 2 mice: Apple's Magic mouse (the latest one without the scroll-ball) and a usb optical mouse (generic brand one). Neither of these had an issue previously. The problem also occurs using the trackpad on the laptop. Sometimes clicks are recognised straight-off, other times clicks are registered after hammering the button 2,3 or 4 times. The issue occurs in all applications which leads me to believe that it is an OS X issue.

The problem started occurring about 2/3 weeks ago (just before christmas). Please let me know if there is anything that I can contribute in terms of debug output etc to get this problem fixed. It is really annoying!

Reply

Answer 14

kevkrom

Level 1

14 points

Jan 11, 2011 8:09 AM in response to MacMark8

I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the number of "hangs" when I connected the keyboard directly to the Mac and the mouse to the keyboard, rather than going through my USB hub.

To be more specific, the problem has gone away completely for me, and my wife says it happens far less often for her, and I'm not 100% she is distinguishing between a hung app (like Firefox) and a total loss of mouse-click functionality.

Reply

Answer 15

Jan 17, 2011 10:56 AM in response to MacMark8

I'm having this problem, too on my 27" iMac i7 2.8ghz 10.6.4. I have the standard USB Apple keyboard connected directly to iMac's USB port and the standard USB Apple mouse connected to the keyboard. The problem occurs with this setup, as well as the Magic Trackpad, and also my Wacom Intuos4 USB tablet. The issue occurs system wide, most notably Safari and Photoshop for me.

Reply