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

Level 1

3 points

Can't Drag and Drop Anything

I've installed OS X Lion and now when I click on an icon on my desktop and drag it, it follows along nicely, only letting go of the mouse button doesn't drop it. In fact, nothing does. Instead the icon hangs onto the cursor as if I have kept holding down the mouse button. If I want to drag something to the trash, when I hover over the Trash icon and let go, it acts like I'm still holding down the mouse button and instead opens up the Trash folder. It's not limited to trash, it's just where I first noticed it. I can't move files between folders.

This pretty much happens across the board, too. Drag an icon off of the dock to remove it, it just hangs onto the mouse pointer and never goes away. Drag an icon from the icon bar at the top (command-click) and you can pick up the icon and move it, but never drop it. Is there a solution to this?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 6:11 PM

261 replies

Jul 17, 2013 9:48 AM in response to MrTroyG

Thank you, man, I was looking for months how to fix that, having to put my laptop to sleep was becoming iritating, MrTroyG process is the best way to fix this and what I've seen is the only way to (if you installed ScreenRecycler, for me it was called the ScreenRecyclerDriver, yeah it's obvious)

m.roser

Level 1

0 points

Jul 17, 2013 10:56 AM in response to putnik

You saved my life!! Thank you!! 🙂

itester

Level 1

0 points

Jul 18, 2013 12:08 PM in response to lfitz85

Tnaks for the tip.

Can not beleive after two years and Apple still not fixing this Issue

Your workaround works just great!

This issue is annoying and irritating

CUAce2

Level 1

0 points

Sep 17, 2013 7:46 AM in response to belosh

Put the mac to sleep and then wake it - I am trying to find a real fix but this will work

ci3n

Level 1

0 points

Oct 15, 2013 6:46 AM in response to CUAce2

I've had this problem for ages using the sleep fix, but now i realised the cause of it was a program called AirParrot. I uninstalled it with the programs uninstaller and no more folder stuck to mouse at start up issues. (I belive another program called AirDisplay gives the same 'bug'.)

Avatron

Level 1

70 points

Oct 25, 2013 12:23 PM in response to ci3n

GREAT NEWS: Apple has fixed this problem in the Mavericks GM. THANK YOU APPLE!

Dave at Avatron

Oct 25, 2013 5:09 PM in response to Avatron

Yeah drag & drop is back BUT those of us who are using DisplayLink for an external monitor now suffer from terrible performance issues. If you get a notice after installing Mavericks that DIsplayLink is no longer supported just upgrade to the latest here: http://www.displaylink.com/support/mac_downloads.php

Oct 25, 2013 6:16 PM in response to belosh

In Mavericks I just had this problem. I would drag the icon over the folder I wanted and let go and the icon would snap back to its original place.

Solution: I clicked the expand arrows to make the Finder window go to full screen. Then I clicked them to turn off full screen. Drag, drop, boo yeah. GL

Nov 26, 2013 10:38 PM in response to StateStreet

I also had this problem tonight, righ after upgrading to Mavericks.

I used the previously posted idea of relaunching the finder. Problem solved!

This seems to be a very common problem. Apple should put out a public notice about it. (and then fix it.)

arabesc

Level 1

9 points

Nov 27, 2013 12:20 AM in response to Cableaddict

I had this issue with XtraFinder app (on Mavericks). Disabling XtraFinder solve my problem.

Feb 14, 2014 1:48 PM in response to belosh

Same issue, recently upgraded to Mavericks and "Drag and Drop" stops working. This happens in Finder and Safari's Development Pane.

Sleep / Wake did not fix it.

Using a late 2012 iMac

Claudarg

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2014 7:43 AM in response to belosh

AirParrot is one or the main cause of all this mess... and they have not been able to fix this bug. They claim it is a bug on the Nvidia drivers and are 'hoping' Apple will fix it (???).

Attention: the manual method does NOT erase the app and its components. So: GO to the web site and download the uninstall app that is kind of hidden in the text with a hyperscript 'here' . That was the ONLY method that worked on my MBP 2010 17" with ML.

Claudarg

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2014 7:54 AM in response to Jonathan Rayson

They NEVER fixed... 😠

May 15, 2014 4:29 PM in response to belosh

not sure if this is a fix but ive been having the same problem (just updated to mountain lion 10.8.5 an older macbook pro 2008) for a week or so after installing Reflector and Air Display. Not sure if any of these were the problem but, i was asked to install Java SE 6 by an aplication when I did the probelm seems to have dissapeared 🙂

wonder if this works for anyone else

TheB741

Level 1

4 points

Aug 22, 2014 2:00 PM in response to paragsj

THANK YOU! You fixed my problem! Good job. Thanks! 🙂✅

Can't Drag and Drop Anything