Mouse pointer disappears on second monitor.

******************** I HAVE SOLVED THIS PROBLEM (at least for me) ********************

Ok so I literally just "fixed" it accidentally while working on another tip from another thread.

Going into System Preferences --> Accessibility --> Display, I increased the "Cursor size" and tada! Now it shows up on all screens.

Interestingly/bizarrely, playing around with this feature, it only worked once the Cursor size got about 2/3 between "Normal" and the first tick to the right. Any smaller and it disappears again. This seems strangely arbitrary and I can't figure out why this works. I would think maybe it has something to do with relative resolutions of the monitors but that wouldn't explain why it displays fine on the second, mirrored, monitor.

Hope this helps someone else!

Same issue here. Ever since I upgrade to Lion, the cursor starts disappearing occasionally. If I try to click on the desktop and then the application that is running a few times (blindly), the cursor will reappear. This is becoming very annoying.

My computer is 13" MacBook Pro 2.3GHz.

Apple, can you please fix this issue?

Looking to debunk any ideas that this bug is linked to either multiple displays, external hardware (mouse or trackpad), etc. I have a brand new MacBook Air (purchased March 12. 2012) running Lion 10.7.3 and I also encounter the "Invisible Mouse" as I've started to refer to it.

While I frequently have Netflix running in a secondary window, this does not have to be the scenario for the "Invisible Mouse" to go into stealth mode. Typically, I do the frustrated-idiot maneuver of swirling my pointer around on the screen until it returns, but I can't be sure this has any real effect on its eventual return.

The pointer is still "active," in that, I see it highlighting Menu leads to choose for drop down. I can also click on those Menu leads for drop down options or anything else.
I have attempted to use my wireless magic mouse and it occurs just as often - maybe more? or maybe I use the keyboard less inadvertently so it only feels like more often.

So, in summary:

• Brand New MacBook Air
• 1TB Network HD for Large Software & FileSources
• 500GB WD Passport for on-the-go use (less relevant, just an additional note)
• Running Lion 10.7.3
• No external displays for my MacBook Air (occasional AirDisplay use with iPad2 & now new iPad, 0 relation to occurrence of pointer disappearances.)

• My pointer disappears with or without a video player running (& yes for Netflix, I have to use SilverLight)
• My pointer disappears with or without my wireless magic mouse in use
• Installed, but not always in use - (in fact, rarely in use the last few weeks) - Wacom Creation Tablet, PSE, Sandvox, and MacFlux.
• I swirl like an idiot to acquiesce my frustration and during that time the pointer returns. But I can't imagine it actually contributes to the pointer returning.

Having same problem. Occured in both 10.7.0 and still in 10.7.1. Can't really find a pattern to it happening. Curser will visibly disappear but it appears to still be "moving" and is still left and right clickable.

11" MBA with Dell external monitor. Magic Trackpad BT.

Done it yesterday.

edit:

I've created a much better mouse pointer (it looks almost identical to the real one).

Sadly I can't edit my "workaround" post here https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3210606?answerId=17493753022#17493753022

Here it is : http://i.imgur.com/w9xWz.png

Remember to save it as MouseLocator.png in the root of your Pictures folder.

I have on monitor and it dissappears on me until I alt-tab to something else and then back

Same issue here: But it's my primary monitor that loses the cursor - it shows on my second monitor but when I move it back (even dragging a window from one monitor to another), it disappears.

Mid 2010 Mac Pro with matching ATI Radeon HD 5770 1024 MB graphics cards.

I'm having the same problem with the cusor disapearing on the 2nd monitor -- this happens most frequently in MS Word (from Office 2011). I can always get it back by selecting 'Turn On Mirroring' and then turning it back off.

I too hope it gets fixed in 10.7.1 (or 10.7.2)

Gary

I'm having the same problem too. My 2nd monitor is a Samsung LED TV - and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to why this is happening. It's a new 27in iMac (Radeon HD 6970M, 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5) and i'm using a displayport/thunderbolt to HDMI converter for the 2nd screen.

This seems to happen only on my primary monitor, although more often than not I'm playing video on the 2nd.

Initially I cursed the magic mouse, thinking it had lost connectivity, but it's always there - just invisible. Move it to the TV and it's back again. Move to the iMac and it quickly vanishes again.

I never had this problem with my old 2007 24in iMac

This is random though - not all the time, so i'm stumped as to the cause.

Looking forward to a fix as it's getting right on my thruppeny bits....

This happens at different intervals, however more often with java / eclipse software and may be an issue with VMware Fusion 4, with second monitor configuration.

Using Lion 10.7.2 on MBP 15" - Mid 2010, running external monitor (cursor disppears consistently when moving to second monitor, temp fix is to go into virtual machine use mouse and then control-cmd out)... fix works most of the time, but weird behaviour and not professional...

Adding to this thread as I've run into the same issue: the onscreen cursor disappears even though the operating system still allows the pointer to perform actions.

13" Macbook Air

Lion 10.7.2 (11C74)

Thunderbolt/mini-displayport to DVI to a Dell P190S - 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz

Mouse: Microsoft 3-Button Mouse with IntelliEye

Product ID: 0x0040

Vendor ID: 0x045e (Microsoft Corporation)

This is distinct from other issues I've had with Lion, such as the computer freezing when connected to a 27" cinema display and external input devices not being read.

I'm having a similar problem. Since connecting my new Macbook pro to the Thunderbolt display, the cursor is out of alignment when using Photoshop. This is a repeatable bug. It happens every time and I've reinstalled the software and done all the updates from Mac and Adobe. To recreate the problem, I just need to clone stamp on the Thunderbolt screen. Symptoms are identical with Wacom mouse, stylus or Macbook touchpad. At small diameters the cursor works properly. At large diameters also. But in the middle sizes, it's showing one spot and clicking somewhere else -- about an inch and a half below and to the right. This of course makes Photoshop useless, which for me as a professional photographer makes the Mac + Lion + Thunderbolt set-up, as pretty as it is, worse than useless.

Does Apple have a fix, or should I go back to my previous set-up?

Hi FrogPhotog,

You are not the only one, there are many others having the same problem, including me. There is a discussion on Adobe's website, Adobe is waiting for Apple to fixs the bug on the video card drivers (posted on Oct 17, 2011).

http://forums.adobe.com/message/3975658#3975658

Having added MouseLocator, it's now become clear to me just where the mouse is -- and that it's often somewhere on the Thunderbolt screen, where I cannot see it! This bug is more nefarious than the Photoshop one I demonstrated on my site here http://stevemurez.com/2236935/Mac-Lion-Photoshop-bug because it can can happen in virtually any program, including Mac built-in functions. It makes me regret having the latest OS and the latest and best Mac screen. I never get things when the first come out, and this is why, but this was a gift. So when will Apple get around to updating the Graphics Card driver -- if that's the problem?

Good news, but not great. I went to the Apple Store, where they uninstalled Perian, rand Disk Warrior (which repaired many issues, though we didn't try to analyze which might seem related to the bug), and tested the hardware (which was fine on the new Macbook). Then overnight I uninstalled photoshop, prefs included. I reinstalled Lion, and then reinstalled Photoshop, and reinstalled and updated Wacom. Please note that clicking on the Apple and asking if updates are needed does not necessarily find ALL updates that are needed -- the wacom needed one, and the only way to find out was to open the program and inquire there. So I no longer have the bug (demonstrated on my website) that I had with the cursor going out of alignment on the Thunderbolt screen. BUT, I do have it now on the Macbook screen when used alone. The Macbook does not bug when used with the Thunderbolt screen. All through this mess, the old Eizo screen never bugged no matter what, only the Mac screens (internal or Tbolt). So it seems to me this is not going to be an easy bug for Apple to fix, since professional photographers use so many programs that may or may not effect the graphic display. Until I got to the Apple store, nobody I spoke to at Apple had the slightest clue. At Adobe some were more understanding, but could only blame Apple. My conclusion so far is that digging deep we can get some of this straightened out ourselves, and that we must insist that Apple and Adobe do their part in keeping our tools working as they should. They've got a lot more knowhow than we do.