How to drag and drop with Magic Trackpad 2?

It can be confusing at first, the solution is a "two finger" approach that requires a several steps:

Step 1: Hoover moose arrow over file/ image you intend to select.

Step 2: Depress the track pad with your index finger or finger #1.

Step 3: Use a secondary finger, finger #2, to swipe on the pad dragging the file or image to the point you desire.

Step 4: When the destination is highlighted drop your source file/ image into the destination folder.

Brilliant Success!

For drag and drop, I find that touching the Magic Trackpad 2 with 2 fingers at the same time (actually, in my case, thumb and forefinger), and then clicking with my thumb, makes the selection available to drag. That selection can be one item or a previously selected list of them. I drag by retaining contact with my thumb, but moving my forefinger in the required direction. The process feels much less robust than on the original Magic Trackpad.

I don't find that force click works in the way described by Tim Hill1 - if I force click, this brings up a brief description of the selected item, including the storage space it takes up.

I was able to drag 1 file by using the file icon but had trouble with dragging multiple files. I just found out how! If you hold the "option" key while multiple files are selected, you can drag the way you normally would.

Doesn't work for me either - when I try to do anything at all to the filename either the filename edit window opens - or the associated app opens. Once in a while several files are selected, which I don't want either - and trying to deselect them opens every associated app.

I've turned Force click off and on, rebooted, changed every setting - nothing works consistently and fit seems like a *very* precise, accurate touch is needed to use the new ones (both in a 2017 MacBook Pro and trackpad 2) at all.

Turning Force touch off is no help - it still is both overly sensitive AND sometimes needs a very hard "click", actions are not consistent, and it's completely different from the trackpad in my 2010 MacBook Pro.

I'm not a touch typist and it's a real mess - because of wrist problems I can't use a mouse. I don't know what to do.

I thought I would address your comment "...I'm sure Apple will refine..."

It's about a year and a half later, I have a new Trackpad 2 And MacBook Pro with the Force Touch trackpad - and both have the SAME problems. I can't select a file more than 10% of the time; sometimes multiple files are inadvertently selected (no idea how) and try to deselect opens EVERY associated app, etc etc.

I've talked to Apple Support 4 times, who are talking to engineering, and even the support supervisor duplicated the problems I'm having. But she's not confident they're going to update anything.

I've been dealing with it a week. Because of wrist problems I can't use a mouse - and I set up my old external trackpad and IT is now acting almost as weird. The one in the MBP is the same as the Trackpad 2, the old one now doesn't work properly - and this is with Force Touch on or OFF.

I really feel for someone who's dealt with it for over a year! I feel like using the MBP as a $2500 Frisbee.

Note - I was replying to an earlier post when I mentioned "Step 2" above.

The post stated that clicking only on a filename's icon could be used to select a file without having the associated app open.

That method does NOT work. It was suggested almost two YEARS ago at the time of this post and Apple still hasn't fixed the problem, which is ridiculously unacceptable. I had a 4th phone discussion with Support today - there is no patch, no undocumented fix, nothing.

If you are not a precise, hands-never-moving touch typist you will not be able to consistently operate a newer MacBook Pro trackpad or a Trackpad 2 - and Apple doesn't care.

"Actually", you're quite wrong. It helps to read the posts - you'd know Apple is aware of the problems - and clicking "cmd" is NOT solution.

There must be a precise (ft/lb + sec) equation unknown to many of us (including Apple or they'd have a solution), as both pressure and the amount of time the pad is touched change the action. Usually to one you don't want.

Thanks for your post. I'm a PC convert too. I converted to a Macbook Air and then convinced my company to get me a MacBook Pro. 2nd day, but I was getting frustated and my finger hurt because I was force clicking all the time. I turned off tap because too many accidentals. I'm now getting used to it... hopefully I'll grow to love it.

Same problem here .. I think Apple have overloaded the device with so many gestures they overlap.

If you turn off Force Click in System Preferences > Trackpad, then drag+drop works as normal. But of course that really defeats much of the purpose of buying the new trackpad in the first place. I've been unable to find any workaround.

For others unclear on the problem: When using the new Magic Trackpad 2 with Force Click on, it's nearly impossible to drag+drop (say) a file in Finder from one folder to another. This is because it's too easy to trigger Force Touch and do a Quick Look on the file (or, in many cases, trigger a rename on the file).

--Tim

Hmm I was seeing the problem unplugged. I admit I can't see how it would *ever* work for files in Finder .. you have to be able to touch JUST enough to drag the file but never at any point in the drag accidentally press too hard. How does anyone finesse that?

--Tim

Tim Hill1 wrote:

Hmm I was seeing the problem unplugged. I admit I can't see how it would *ever* work for files in Finder .. you have to be able to touch JUST enough to drag the file but never at any point in the drag accidentally press too hard. How does anyone finesse that?

Practice makes perfect. I am slowly but surely developing a more delicate touch and seeing fewer and fewer accidental QuickLook windows. The hard part is reverting to a more forceful touch when I switch to the non-force trackpad on my MacBook Pro.

There is a setting in the Trackpad preference pane to require a "Firm" click for "Click." I have mine set that way to make it harder to click by accident, and I have the vague and possibly spurious feeling that it helped a little bit with the delicate touch issue -- maybe by giving me a little more room between a light touch and a click.