Drag and drop in finder stops working

I recently updated to El Capitan on my mid 2012 macbook pro retina. After the updated the drag'n'drop functionality in finder drops out randomly. I can copy and paste with my keyboard, but dragging and dropping files within finder or between finder and other applications doesn't work. This usually happens when my mac has been running for a few days. Logging out and in again solves the problem.

Google searches have all come up emtpy.

Anyone got a clue?

-Frímann

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Apr 1, 2016 3:17 AM

Top-ranking reply

Alex-Turner

Level 2

159 points

Posted on Apr 1, 2016 3:24 AM

Simply restart the Finder First, which is quite easy:

1. Hit Command+Option+Escape to bring up the “Force Quit” menu

2. Choose “Finder” from the list and click on ‘Relaunch’ to quit and re-open the Finder app

3. Close the Force Quit menu

View in context

44 replies

May 13, 2016 5:13 PM in response to appreciate

Does this have anything to do with resolving the clipboard issue we're addressing in this thread?

kibin

Level 1

4 points

May 18, 2016 5:39 AM in response to frimannkjerulf

Any updates to this? I have the same issue and use both Timeout2 and Iterm2 beta3, this bug is really annoying

May 18, 2016 6:25 PM in response to kibin

No updates, but I've notified the developer of TimeOut with the possible iTerm2/TimeOut clash. I'll keep you guys posted.

Dejal

Level 1

4 points

May 19, 2016 9:50 AM in response to kibin

@kibin, do you use Dejal Time Out as well as iTerm2?

kibin

Level 1

4 points

May 19, 2016 11:01 AM in response to Dejal

Yes, I use Dejal Time Out 2 and was using iTerm3 (which is iTerm2 beta). Since I replaced iTerm2 beta with stable version the bug doesn’t occur anymore, so I think that beta was the problem.

Dejal

Level 1

4 points

May 19, 2016 12:12 PM in response to kibin

Excellent.

@frimannkjerulf, please try using the stable version of iTerm2, and see if that helps you too.

May 24, 2016 3:34 PM in response to Dejal

I've been using iTerm2 2.1.4 non beta all along, and still experiencing this. I haven't experienced this for some time now, but then again, this was only happening a few times a month.

hgezim

Level 1

14 points

May 24, 2016 6:34 PM in response to FahimFarook

Nope. Never use Apple Notes. This must have been after your pboard got locked.

kibin

Level 1

4 points

May 25, 2016 8:32 AM in response to frimannkjerulf

Using stable version of iTerm2 didn’t help, the bug occured again. Does everybody use Time Out here?

hgezim

Level 1

14 points

May 25, 2016 9:06 AM in response to FahimFarook

When you see CFPasteboardRef, that's just the symptom, IMO.

I don't use nor have Little Snitch installed.

After I stopped launching (more or less) Timeout, I've not had this issue occur.

Jun 21, 2016 2:18 AM in response to frimannkjerulf

I use TimeOut but not iTerm. Have this problem at least once a week.

Jul 5, 2016 9:59 AM in response to hgezim

This works, but it's still a pain in the a**. This bug stopped showing up for some time, and now it's back. I'm using iTerm more now... might be connected. Would love to see a fix for this.

Berlic

Level 1

8 points

Sep 23, 2016 12:14 AM in response to frimannkjerulf

I've been using iTerm for years and had no troubles with clipboard, but when I installed TimeOut the bug with clipboard started to annoy me. I think this apps conflicts somehow.

chrissm

Level 4

1,113 points

Jul 6, 2017 10:54 PM in response to frimannkjerulf

This has happened to me for years. Force quitting the Finder works, but it's such a pain.

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Drag and drop in finder stops working