OSBel

Q: Trackpad gestures no longer work with Sierra

Immediately after upgrading to Sierra, the regular trackpad gestures that I had previously used with OS X have stopped working on my Macbook Pro. These include the 3-finger drag, 4-finger swipe up to open mission control, 4-finger swipe down to open the App Exposé, and the 4-finger swipe left/right to switch between desktops.

 

I have checked in the trackpad section of System Preferences, and all these gestures are enabled and should be working fine, which leads me to believe that it is a problem with macOS Sierra.

 

Has anyone experienced anything similar and/or found a solution for it?

 

(PS. Yes, I do use Better Touch Tool, but that does not provide a satisfactory solution)

iPod classic

Posted on Sep 23, 2016 4:27 AM

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Q: Trackpad gestures no longer work with Sierra

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  • by akisok2,

    akisok2 akisok2 Sep 23, 2016 7:56 PM in response to OSBel
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 7:56 PM in response to OSBel

    In my System Preferences, I do not see the option for 3-finger drag listed any longer. Which is too bad, because I use that all the time.

  • by actionmarker,

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 23, 2016 9:11 PM in response to OSBel
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 9:11 PM in response to OSBel

    OSBel wrote:

     

    Immediately after upgrading to Sierra, the regular trackpad gestures that I had previously used with OS X have stopped working on my Macbook Pro. These include the 3-finger drag, 4-finger swipe up to open mission control, 4-finger swipe down to open the App Exposé, and the 4-finger swipe left/right to switch between desktops.

     

    I have checked in the trackpad section of System Preferences, and all these gestures are enabled and should be working fine, which leads me to believe that it is a problem with macOS Sierra.

     

    Has anyone experienced anything similar and/or found a solution for it?

     

    (PS. Yes, I do use Better Touch Tool, but that does not provide a satisfactory solution)

     

    I haven't seen the issue occur here.

    Is it possible that there is a conflict occurring with Better Touch Tool? Has BTT issued any updates after the release of Sierra. It may be that the developer need to do some changes to the app.

     

    What happens if you disable BTT, do you get your options working again? Note, you may have to log out and back in after disabling BTT.

  • by actionmarker,Helpful

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 23, 2016 9:14 PM in response to akisok2
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 9:14 PM in response to akisok2

    akisok2 wrote:

     

    In my System Preferences, I do not see the option for 3-finger drag listed any longer. Which is too bad, because I use that all the time.

    3-finger drag is set in SP > Accessibilities > Mouse & Trackpad - Trackpad options.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-24 at 2.13.27 pm.png

  • by Valorageous,

    Valorageous Valorageous Sep 23, 2016 9:46 PM in response to OSBel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 23, 2016 9:46 PM in response to OSBel

    I have issue with 3-finger tap using Preview, it no longer works after upgrading to Sierra. Any help please?

  • by actionmarker,

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 23, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Valorageous
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 23, 2016 11:26 PM in response to Valorageous

    Valorageous wrote:

     

    I have issue with 3-finger tap using Preview, it no longer works after upgrading to Sierra. Any help please?

    What action are you expecting with 3-finger tap using Preview?

  • by Valorageous,

    Valorageous Valorageous Sep 23, 2016 11:56 PM in response to actionmarker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 23, 2016 11:56 PM in response to actionmarker

    It used to be able to look up word using 3-finger tap. It will pop up the dictionary. now it can't

  • by actionmarker,

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 24, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Valorageous
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2016 12:24 AM in response to Valorageous

    Is it still set in System Preferences > Trackpad?

    Is it only Preview that it's not working? What about Safari for example?

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-24 at 5.20.41 pm.png

  • by Valorageous,

    Valorageous Valorageous Sep 24, 2016 12:58 AM in response to actionmarker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 24, 2016 12:58 AM in response to actionmarker

    DDone that. Other app works dine except for Preview. Are you facing the same problem or you're fine? Not sure if it's the new OS issue.

  • by actionmarker,

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 24, 2016 1:13 AM in response to Valorageous
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2016 1:13 AM in response to Valorageous

    Yes, it's working here with no issues.

    Another place to check in in System Preferences > Spotlight and 'Allow Spotlight Suggestions in Lookup'Screen Shot 2016-09-24 at 6.10.27 pm.png

     

    This setting should only stop the additional lookup panes from appearing but toggling this and the trackpad setting may force it to work again.

  • by OSBel,

    OSBel OSBel Sep 24, 2016 7:29 AM in response to actionmarker
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 24, 2016 7:29 AM in response to actionmarker

    No, BTT doesn't seem to be the root of the issue.

    I disabled it etc. yet I still had the same trackpad problems.

  • by Valorageous,

    Valorageous Valorageous Sep 24, 2016 9:59 AM in response to actionmarker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 24, 2016 9:59 AM in response to actionmarker

    'Allow Spotlight Suggestions in Lookup' is checked .. wonder what could have happened ><

  • by BStephenMitchell,

    BStephenMitchell BStephenMitchell Sep 25, 2016 10:00 AM in response to OSBel
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 10:00 AM in response to OSBel

    Same issue here, at least with 4 finger swipe left and right to switch desktops. Option no longer there. REALLY not good. I use this all the time on both my iMac/trackpad and Macbook Air.

  • by actionmarker,

    actionmarker actionmarker Sep 25, 2016 7:29 PM in response to OSBel
    Level 4 (1,893 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 25, 2016 7:29 PM in response to OSBel

    OSBel wrote:

     

    No, BTT doesn't seem to be the root of the issue.

    I disabled it etc. yet I still had the same trackpad problems.

    A couple of things you can try.

     

    1. Set up a new user and test that all gestures work as expected.

    Go to System Preferences > Users and Groups and set a a new user.

    Log into that new user and the default trackpad preferences are set.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-26 at 11.56.23 am.png

    Screen Shot 2016-09-26 at 11.56.37 am.png

    Screen Shot 2016-09-26 at 11.56.44 am.png

    Set the preferences as required and test.

    Note: To swipe between desktops/fullscreen apps, the new user account will only have one desktop enabled, so you will need to enter Mission Control and add desktops in the top right corner.

     

    If everything works as expected then,

    2. Delete the trackpad preferences in your normal account and see if that resolves the issues.

    Launch Finder and navigate to your user Library.

    If you don't have that normally enabled, In Finder's menus, Select Option + Go - Library

    Screen Shot 2016-09-26 at 12.21.54 pm.png

    Navigate to the folder 'Preferences' and look for 'com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist' and/or 'com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist'

     

    Move them both to Trash and then Reboot you Mac.

     

    Once logged back in, you will need to reset your trackpad preferences in System Preferences and then test to see if the gestures are all working again.

    On my system when I tested this, I had to toggle some of the preferences to make them work again, even though they were shown as set.

  • by positie,

    positie positie Sep 26, 2016 6:17 PM in response to actionmarker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 6:17 PM in response to actionmarker

    I have deleted both the files.But the settings in the Preference don't change , after I reboot my mac.

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