top minimize, maximize & close buttons aren't working but only for mac apps in the background

Question

Level 1

18 points

top minimize, maximize & close buttons aren't working but only for mac apps in the background

I have been able to click the minimize, maximize & close buttons on all open apps that are in the background (app window is behind another active window) but for some reason I can only use the buttons on non-mac apps. Safari, Mail, iMessages, iTunes, etc won't minimize or close in the background. When I click any of the top buttons they will turn red, yellow, green and stay "on" but the buttons won't do what they should do. I have tried using the button on non-mac apps and the buttons work when the apps are in the background without activating the window by clicking the top bar. The Mac apps require me to click the top bar first or commad+tab the app to be active before the top bars will work. Also, the mac apps won't become active unless I click somewhere on the frame of the window but when I have them open in the background and click inside the window to acitvate them they don't respond. Is there a setting that I messed up somewhere? My wife's mac doesn't have this issue and I have all my setting that I can think of set the same but it hasn't changed the behavior. I did an OS re-install and it didn't fix it either. Anyone have an idea on what I can do to fix this?

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.3)

Posted on Apr 6, 2017 1:46 PM

Reply

Answer 1

rywag Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 6, 2017 4:01 PM in response to dot.com

I clicked the minimize on mail and iMessages and have safari active, my mouse is to the left of the windows not hovering the windows minimize buttons. Every app that isn't apple doesn't do this they minimize right when I click the button. I can't really take a screen shot of it working properly.

Unless I bring the window to the front first the minimize button won't work. correct.

I had an app that modded the behavior but I uninstalled it thinking it was the problem and it didn't correct the problem, that was prior to a full re-installation of sierra os.

I have been up to date with every update so far but this problem is not related to any security update. I am sure.

I'll install the update anyway and try the safe mode and return to normal and see if that fixes the problem but pretty sure it won't.

note, the buttons look like they want to work properly but they just freeze as if they aren't coded correctly.

Which plist item might be the problem?

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Answer 2

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 6, 2017 3:13 PM in response to rywag

Well the image you posted shows me that you have the mouse cursor over one of the close/minimize/maximize button icons on the window in the background (behind the Safari window that is showing a small corner), so that tells me that the app is getting the focus events that this would generate (otherwise the icons would remain grey like they are if you move the cursor somewhere else).

So the behavior you're seeing is where if you click on the green maximize icon on the window behind safari's nothing happens (unless you first click in that window to bring it to the front)?

Have you done something recently using the "defaults write" Terminal command to modify an existing parameter or create a new one? Or do you use some sort of third-party app that modes window or system behavior (like BetterTouchTool or ???)?

Like dialabrain says, I would guess that if you try this same behavior from another account the behavior will not be the same, but will be correct. Strange behaviors like this are very often some sort of corrupted or misconfigured plist file, but the fact that it does this weird behavior on only Apple supplied apps, would seem like it's not a bad plist item in any individual app but in something related to the window system behavior. Yet, you say that non-apple apps don't show the same behavior (for example what app works correctly?), correct?

Wonder if you either do a safe boot and then normal boot, if things got working correctly? If not, perhaps you might want to consider installing the Sierra combo update (download from Apple - Support - Downloads and search for "sierra combo" (leave off the quotes).

Good luck...

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Answer 3

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 8, 2017 11:32 AM in response to rywag

Like dialabrain says, only a full install and perhaps a combo update. But would suggest the 10.12.4 Combo update rather than 10.12.3 combo. Take a look at Download macOS Sierra 10.12.4 Combo Update

Good luck...

Reply

Answer 4

rywag Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 13, 2017 2:39 AM in response to Eric Root

Sorry this took so long to get back on here, I did a full re-installation from the recovery partition and that didn't fix the issue, I installed all the combo updates and still didn't fix my problem. I am wondering what I should do now? I haven't created a new profile on my system because I don't see how that will fix the problem on my current profile? Could you explain that dot.com? Just curious.

Here is the EtreCheck results Eric, I see a few issues but not 100% sure what to do about them. Could you help me figure it out?

EtreCheck version: 3.1.5 (343)

Report generated 2017-04-13 02:31:39

Download EtreCheck from https://etrecheck.com

Runtime 2:52

Performance: Excellent

Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.

Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.

Problem: No problem - just checking

Hardware Information: ⓘ

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012)

[Technical Specifications] - [User Guide] - [Warranty & Service]

iMac - model: iMac13,2

1 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5 (i5-3470) CPU: 4-core

32 GB RAM Upgradeable - [Instructions]

BANK 0/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM0

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 0/DIMM1

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

BANK 1/DIMM1

8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz ok

Bluetooth: Good - Handoff/Airdrop2 supported

Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n

Video Information: ⓘ

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX - VRAM: 1024 MB

iMac 2560 x 1440

System Software: ⓘ

macOS Sierra 10.12.4 (16E195) - Time since boot: about 5 days

Disk Information: ⓘ

APPLE HDD WDC WD10EALX-408EA0 disk0 : (1 TB) (Rotational)

[Show SMART report]

EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB

Macintosh HD (disk0s2) / [Startup]: 999.35 GB (184.42 GB free)

Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB

USB Information: ⓘ

Logitech USB Receiver

Apple Inc. FaceTime HD Camera (Built-in)

Apple Inc. BRCM20702 Hub

Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller

Seagate Expansion+

JMicron USB to ATA/ATAPI Bridge

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Apple Inc. thunderbolt_bus

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Gatekeeper: ⓘ

Mac App Store and identified developers

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/Library/Extensions/3Dconnexion.kext/Contents/PlugIns

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/System/Library/Extensions

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[running] 112 Apple tasks

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[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]

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[running] com.VTechLLNService.plist (2015-08-06) [Support]

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[loaded] com.adobe.ARMDC.SMJobBlessHelper.plist (2017-01-12) [Support]

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[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist (2017-03-24) [Support]

[loaded] com.apple.installer.osmessagetracing.plist (2017-03-22)

[loaded] com.charlessoft.pacifist.helper.plist (2015-04-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist (2017-01-23) [Support]

[running] com.livescribe.PenCommService.plist (2016-05-01) [Support]

[loaded] com.malwarebytes.HelperTool.plist (2016-11-29) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.autoupdate.helpertool.plist (2016-08-03) [Support]

[loaded] com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (2016-05-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.nvidia.cuda.launcher.plist (2017-03-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.nvidia.cudad.plist (2017-03-06) [Support]

[loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist (2016-09-30) [Support]

[running] com.parallels.mobile.dispatcher.launchdaemon.plist (2016-09-25) [Support]

[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.kextloader.launchdaemon.plist (2017-03-22)

[loaded] com.smithmicro.netwise.osx.helper.plist (2016-06-07) [Support]

[not loaded] org.freedesktop.dbus-system.plist (2015-03-27) [Support]

[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist (2015-10-16) [Support]

User Launch Agents: ⓘ

[loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist (2017-03-27) [Support]

[failed] com.catalinagroup.citrio.updater.plist (2016-12-01) [Support] - /Applications/Citrio.app/Contents/Versions/50.0.2661.273/Citrio Framework.framework/CatalinaUpdater: Executable not found!

[loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist (2017-04-07) [Support]

[failed] com.google.keystone.agent.plist (2014-10-08) [Support] - ~/Library/Google/GoogleSoftwareUpdate/GoogleSoftwareUpdate.bundle/Contents/Reso urces/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent.app/Contents/MacOS/GoogleSoftwareUpdateAgent: Executable not found!

[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent.plist (2016-11-13) [Support]

[running] com.spotify.webhelper.plist (2016-11-13) [Support]

[loaded] com.valvesoftware.steamclean.plist (2016-10-10) [Support]

[failed] com.wondershare.mobilegodaemon.plist (2015-12-18) [Support]

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MacID Application

(/Applications/MacID.app)

3DconnexionHelper Application

(/Library/PreferencePanes/3Dconnexion.prefPane/Contents/Resources/3DconnexionHe lper.app)

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Silverlight: 5.1.41212.0 - SDK 10.6 (2016-06-15) [Support]

QuickTime Plugin: 7.7.3 (2017-04-06)

Flash Player: 25.0.0.148 - SDK 10.9 (2017-04-11) [Support]

Mathematica: 9.0.1.4055068 (2014-07-06) [Support]

AdobePDFViewer: 15.023.20056 - SDK 10.11 (2017-01-21) [Support]

DirectorShockwave: 12.1.7r157 - SDK 10.6 (2015-02-05) [Support]

Safari Extensions: ⓘ

Open in Internet Explorer - Parallels - http://www.parallels.com (2016-12-30)

Honey - Honey Science Corporation - https://www.joinhoney.com (2017-03-12)

Grammarly Spell Checker & Grammar Checker - Grammarly (2015-11-21)

Evernote Web Clipper - Evernote Corp. - http://evernote.com (2017-03-12)

Pin It Button - Pinterest, Inc. - http://www.pinterest.com/ (2016-07-30)

Cleaner - for Facebook - Graffino - http://apps.graffino.com (2017-03-12)

Adblock Plus - Eyeo GmbH - https://adblockplus.org/ (2016-12-22)

AdBlock Ultimate - Secure Download - https://adblockultimate.net/ (2016-09-30)

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3Dconnexion (2017-03-27) [Support]

CUDA Preferences (2017-03-06) [Support]

Flash Player (2017-03-24) [Support]

Java (2016-12-22) [Support]

TeXDistPrefPane (2014-10-09) [Support]

Time Machine: ⓘ

Skip System Files: NO

Mobile backups: OFF

Auto backup: NO - Auto backup turned off

Volumes being backed up:

Macintosh HD: Disk size: 999.35 GB Disk used: 814.92 GB

Destinations:

Biggie [Local]

Total size: 4.00 TB

Total number of backups: 3

Oldest backup: 3/17/16, 01:07

Last backup: 3/25/16, 23:47

Size of backup disk: Excellent

Backup size 4.00 TB > (Disk size 999.35 GB X 3)

Top Processes by CPU: ⓘ

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82% quicklookd

52% Finder

29% mds

20% kernel_task

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1.98 GB kernel_task

1.79 GB com.apple.WebKit.WebContent(6)

950 MB Safari

492 MB mdworker(14)

492 MB mds_stores

Virtual Memory Information: ⓘ

16.60 GB Available RAM

9.87 GB Free RAM

15.40 GB Used RAM

6.73 GB Cached files

8 MB Swap Used

Diagnostics Information: ⓘ

Apr 12, 2017, 03:44:52 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64_2017-04-12-154452_[r edacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]

/System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/Versions/A/XPCServices/com.apple.We bKit.Plugin.64.xpc/Contents/MacOS/com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64

Apr 11, 2017, 10:03:03 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/com.apple.WebKit.Plugin.64_2017-04-11-220303_[r edacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]

Apr 11, 2017, 01:02:40 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Hearthstone_2017-04-11-130240_[redacted].cpu_re source.diag [Details]

/Applications/Hearthstone/Hearthstone.app/Contents/MacOS/Hearthstone

Apr 11, 2017, 11:35:17 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Hearthstone_2017-04-11-113517_[redacted].cpu_re source.diag [Details]

Apr 11, 2017, 10:52:24 AM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Hearthstone_2017-04-11-105224_[redacted].cpu_re source.diag [Details]

Apr 10, 2017, 12:04:22 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Battle.net Launcher_2017-04-10-120422_[redacted].cpu_resource.diag [Details]

/Applications/Battle.net.app/Contents/Battle.net Launcher.app/Contents/MacOS/Battle.net Launcher

Apr 10, 2017, 12:03:18 PM /Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Battle.net_2017-04-10-120318_[redacted].hang

/Applications/Battle.net.app/Contents/Battle.net.8600/Battle.net.app/Contents/M acOS/Battle.net

Files deleted by EtreCheck: ⓘ

Apr 13, 2017, 02:24:45 AM - ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.bittorrent.uTorrent.plist

Reply

Answer 5

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 6, 2017 1:48 PM in response to rywag

Can you post a screen shot so we can better see what you're experiencing? Be careful about including any personal info, so you may need to black out (Preview is good at doing this to an image).

Good luck...

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Answer 6

dialabrain

Level 10

136,133 points

Apr 6, 2017 2:19 PM in response to rywag

FWIW, your wife's Mac is functioning as it should as is mine. Why yours isn't probably has to do with a corrupt .plist file although I don't know which.

Try creating a new user account and see if you have the same problem.

Reply

Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

136,133 points

Apr 6, 2017 3:33 PM in response to macjack

FWIW, that's what I said. Mine works that way as does the user;s wife's. His however does not. As dot.com mentioned it does seem a bit odd that only Apple apps are affected and non-Apple apps work as expected.

Reply

Answer 8

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 6, 2017 4:13 PM in response to rywag

Since you installed an app that "modded the behavior" but you uninstalled it, that is a really important thing to know. I'm guessing it changed some sort of normally hidden or unused attribute and now you can't change it back. You need to find out what exactly it did and then find out from the developer how to undo it.

What you are seeing is most definitely not standard behavior.

One thing I would suggest if you want to use these sort of behavior-modifying apps is to save all existing defaults BEFORE using them in case you need to get back to the state before they began mucking around with things that normally can't or shouldn't be changed. You could create a snapshot of the current defaults with:

defaults read > defaults.state.2017.04.06

and then your could use your behavior-modifying app and then take another snapshot and do a diff to see what exactly they did. But now you can't determine (or can you) what exactly they changed so you can't undo it to go back to what it was before.

Hope others see this discussion and learn how problematic these sorts of behavior-modifying apps can be and how to take precautions on what they attempt to do.

Realizing that you used this behavior modifying app (by the way what app was it and do you recall what behavior you changed) now makes perfect sense as to why apple apps don't work and other apps do work - the apple-apps are aware of this hidden or un-advertised behavior and the third-party apps are not aware of it.

Good luck...

Reply

Answer 9

rywag Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 6, 2017 4:23 PM in response to dot.com

the only app I am sure changed the behavior was Xtra finder which auto sized the columns in finder windows to fit the longest file names. But the problem didn't arrive, or I didn't notice it, until a few weeks ago and that was actually well after I uninstalled it. I usually only have minimized the window that is active so I probably wouldn't have noticed anyway, but the last few months I have been doing more on my home computer which is when I started to notice the problems.

Thanks for the terminal defaults info, I didn't know I could do that.

Reply

Answer 10

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 6, 2017 4:35 PM in response to rywag

Glad to help.

I wouldn't have guessed the auto-sizing of Finder columns would have anything to do with this sort of window behavior, but no idea. I would still try and contact that developer and describe your problem in case they have seen it before - you never know and if they do know what is happening their solution will likely be a whole lot easier than the alternative of doing a clean install.

I still think you should do the 10.12.4 combo update and hope that it removes or replaces whatever plist file controls the behavior that is causing this weirdness. Otherwise the only other option is to do a clean install and start over installing your apps and restore your personal files (but not any preferences since you don't know which one is the problem).

Perhaps someone else has some other suggestion as the latter may be a pain in the hind-end and take a lot of time. Make sure you have a full backup and double-check it's validity before doing the clean install.

Good luck...

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Answer 11

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 6, 2017 4:39 PM in response to dot.com

ps - those defaults files can be very large (my main system is over 100K lines), so even with one it's sometimes very hard to track down changes. The size is a function of how many changes you've done to your system and how many apps you use and who knows what all. But it's better than nothing.

Good luck...

Reply

Answer 12

rywag Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 7, 2017 8:38 AM in response to dot.com

the only app I am sure changed the behavior was xtra finder.

I have been checking all the apps on my computer, installed the update for sierra, booted in safe mode and still have the problem, however, I realized that it is only with the app store, mail and iMessages. I haven't installed anything to change the behavior of those apps and they are the ones with the problems. I guess I should have gone and checked all the apps before I posted the question. The behavior is even more odd knowing that, to me, having only two apps act like this and they are the two that I only started using more since doing stuff from home more often.

I'm not sure if knowing this will help someone know what the problem could be.

I found that xtra finder was in the startup on my user account so I deleted the startup and reset all the configuration files that it changed but still have the problem with the app store, iMessages and Mail. Any idea?

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Answer 13

rywag Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 7, 2017 4:52 PM in response to dot.com

I haven't done that yet, been deleting .plist files and rebooting a whole lot hoping one of them is the issue. I think it's a problem with the apps themselves though. is there a way to delete or/and reinstall specific apple apps?

Reply

Answer 14

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 8, 2017 1:19 PM in response to dot.com

Here is a list of all the apps that are included with the 10.12.4 Combo update:

App Store.app

Automator.app

Calculator.app

Calendar.app

Chess.app

Contacts.app

DVD Player.app

Dashboard.app

Dictionary.app

FaceTime.app

Font Book.app

Image Capture.app

iBooks.app

Launchpad.app

Mail.app

Maps.app

Messages.app

Mission Control.app

Notes.app

Photo Booth.app

Photos.app

Preview.app

QuickTime Player.app

Reminders.app

Siri.app

Stickies.app

System Preferences.app

TextEdit.app

Time Machine.app

Utilities/Activity Monitor.app

Utilities/AirPort Utility.app

Utilities/Audio MIDI Setup.app

Utilities/Bluetooth File Exchange.app

Utilities/Boot Camp Assistant.app

Utilities/ColorSync Utility.app

Utilities/Console.app

Utilities/Digital Color Meter.app

Utilities/Disk Utility.app

Utilities/Grab.app

Utilities/Grapher.app

Utilities/Keychain Access.app

Utilities/Migration Assistant.app

Utilities/Script Editor.app

Utilities/System Information.app

Utilities/Terminal.app

Utilities/VoiceOver Utility.app

Good luck...

Reply

Answer 15

dot.com

Level 4

2,455 points

Apr 8, 2017 1:22 PM in response to rywag

But before you go to that trouble (of installing combo update), I suggest you create the second account -- I'm gonna bet that things will work fine from it, so that will tell you the problem is with your account, so installing the combo update or any other update short of a clean install will fix your issue. But that's just my gut feeling.

Good luck...

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