Finder glitches when dragging files

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Level 1

10 points

Finder glitches when dragging files

Last night I installed High Sierra, and after installing when my MacBook Pro restarted, after agreeing to a couple licenses the final setup froze and I had to force reboot (I couldn't force quit), so I guess I wasn't able to finish final setup. I'm not sure if it's related to this issue but that's the background.

After installing High Sierra, I now cannot drag files in Finder into a folder that contains another file. What happened is:

Download a file
Drag downloaded file from Downloads in dock to another folder open in a Finder window
- If folder is empty, window flashes for a brief second and issue does not continue
- If folder has another file/folder in it, the Finder window starts flashing quickly but remains responsive. If I drag it around it catches parts of other windows. I can still close the window or use the back button if I click on the right part of the window
Deleting the file does not resolve it. The parent directory has to be deleted

Please let me know if there's anything I can do to avoid this. Dragging files around is a pretty basic Finder feature, and it's a pretty big part of my workflow.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, 2 TBT3), macOS High Sierra (10.13)

Posted on Sep 27, 2017 9:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PowerGui

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2017 12:30 PM in response to njell

Hi,

I've just installed the latest macOS update, and the problem disappeared.

In fact it could be one of two things (I can't tell which one worked):

- Install the latest macOS update

- Remove the download stack from the Dock and reinstall it there.

Anyhow, here are the steps I have done:

- Delete the Download icon from the dock (right click - options - remove from Dock)

- Install the latest macOS update (may take some time...)

- Put the download folder into the Dock, at its place

Now you can drag and drop from the downloads to any folder without those pesky graphical glitches.

Enjoy 🙂.

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Answer 2

Oct 6, 2017 7:48 AM in response to njell

I'm experiencing this bug since yesterday. It's very frustrating since it's my very first real issue with a mac in over 10 years. I've discovered that this glitch happens only in "View as Icon". If I change to "View as List" or others it disappears. Done reset NVRAM + SMC, deleted finder cache, dock cache... So I guess I'll stick with this for the time being...

I'm using a Macbook Pro Retina 13 early 2015, High Sierra up to date (5 october) with no updates available in the App Store.

Let's cross fingers

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Answer 3

PowerGui

Level 1

8 points

Sep 28, 2017 12:19 PM in response to njell

Hi,

I have the same problem, using an old retina MacBookPro (late 2012).

Indeed when copying from the download stack to a folder, the result is a corrupt Finder window. At first I have used the Terminal to copy my files into another folder (thankfully it is quick in APFS).

The only workaround I have is to open the downloads stack into a Folder window (by using the round icon with an arrow in it) before dragging my downloaded file into the folder of my will. It is not ideal, and I usually forget about it, but I have nothing else.

I really hope that Apple corrects this behaviour, it is quite a bummer.

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Answer 4

njell Author

Level 1

10 points

Sep 28, 2017 12:34 PM in response to PowerGui

Hi PowerGui,

I spent a few hours with Apple Support (which was very good, I must say). One support agent found that one other instance of this was recorded, and resetting the NVRAM and SMC solved their problem. Unfortunately, after doing these steps and reinstalling macOS (without deleting data) and the issue still persisted, we decided that the next step will be to wipe and reinstall the OS. I've scheduled to do this in a couple days, as the laptop is still functioning. I'd love to hear of any fixes found!

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Answer 5

PowerGui

Level 1

8 points

Sep 28, 2017 12:39 PM in response to njell

Hello nielle,

This sounds like a pretty nuclear option. I think I can live with this problem until the next patch (and hope it will solve it). Maybe a clean install would be best for my old SSD, but I am too lazy to do a full backup of my data and reinstall the system.

I'd love to hear someone having found a solution for this problem.

Anyhow, best of luck with your clean reinstall, I hope it will solve it.

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Answer 6

IceJulia

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2017 9:28 AM in response to njell

I have the exact same problem, and it is quite annoying. I having also tried to reset the NVRAM and SMC without luck, so if you find a solution I would really like to hear it! 🙂 I would really like to avoid having to do a wipe and reinstall.

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Answer 7

IceJulia

Level 1

8 points

Oct 5, 2017 1:27 PM in response to PowerGui

Unfortunately this didn't do the trick for me. But for me it isn't only if I drag something from the Download stack, but also other stacks. So if I put another folder down to my dock and drag a file from that stack to another folder in finder it also happens 😟

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Answer 8

njell Author

Level 1

10 points

Oct 5, 2017 2:54 PM in response to PowerGui

That's great information to know. I wiped and reinstalled and it didn't solve the issue for me, and Apple's next suggestion is to go to an Apple store for further help.

When you say install the latest update, do you mean upgrade from Sierra to High Sierra again?

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Answer 9

srob185

Level 1

10 points

Oct 26, 2017 5:32 PM in response to IceJulia

I to have tried the SMC reset and booted in safe mode. The issue seems to be isolated to the folder that the file was dragged to. After resetting when I go to that folder the same issue occurs. It goes white, blinks and is unresponsive.

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