Level 1

11 points

Trackpad drag lock no longer works under Mojave

I have a Magic Trackpad 2, and since updating to Mojave dragging items with drag lock enabled under the Accessibility System Preferences no longer seems to work.

If I click on my trackpad with one finger and drag with another, dragging windows and icons around works as usual. However, if I double-click on a window or icon and hold the 2nd click for a brief period before beginning to drag, nothing happens. The same is true for selecting text. I have tried holding on the 2nd click for well over 2 seconds and still nothing happens

This presents a serious difficulty to me because I am a quadriplegic and struggle to drag items around without drag lock working. Has anyone else encountered this, or is this just an isolated incident? Any help rectifying this would be greatly appreciated!

Chris.

MacBook Pro TouchBar and Touch ID, macOS Mojave (10.14)

Posted on Sep 28, 2018 7:12 PM

Top-ranking reply

Joseph_S.

Community Specialist

Posted on Sep 30, 2018 7:56 AM

Hi Zeus74,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities! I understand Drag Lock no longer works as expected after upgrading your MacBook Pro to macOS Mojave. It's important that you're able to customize and use your trackpad in a way that works best for you. I would be happy to help point you towards a resolution.

The NVRAM (nonvolatile random-access memory) stores certain settings on your MacBook Pro. Resetting the NVRAM could help with the behavior you're experiencing:

Reset NVRAM or PRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

You may need to reset certain settings on your MacBook Pro once the NVRAM has been reset. This includes selecting Enable dragging with Drag Lock from System Preferences > Accessiblity > Mouse & Trackpad. Let us know if there's any change after trying that step.

Take care!

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27 replies

Oct 28, 2018 2:35 AM in response to Zeus74

I have the exact same issue. When I leave "dragging with drag lock" off, "tap to click" works very reliably as well. I have a neuromuscular disease and can only use my right thumb. I can't drag the windows around now. Bummer! Apple please fix this ASAP.

Zeus74 Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 28, 2018 2:42 AM in response to chairmanone

At least we now have 3 users confirming the same issue. Apple Support thanked me for my detailed description, and I think they have been able to replicate the bug on their end. Hopefully this gets fixed soon – I will point this thread to Apple Support as well, so they can see that this issue is not just isolated to myself.

Oct 28, 2018 3:18 AM in response to Zeus74

I hope so. it's so frustrating. Add to that there seems to be no other alternative to dragging the windows. I also noticed that those with normal hand function can still use drag function. So I think something screws up the sensitivity when the feature is enabled.

Nov 7, 2018 11:28 PM in response to Zeus74

Hi, I too have this issue. I'm not quadriplegic, have no issues with hands, but am a writer who needs to edit sentences all day long, by dragging and dropping. I never even considered this function/ activity until it stopped working, it's such an automatic gesture as I've been using it for over twenty years, ever since my first powerbook. Drives me mad that it no longer works! Double tap to select, then drag and drop. Anything else is just way too laborious for me, as I literally do this all day. But my trusted machine no longer recognises my double tap. I've enabled the drag with lock, but it just doesn't work dependably.

Hope you figure this out, Zeus, thank you for all your efforts, and am here to back you up.

Nada

Zeus74 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 8, 2018 8:00 PM in response to nadaholland

Thanks Nada. I agree that I have used this feature for so long it just feels like second nature. I am using 3 finger drag for now, which is not the same, but at least it works. Hopefully it's fixed soon.

Chris.

Oct 28, 2018 4:29 AM in response to Zeus74

Yes. Extremely disappointed. Can't work properly.

Oct 28, 2018 12:01 PM in response to chairmanone

with mojave beta 4 it was a litle bit better on my end. But with beta 5 its unusable again...strange...

Nov 8, 2018 1:42 PM in response to stefanfromsubingen

Well yesterday after updating to the newest beta everything was ok...today it went back to the same old problem...so strange

Zeus74 Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 8, 2018 8:02 PM in response to stefanfromsubingen

That's why I don't run betas on my MacBook! 😉

I told Apple Support about this thread, so at least they can see it is not an isolated case.

Chris.

Jan 2, 2019 7:44 AM in response to Zeus74

Any news on this bug being fixed with a new update yet? Had a right nightmare downgrading back to High Sierra in November, so want to make sure it's fully rectified before I try and update again

Zeus74 Author

Level 1

11 points

Oct 28, 2018 3:24 AM in response to chairmanone

Exactly. I think it missed testing because those without hand mobility issues can still use the feature. Something with the sensitivity of "tap to click" gets messed up when "dragging with drag lock" is turned on, which breaks both features.

Chris.

Nov 8, 2018 2:25 AM in response to nadaholland

I installed the new Beta Yesterday. The problem is solved now for me. Drag and drop and tap to click works as expeted now.

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Trackpad drag lock no longer works under Mojave