Drag and Drop broken after Mojave update

So I am running the latest version the Mojave OS and am having the same issue. The fix is this... open accessibility, select Mouse & trackpad, then select Spring Loaded Delay - Set to the 3rd line from the left going right. Now you will be able to drag files directly to your folder without the folders immediately opening, if you let it hover for a second the folder will then pop open. I hope this helps.

I spoke with Apple Support on 1/9/2019. They saw that while using Finder, I am unable to move (drag & drop) a file from Downloads folder to the Documents folder. It works fine with the Icon view and the Gallery view.

They are reporting this to engineering for a fix in a future release of the Mojave OS. They also asked me to report this on website www.apple.com/feedback

I was having the same problem and this solution, setting the spring loading duration to short that another poster suggested worked for me: System Preferences->Accessibility->Mouse & Trackpad. I recommend keeping it on, but shortening the duration, as keeping off may make a folder open in unintended circumstances (as if you are dragging and accidentally pass over a folder icon).

"I was having the same problem and this solution, setting the spring loading duration to short that another poster suggested worked for me: System Preferences->Accessibility->Mouse & Trackpad. I recommend keeping it on, but shortening the duration, as keeping off may make a folder open in unintended circumstances (as if you are dragging and accidentally pass over a folder icon)."

I tried that, it makes no difference.

Two things:

1) If you are dragging over a folder icon, you can press the space key to open that folder immediately

2) You can change or even turn off the delay by going to System Preferences->Accessibility->Mouse & Trackpad. I recommend keeping it on, but shortening the duration, as keeping off may make a folder open in unintended circumstances (as if you are dragging and accidentally pass over a folder icon).

I just upgraded from High Sierra to Mojave and I'm seeing this as well.  I first noticed it when dragging an image out of Safari to save it to a folder on my desktop or even to the desktop itself.  If I drag an image to the desktop, I see a duplicate of the icon show up where I "dropped" it before a second later it then snaps into the grid.  

Anyway, I trashed all Finder and Dock .plist files from ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost and it didn't fix it. What others might it be?

I have the same problem but for me it seems worse. When I click/drag a row in a list (e.g. iTunes or Spotify playlist) the row does not stay selected and sometimes grabs another row in the process. I often end up moving a row that I didn't intend to.

I also see something similar when I try to resize a window where I "lose hold" of the window and another window below in the path of my pointer is selected. This is very frustrating and super inefficient for something so core that should just work.

I lamented the same problems with dropping files into desk folders and was told my post was not technical enough and would not be posted. So I'm a novelist, not a tech head. Should that nullify my claim to air my frustration with Mojave, the wish that I had never pressed the upgrade button? Seems autocratic. I even purchased a new Mac Airbook in the hope that all the problems I was suddenly experiencing since the upgrade could be eliminated. It hasn't!

I also have a new 2018 Macbook Air. I have tried the suggestions above and I still cannot drag and drop my files. It's so bad that I have started using my old MBP to avoid this operating system. Is this a known issue that Apple has acknowledged and is working on correcting? Has anyone called Apple Support? Maybe I should try that or make a Genius Bar appointment. ;(

I have tried and it is working for me.

If I uncheck the box, folders do not open when I drag; if I check the box, the slider does affect the delay before a folder pops open.

[Note: the wording or perhaps the positioning of the box and slider is a bit misleading.

The box allows for turning "spring loading" on or off (not the delay!).

The slider controls the delay (when spring loading is ON).]

I believe that in previous versions it used to look more like this montage, which would be clearer:

AppleQer wrote:

I am not talking about the delay before the folder pops open.

I am talking about the delay before the dragged files disappear into an unopened folder.

It is possible to drag files into a folder before it pops open.

If I drag the files over the folder and release them (by releasing the mouse button) before the folder pops open, they disappear into it and the folder does not pop open.

The problem is that when I release the mouse button, the files just hang over the folder for a while before disappearing into it. This delay has become much much longer in Mojave. I want to reduce it.

Playing with spring loading does not affect this (the time it takes for a file to disappear into an unopened folder).

Thank you for clarifying.

I do NOT see the same problem on my mac. The files go into the folder and disappear instantaneously. The following gif file reflects what I see. The moment I let go of the trackpad button the files disappear into the closed folder.

Same problem I am having

I hope Apple fixes this soon - it is driving me crazy.

I'm with ya 100%. Everything you do just seems to lag and hang. Regret ever installing this abomination of an operating system!

Yeah, 'fraid not on my end. Spring-loading delay may mitigate it a tiny bit, but it's still a problem.