Drag and drop not working on Mac [9 Easy fixes]

Mac drag and drop function fails? don’t worry! This article provides nine quick repair methods to help you restore the drag and drop function and improve work efficiency!

A few weeks ago, when I tried to drag a file to the Trash, I found that the drag function of my Mac was invalid. Restart is invalid, and no other solution can be found except for the drag and drop option in the auxiliary function settings. After some searching, I found a simple solution. This article will share all possible repair methods, which are simple and easy to use and immediate results!

Nine ways to quickly fix the failure of Mac drag and drop function:

method	Operation steps
Restart the Finder app	Open Finder > Click Apple Menu > Hold down Shift > Force Exit Finder > Restart.
Restart your Mac	Click Apple Menu > Restart.
Check the mouse and trackpad	Check the trackpad for dirt, check the Bluetooth connection and battery level of the mouse.
Run maintenance scripts and clear system cache	Install and open CleanMyMac > Performance > Scan > Run Tasks.
Verify trackpad settings	System Settings > Trackpad > Check settings and make adjustments to optimize the trackpad.
Enable three-finger drag	System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options > Enable "Drag with Trackpad" > Set the drag method to "Three-finger drag".
Delete the Preferences List (PLIST) file	Start Finder > Go to > Go to Folders > Enter ~/Library/Preferences > Find and delete PLIST files > Restart your Mac.
Run Disk Utility First Rescue	Start Finder > Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > Select Disk > First Aid > Click Run in the pop-up window.
Check for macOS updates	System Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now.

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Reasons for the failure of Mac drag and drop function:

• Trackpad and mouse failure or configuration error
• Dirt or sticky substances on the surface
• Pointer control settings are improper
• Bluetooth mouse is insufficient battery
• Finder failure
• macOS or software outdated
• System-level issues

Troubleshooting Mac drag and drop problems:

Try the workaround in the following order, starting with a simple one:

Restart the Finder app

If all locations on your Mac cannot be dragged, it means there is a system-level problem. First, force exit and restart the Finder app:

1. Open Finder.
2. Click the Apple menu icon.
3. Press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard.
4. Select Force Exit Finder > Restart.

You can also press Option Command Esc > Select Finder > Restart to restart Finder.

Wait for one or two seconds, and the Finder app will automatically restart. Check if the Mac drag problem has been resolved.

Personal Recommendation: If you want to force exit Finder faster, check out QuitAll. This app will display all open apps in the Mac menu bar. Just click on any app to close it, or you can select all apps and close them all at once. Additionally, it allows you to easily view and exit any background app.

Restart your Mac

If restarting the Finder app does not resolve the issue, restart your Mac completely. Restarting the device can clear minor system or software failures that may interrupt the drag function.

To restart your Mac, click the Apple menu > select "Restart" from the Apple menu > Wait for the system to restart; then, check the drag and drop function on your Mac.

Check the mouse and trackpad

Check the following three points on the mouse and trackpad:

• Dirt: Clean any dirt on the surface of the mouse or trackpad, as these substances can cause abnormal behavior of the input interface.
• Bluetooth connection: Check the connection between the trackpad or mouse and Mac. If you are using a Bluetooth trackpad or mouse, turn off and turn on Bluetooth. See if this solves the Mac drag and drop problem.
• Battery: Check the battery level of the wireless mouse to make sure it is sufficient to support drag and drop. Click the Bluetooth icon to view the remaining power of the wireless mouse. If it still doesn't work, check out how to fix the Apple mouse not working.

Tip: Speaking of batteries, if you want to see the battery level of all Apple devices directly from your Mac, try Batteries. Once you connect your Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, iPhone, iPad, AirPods, and other Apple devices, they appear in the Batteries widget in Today's View. You can follow your device in real time and get reminded when any device is low on battery – just choose whether you want to be notified at 50% or 20% or any percentage of battery.

Run maintenance scripts and clear system cache

Maintenance scripts are automated programs designed to maintain system health and eliminate manual work. Running maintenance scripts helps keep your Mac updated and running smoothly. This also includes periodic clearing of system caches to remove corrupt and outdated temporary files that may block macOS processes and cause problems such as dragging and dropping.

Mac maintenance doesn't have to be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Just use reliable tools like CleanMyMac. This all-in-one Mac cleaning app can scan and remove system junk, duplicate clutter files, random caches, and potential threats. It can also improve Mac performance, update software and completely uninstall unnecessary applications.

Here is how to run maintenance scripts using CleanMyMac:

1. Install and open CleanMyMac.
2. Click Performance > Scan.
3. Click "Run Tasks" under "Maintenance Task Suggestions".
4. Enter your Mac password.
5. Click "Done".

That's it. You can also view files to clear cache before starting maintenance.

Verify trackpad settings

Incorrect settings can cause the Mac trackpad to be unclicked. Therefore, it is worth checking the settings. You may also need to reset them to default values ​​or a more reasonable level to solve your Mac drag and drop problems.

The operation steps are as follows:

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Select System Settings.
3. Click "Touchpad".
4. Check settings and make the necessary adjustments to optimize trackpad functionality.

Also, try turning off "Touch Force" and "Tactile Feedback" in the trackpad settings, as this option may mess up applications and actions on your Mac, such as dragging and dropping.

Enable three-finger drag

Did you know that you can use three fingers to drag an item on the screen and then tap or tap to drop it? Here is how to activate three-finger drag on your Mac:

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Open System Settings.
3. Click "Accessibility" > Scroll down and click "Pointer Control".
4. Click "Touchpad Options" > Enable "Drag and drop with trackpad".
5. Set the drag method to "Three-finger drag".
6. Click OK.

By the way, did you know there are other ways to drag and drop on your Mac besides using the trackpad or mouse and three-finger drag? See how to drag and drop on your Mac to learn and master each method.

Delete the Preferences List (PLIST) file

macOS uses PLIST (Properties List) files to store preferences for various applications and processes, including mouse and trackpad. Deleting them forces macOS to rebuild and reset preferences (including preferences related to mouse and trackpad) to default values.

Sounds too technical? It's actually very simple:

1. Start Finder.
2. according to Command Shift G The Go to Folder window is displayed.
3. Enter ~/Library/Preferences > Press Enter.
4. Find and delete the following PLIST file:

• com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
• com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad.plist
• com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
• com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plist
• Com.apple.preference.trackpad.plist

5. Restart your Mac to allow macOS to recreate these files using default settings.

Once done, this process creates a new copy of the preferences file for the mouse and trackpad on your Mac. Now, check that the drag function works as expected.

Run Disk Utility First Rescue

Disk Utility First Aid is a built-in feature of Mac in Disk Utility. With this feature, you can quickly check the status of your Mac disk and determine if it can fix any detected disk utility errors that may affect core operations such as drag and drop issues.

To run Disk Utility First Aid:

1. Open Finder > Apps.
2. Select Utilities > Disk Utility.
3. Click the disk you want to check.
4. Click "First Aid" in the toolbar > click "Run" in the pop-up window.

Once done, you can view the results.

Check for macOS updates

Are you using the latest macOS? If not, you should update it immediately. Due to software errors, the drag and drop function may stop working. Installing macOS updates can fix the error and solve the drag and drop problem.

The operation steps are as follows:

1. Open Apple Menu > System Settings.
2. Click "General".
3. Click "Software Update".
4. If there are any updates available, click "Update Now".

Follow the on-screen instructions to update macOS updates.

Prevent future drag problems:

Now you have mastered the easy way to fix your Mac drag and drop. However, even minor issues can interfere with your workflow. Therefore, it is best to do protective maintenance on your Mac to avoid Mac drag and drop issues, save time, and focus on your main tasks.

With that in mind, I'll list the following proven maintenance tips for input devices like mouse and trackpad on my Mac:

• Wipe gently with a microfiber cloth stained with water or screen safety cleaner.
• Keep the battery fully charged to avoid connection problems.
• Keep macOS updated to avoid errors and compatibility issues.
• Protect your Mac from physical damage.
• Regularly check your input device for unresponsive clicks and resolve them immediately.

How to improve drag and drop function on Mac?

Fortunately, there are some good apps that can improve drag and drop on your Mac. I'll discuss two of my favorite apps.

FilePane: Easily drag and drop files

The first is FilePane, a file management utility that handles anything draggable on your Mac. I'm a long-term user of FilePane. Trust me, for Mac users, this is a must-have time saving and savior.

Once the app is installed, you will see a smaller icon with the file you are dragging. Move the cursor to it and release the file. Click the action you want from the list of all actions, from cropping, rotating, or resizing a batch of images to changing file formats and sharing files right away, all in just one click.

Yoink: Improved drag and drop function

The second is Yoink, a drag and drop utility for Mac that allows you to drag and drop files, apps, and anything to their destination. It's like a shelf where you can put files (one by one or in batches) into it and send them to anywhere on your computer faster.

Mac drag and drop function has been resolved

Hopefully you have found a solution to the Mac drag problem and it works fine again. Additionally, the apps I mentioned in this article can help you solve Mac drag and drop problems and other issues while saving you time and keeping your Mac tidy. For example, you can use Yoink and FilePane to improve drag and drop functionality. The Batteries app allows you to monitor the battery power of all connected Apple devices in one place. QuitAll allows users to exit all running applications with one click. Finally, CleanMyMac is a great app that allows you to maintain and organize your Mac like a professional.

Best of all, all of these apps, along with dozens of others, are available by simply subscribing to Setapp. It has a large number of powerful macOS and iOS apps that can be used for any job, from writing to coding. So, by subscribing to Setapp, you can complete more tasks faster and more cost-effectively. Free trial for 7 days.

FAQ

Why does the drag and drop function on Mac not work?

The drag and drop feature on the Mac does not work due to mouse or trackpad setup issues, input device failures, macOS outdated, dusty, or minor system failures, and can be fixed by restarting the Mac.

How to enable drag and drop on your Mac?

Follow these steps to enable drag and drop on your Mac:

1. Click Apple Menu > System Settings.
2. Click Accessibility > Pointer Control.
3. Click Trackpad Options > Enable "Drag and drop with Trackpad".

Now, you should be able to use the drag and drop feature on your Mac.

How to fix drag and drop failure on Mac Finder?

To fix the problem of Mac Finder drag and drop failure, try restarting the Finder app. If that doesn't work, try restarting your Mac.

What are the common causes of Mac drag and drop problems?

Common causes of drag and drop problems are:

• Dirty trackpad or mouse
• Incorrect mouse and trackpad settings
• Poor connection
• Operating system or software outdated

How to enable drag and drop on my MacBook Air or MacBook Pro?

To enable drag and drop on MacBook Air or MacBook Pro:

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Go to System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options.
3. Now enable Drag and drop using trackpad.

Will macOS Sonoma or recent updates affect the drag and drop function?

Yes, macOS Sonoma or recent updates may affect drag and drop functionality because of changes to how trackpad and mouse work, errors in older versions, or because updates may reset the preferences you set for these input devices.

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