Why Is My Click and Drag Not Working Mac?
A Mac’s drag and drop function not working can be due to incorrect settings or an out-of-date operating system, software, or firmware. Mouse and trackpad preferences can also often confuse as there are several options users can select to customize how an item is selected and moved via Mac’s mouse cursor.
How to Fix Drag and Drop on a Mac
Here are all of the best ways to get drag and drop working correctly on your Mac. It’s best to work through this list in the order presented as the most straightforward tips are listed first while the more complex fixes are at the bottom.
How Do I Enable Drag and Drop on a Mac?
Drag and drop is a feature that allows you to move files from one location to another on a Mac computer. This functionality is on by default because it is a standard function of mouse and trackpad usage, so you shouldn’t need to enable it.
com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plistcom.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plistcom.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad.plistcom.apple.preference.trackpad.plistcom.apple.finder.plist
When done, restart your Mac. This process will refresh the above files by recreating them. To drag and drop on a Mac, click on an item and drag your finger on the trackpad, or move your mouse. Release your finger to place the file in its new location.
Why Can’t I Drag and Drop Files on My Mac with Universal Control?
Apple’s Universal Control feature is a form of drag and drop where you use a single keyboard and mouse with up to three Apple devices. Once connected, Universal Control can be used to seamlessly move a single mouse cursor from one screen to the other and even drag and drop files between connected devices. If you’re having trouble getting Apple’s Universal Control drag and drop feature to work correctly, make sure your devices are running at least either the macOS Monterey or iPadOS 15 operating system and are at least one of the following.
iPad ProiPad Air (3rd generation)iPad (6th generation)iPad mini (5th generation)MacBook Pro (2016)MacBook (2016)MacBook Air (2018)iMac (2017)iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, late-2015)Mac mini (2018)iMac ProMac Pro 2019
Any Mac or iPad that matches or is newer than the models in the above list should support Universal Control drag and drop.
