If drag and drop is failing in file system interactions, often the easiest solution is to simply restarting the Finder, which is quite easy: If you’re still experiencing issues with drag and drop on the Mac, proceed with the next set of troubleshooting steps. You will also want to make sure the batteries or battery of the Bluetooth mouse or trackpad is charged and they are working, if the battery is low you may notice weird behavior like some mouse and cursor activity not working as expected. Sometimes simply toggling Bluetooth off and on again resolves quirky issues including a failure of drag and drop to work. You can also toggle Bluetooth off and back on again from the Bluetooth preference panel within System Preferences, accessible from the Apple menu. If the Mac Trackpad or Mac Mouse is Bluetooth, try simply turning Bluetooth off, and then turning Bluetooth back on again.Īn easy way to turn off and on Bluetooth is through the Bluetooth menubar item near the top right corner of the Mac display. Wait! Is the Mouse or Trackpad Bluetooth? If you’ve done that and you’re certain it’s not the cause of an inability to drag and drop, carry on with the tips below. If there is, clean that off first, as physical obstructions can definitely cause weird behavior with input interfaces. WAIT! First, Check the Hardware for Gunk & Grime!īefore we get started with any of the software based troubleshooting tips, check to see if there is any material, gunk, or grime buildup on the surface of the trackpad, or in the tracking surface of the mouse, and in the buttons. How to Fix Drag & Drop Not Working on Mac : 6 Troubleshooting Tipsįor best results you’ll probably want to try these in order, they’re arranged in order of simplicity to slightly more complex.