MacBook Air M1 - weird slight cursor jump at the end of the move

[dasilv]

Hi there,

Im' experiencing an annoying issue with my brand new MacBook Air M1 and I would like to know if someone experienced the same or can reproduce it... Wondering if it's hardware problem with my Mac and I should return it or it's software problem related to M1 Macs (I'm still on return window). I will try to describe it preciselly, but I'm not native speaker, so my aplogies for grammar...

Issue description: I noticed, that when I move cursor with trackpad it sometimes does a slight "additional" jump at the end of the move in direction of that move (and it happens after I raise my fingers from the surface). It's not about "random jumping", because cursor always jump in direction of the move. It happens accidentally, but today I figure out it's more often when I move cursor immediately after using a keyboard. I also figure out that distance of that "jump" is related to acceleration I give to move. Slow move - small jump. Faster move - longer jump.

Short video:

- I press arrow key twice (to use keyboard) and immediately try to move cursor to reproduce a problem. During second move it happends so you can see it.

It's not happend every time, just time to time and I'm sure some users don't even notice while using it (it's basically rare). But I love precise trackpad on the Macs and this drives me crazy. I never experienced such a weird thing with my previous Macs. I try to reproduce it on my Intel MacBook Air 2019 with same OS version - Monterey 12.1 and nothing like that happens at all. This leads me to two scenarios - 1) I have a faulty unit, 2) It's SW/HW problem related to the M1 Macs only.

Interested thing - I know Monterey have had/have some trackpad issues, but I don't know, if my issue is one of them. When I updated to Moneterey 12.2, it still happens, but it's even more rare, so something was changed I guess. Anyway I tried to install latest version of Big Sur on external drive and the issue is also there, probably even more noticeable, so it's not Monterey exclusive.

Second interesting thing - it's related not only to internal trackpad. With my external trackpad (and keyboard) connected I experience same behaviour on M1 Air, but again, nothing like that on my Air 2019 with exact same peripherals. On both Macs I'm not experiencing issue when I'm using a regular non-apple mouse (connected via wireless USB dongle). Because external trackpad is also affected on M1 I guess it's probably more SW+M1 firmware related issue then actual HW problem with my unit, but I don't know...

*This issue is not about accidentaly touching trackpad (what every damn article on the internet is talking about, when I tried to find something, so I couldn't found something actually helpfull), I'm long time Mac user and I know how to use trackpad properly.

Thanks for your comments or suggestions!

 

[MTCayser]

I am also seeing this very regularly, a couple of times a minute on my 16" MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip. My 2017 iMac does not have this issue.

This MacBook Pro is actually my second brand new 16" M1 Pro. I returned the first one because I was worried that it was faulty.
Both the one I returned and my current one have the cursor jumping issue, so I figured it was the software.

If both your Air and my 2 consecutive Pro models have it then I'm hoping it's a software issue.

I also connected my external Apple trackpad and the issue is still there, so the built-in trackpad is probably not the cause.

And I know that my external trackpad is fully functional because I use it with my intel iMac on the same update version (12.2) and there is no jumping. Only when I pair it with the M1 Pro does it start jumping.

Strangely I also paired my wireless apple mouse with my M1 Pro and the issue goes away.
So overall for me it is trackpad specific, and M1 specific.

 

[mi7chy]

Does it do it in safe mode to rule out software conflict? Haven't been able to replicate it on MBA M1 running Big Sur 11.6.3.

Is that mail client or browser? If so, which browser and version? Doesn't do it in Chrome or non-upgraded Safari.

 

[dasilv]

I am also seeing this very regularly, a couple of times a minute on my 16" MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip. My 2017 iMac does not have this issue.

If you can see that regularly multiple times in one minute, I'm not sure we have a same issue. Are you sure your issue match my description or video demonstration? Or could you please record it? ... I experiencing it rather couple of times an hour or less in regular use. But if I focus on it and try to reproduce it (my video above), then yes, sometimes I can see it multiple times in one minute (and on other hand sometimes it takes a time to experience an issue). I noticed it maybe comes in kind of "waves", when it happens 2 or 3 times in row, but then nothing for several minutes. It's probably a reason, why if I use my computer "normally" (nobody usually move cursor around like a lunetic while typing on keyboard), it's not observed so often.

But as I wrote earlier, typing on keyboard isn't required, it just a faster way how to demonstrate it without waiting it "just happen". Today I figure out, I can also demonstrate it quite frequently, when I scroll some page up and down and meantime try to move a cursor (precisely: sroll up, 2 separate moves down, scroll down, 2 separate moves up and so on... so there is no keyboard use):

Anyone can reproduce it, please? One jump at the end of the video (last move). This was recorded on Monterey 12.2 in Safe Mode. On Monterey 12.2 it can take a more than a minute doing this, than I can see that "jump".

If both your Air and my 2 consecutive Pro models have it then I'm hoping it's a software issue.

I also connected my external Apple trackpad and the issue is still there, so the built-in trackpad is probably not the cause.

And I know that my external trackpad is fully functional because I use it with my intel iMac on the same update version (12.2) and there is no jumping. Only when I pair it with the M1 Pro does it start jumping.

Strangely I also paired my wireless apple mouse with my M1 Pro and the issue goes away.
So overall for me it is trackpad specific, and M1 specific.

If we actually have a same problem, I agree that external peripherals affected on M1 (and working well on Intel Mac with same OS version) leads us to M1 specific problem. External peripherals also affected makes me believe it's not built-in trackpad issue on my unit. But why nobody talking about it? Or I'm missing something?

 

[dasilv]

Does it do it in safe mode to rule out software conflict? Haven't been able to replicate it on MBA M1 running Big Sur 11.6.3.

Is that mail client or browser? If so, which browser and version? Doesn't do it in Chrome or non-upgraded Safari.

Well, it's quite rare to happen in "regular use scheme" and you need to look carefully and be patient (I'm not saying you didn't, maybe you actually just don't have this issue). It's not always that prominent as you can see in my video (and I tried it numerous times till it happened). It's often just very small "jump" and if someone is not so "furious" with moving cursor fast and kind of "chaotic way", like I am, the issue may be almost unnoticeable. On Monterey 12.2 + M1 it's even more rare, but it's still there.

My video in original post shows Apple Mail on Monterey 12.1. But it can be observed everywhere, in Safari (15.3), on the Desktop when just moving cursor around... I don't use Chrome and actually any exotic apps. On latest version of Big Sur I installed on external drive, it can be observed just after installation and I could see this from the beginning of using my unit (shipped with Monterey) so I don't think, there is some "software conflict". But to be sure I tried safe mode now and it still persist (my new video above is from Pages in Safe Mode and give you more context, since it's a bit longer). Maybe you could try this, I would appreciate that (no keyboard typing required).

Just for a "checklist" I also ran diagnosis (CMD+D) with no issues as a result (but I didn't suppose anything else actually).

 

[dasilv]

So once more guys... maybe this issue is more connected to scrolling (unlike I supposed in original post - keyboard typing).

I just find out that in latest Big Sur this issue is common AF. The key to replicate is fast scrolling with a lot acceleration + then fast cursor move in direction of scrolling before it stops scrolling. Then can be observed a really long "jumps":

It's like a cursor is "bumped" by scrolling LOL

On Monterey 12.2 is much harder to do that, so it looks like M1 related software issue in my opinion (never on Intel). There is really just one other person who claim it happens? There must be something really serious with my unit, or almost anybody else is blind...

+++

On Monterey I already found a several other trackpad issues (Intel machine is also affected!) like jumps while text selecting with "tap-to-click + dragging without drag lock" enabled (my regular settings like I'm not using Force Touch at all, because it slows me down - simply tapping is faster for me):

It happens almost every f*ckig time and as I said, this issue is also on Intel, Monterey only (never on Big Sur).

What I do at the video is double-tap (to start selection) and then move in direction I want to select a text, then raise my finger - then "jump" happen ALMOST EVERY TIME. If you will try this, please give more acceleration to move after double-tap, because it "jump" more likely (more acceleration = bigger jump). Built-In / external trackpad, doesn't matter. NO Force Touch!

Another issue - with tap-to-click and "swipe with three fingers" is enabled. I usually use one finger for moving (keeping on the surface all the time) and another for tapping (it's fastest use of trackpad in my opinion). But in this use case unwanted backwards happens randomly. For example in browser when tap on the URL with "tapping finger" (new page is loading) and then move "moving finger" to the left, it's sometimes registered like a "swipe left with three finger" and bring you back right then. Again, Monterey only, never on Big Sur or predecessor.

And another bonus issue (M1 + Intel) - also no Force Touch allowed to replicate and "tap-to-click + dragging without drag lock" must be enabled. When you double tapping multiple times in row on something with only one finger (for example selecting words in text), sometimes it just don't happen. But if you have one finger on the trackpad surface and use other finger for tapping, it works every time. It can be observed since Big Sur, but on Catalina and predecessor you can tapping the way you want and everything is registered 100%.

I have more issues in my pocket, but I'm tired to describe it already... I really don't know why Apple messed up things that works well for years... What's the point all this super annoying ****? Perfectly working trackpad is one of the main thing I love Mac and this is not perfect, this is what I call unreliable in my point of view.

Trackpad on Mac is a sad story righ now:
Intel + Catalina or predecessor - works like a charm, can handle anything you do, no matter how fast you are
Intel + Big Sur and successor - some unwanted issues shows up
M1 + Big Sur and successor - more like frustration, especially with tap-to-click actively used

 

[dasilv]

Just for a record, I returned it. Mostly because this behaviour is not acceptable for me and I know it would annoy me. Also I can't be sure if an issue described in original post is HW or SW (Apple Silicon trackpad driver/M1 firmware), like I can't replicate this particular problem on my Intel Mac. And finally, I also experienced this issue on Big Sur (more than a year old OS = they don't care or don't know about it) so I can't be sure Apple will fix this.

And last but not least I don't trust them at this point like I trusted them a years ago, cause they have a lot of SW/HW quality problems nowadays and I see a lack of attention in many ways. They just constantly adding a bunch of new stuff without actually care about customer experience. It makes Apple approach no different from other companies anymore. "Think Different" is no more such different like it used to be...

For now I'll take a break and in few weeks I'll probably try another unit from different seller to try to avoid similar hardware revision (or unit from same factory).

 

[MuzicDan101]

I am also seeing this very regularly, a couple of times a minute on my 16" MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip. My 2017 iMac does not have this issue.

This MacBook Pro is actually my second brand new 16" M1 Pro. I returned the first one because I was worried that it was faulty.
Both the one I returned and my current one have the cursor jumping issue, so I figured it was the software.

If both your Air and my 2 consecutive Pro models have it then I'm hoping it's a software issue.

I also connected my external Apple trackpad and the issue is still there, so the built-in trackpad is probably not the cause.

And I know that my external trackpad is fully functional because I use it with my intel iMac on the same update version (12.2) and there is no jumping. Only when I pair it with the M1 Pro does it start jumping.

Strangely I also paired my wireless apple mouse with my M1 Pro and the issue goes away.
So overall for me it is trackpad specific, and M1 specific.

SAME ISSUE HERE in August 2023! I"m surprised 2 and a half years there aren't more users experiencing this!

I have an M1 Mac Mini, M1 MacStudio, M1 MacBook Air and an M1 iMac and the SAME ISSUE happens ALL THE TIME in Messages, sometimes Mail, but CONSTANTLY in Messages ... no matter whether its on my M1 MacBook Air's trackpad, my older Apple Trackpad, or the new Apple Trackpad and I also ALWAYS disable secondary click and it happened in Big Sur, Monterey AND Ventura.

So, it's not a particular trackpad, Mac model or OS that is causing this, this is a BUG that has NOT been fixed on the M1 Macs, kinda like the Option+Click bug that makes certain apps disappear that was NEVER fixed, even in Intel & M1 Macs. FYI, the jumpy cursor does NOT happen on my 2012 MacBook Air or 2012 MBP whether running Mojave or earlier nor does it happen with those older Macs running Big Sur (the Maximum for those 2 Macs) so it MUST be an M1. I recently bought a base model M2 (running Ventura) for a great deal, but that Mac is used as a Plex/Dropbox server and I only use it via Screenshare, so I can't comment on the cursor bug being only for M1 Macs.

When the Apple/Mac fairy allows, I'll get an M2 MacBook Air and report back to see if this persists. In the meantime, the jumpy cursor is wreaking havoc on my nerves! >:-(

 

[MuzicDan101]

If you can see that regularly multiple times in one minute, I'm not sure we have a same issue. Are you sure your issue match my description or video demonstration? Or could you please record it? ... I experiencing it rather couple of times an hour or less in regular use. But if I focus on it and try to reproduce it (my video above), then yes, sometimes I can see it multiple times in one minute (and on other hand sometimes it takes a time to experience an issue). I noticed it maybe comes in kind of "waves", when it happens 2 or 3 times in row, but then nothing for several minutes. It's probably a reason, why if I use my computer "normally" (nobody usually move cursor around like a lunetic while typing on keyboard), it's not observed so often.

But as I wrote earlier, typing on keyboard isn't required, it just a faster way how to demonstrate it without waiting it "just happen". Today I figure out, I can also demonstrate it quite frequently, when I scroll some page up and down and meantime try to move a cursor (precisely: sroll up, 2 separate moves down, scroll down, 2 separate moves up and so on... so there is no keyboard use):

Anyone can reproduce it, please? One jump at the end of the video (last move). This was recorded on Monterey 12.2 in Safe Mode. On Monterey 12.2 it can take a more than a minute doing this, than I can see that "jump".



If we actually have a same problem, I agree that external peripherals affected on M1 (and working well on Intel Mac with same OS version) leads us to M1 specific problem. External peripherals also affected makes me believe it's not built-in trackpad issue on my unit. But why nobody talking about it? Or I'm missing something?

I have the same issue either on my M1 MacBook Air's trackpad or the (both older and latest gen) trackpads of my M1 MacStudio/Mini/iMac. It's been happening in Big Sur, Monterey and Ventura, but NOT happening on my Intel Macs running the same OS's and similar trackpads. This is an M1 issue. Haven't used on M2 Macs. The M1 Macs when they were released with Big Sur had MAJOR Bluetooth & HDMI connectivity at the beginning, but I am assuming that the Mac Updates was only a partial "fix" of the issues. I get the feeling that the Mac coders don't actually use Macs or they'd give a **** and fix it!