The issue of mouse disappearance is very common for Mac or PC users, no matter what kind of operating system you are running. This can be truly aggravating since most computer users rely way more on mouse compared to the
keyboard shortcuts
to navigate their device. In this article, I’ll show you how to fix disappearing cursor on Mac for good.
So, where Did Your Cursor go?
When this issue occur for the first time, you might see that the cursor has disappeared all of a sudden. However, if you try to moving it to the left and right-clicking or dragging the mouse around, you’ll see that the device functions are still working, with the cursor simply going invisible.
This issue of mouse cursor disappearing on Mac may happen due to one reason: the lack of memory space. Running out of available memory is usually caused by heavy applications such as video editing software or browsers. These programs hog relatively a lot of RAM space to function properly.
It’s also worth noting that users with multi-monitor setup are mostly the victim of the disappearing pointer/cursor. Please note, multiple displays setup won’t directly affect your RAM space since the display is largely managed by your GPU hardware. Rather, multi-monitor users are known to often multi-task, for instance, opening 40 tabs of Chrome while editing video simultaneously, thus use more memory than the average users.
How to fix disappearing cursor on Mac
If your Mouse cursor keeps disappearing, there are a number of troubleshooting tips you can try to fix the issue.
Solution 1. Try to right-click or shake the cursor using mouse or track pad
this is the first troubleshooting tip you should try. By either moving the cursor around or right-clicking, you may instantly recognize the location of the lost cursor. In this case, the cursor didn’t actually disappear. Instead, it might be deliberately hidden by an application to increase visibility when the mouse is not used for a set period or if you are doing a certain type of task.
Solution 2. Switch active app using the keyboard shortcut
If moving or clicking the mouse around doesn’t fix your disappearing cursor, switch the active app using the keyboard by hitting Command + Tab together. This trick can fix the issue if the problem is related to only specific apps instead of the whole system. If this does stop Mac cursor from disappearing, you may need to update your app or use another one.
Solution 3. Check to see if the mouse hardware is working properly
If you have a wireless mouse, there could be an issue with the connection or the battery. Reconnect the USB receiver, recharge the battery, or try using a different mouse if possible. That way, you can be sure the hardware it’s not the culprit.
Mouse pads can also affect mouse movement, especially if you are using an optical mouse. Because your main objective is to know how to stop Mac cursor from spinning, if you have an uneven or colorful mouse pad, consider replacing it with a more smooth and plain black surface—you may also try to remove the mouse pad altogether—to see if it resolves the issue.
Solution 4. Bring the cursor to the Dock
You might be wondering how you can move the cursor to the Dock—located at the bottom of your screen—if you can’t even see the cursor in the first place. However, you can drag your mouse or finger on the trackpad to the bottom, as if the cursor is there.
No matter where the cursor might be hidden, dragging it down would always move it to the Dock. Once it is on the Dock, the pointer will most likely become visible.
Solution 5. Disable installed third-party screensaver
Third-party features are the cause of most issues when using any kind of computer. If you install any third-party screensaver, try disabling it for once or use the inbuilt screensavers provided by Apple.
Solution 6. Summon the Force Quit menu
Force Quit menu is generally treated as an ‘escape hatch’ for Mac users who experience any issue with some apps that seemingly have no visible exit. To initiate the Force Quit menu, hold the Command + Option + Escape key simultaneously.
Just like the name suggests, Force Quit make it possible for you to forcefully end an app operation. But, you don’t actually need to end anything. Often, simply launching the Force Quit menu is enough to make cursor reappear.
Solution7. Readjust the cursor size
Sometimes, it’s not that the cursor disappears, but rather, it’s too small for you to notice it. Here is how you can re-adjust the cursor size
- Launch the System Preferences app.
- Go to Accessibility.
- On the sidebar located on the left-hand side of the window, seleck Display.
- On this screen, you will see a slider that controls the Cursor size from ‘Normal’ to ‘Large.’
- While you are here, enable Shake mouse pointer to locate in order to make the cursor temporarily bigger to make it more noticeable when shaken.
Solution 8. Restart your Mac
The last solution you need to try is to
restart your MacBook.
In most cases, rebooting your Computer resolves most problem you’re having with a device including mouse pointer disappearing on Mac issue.
We hope the above troubleshooting tips have helped you fix your missing mouse issue.