Unable to use "Right click and drag mouse" function after Sequoia update

This is actually an issue

I have two similar devices, one on macOS 14 and one on macOS 15.

It seems to be specific to the Built-In Multitouch Trackpad on MacBooks.

The macOS 14 device has no issue. The rightclick-holding on the macOS 15 device is horrible.

• If you move the finger away from the corner; it breaks
• If you rightclick and hold and add another finger to move easier, as soon as you lift the finger and it hits the trackpad again; it breaks

There have been other reports on the internet highlighting this. I reported this to Apple yesterday. I suspect the MultitouchTrackpad driver has changed with macOS 15.

I have been trying to mess around with the .plist where the settings are stored but no combination restores the behavior of the rightclick.

The issue can only be found on Trackpads. If using a mouse (even Magic Mouse) this issue cannot be observed.

The only workaround currently is to change the secondary click to „Click with two fingers“ in the Trackpad Systemsettings, you will, however, need to adapt to another style of triggering the rightclick.

I kindly ask Apple to revert the changes made in macOS 15 that causes this issue.

I just upgraded to Sequoia and found this same issue. I've tried all the options in System Settings/Trackpad and System Settings/Accessibility/Pointer Control/Trackpad Options, but I can't find any way to restore the previous behavior. Since downgrading system is not supported, this is a huge problem for me.

Estrella459 wrote:

Why would Apple take right click away?

@Apple Please bring back this function.

It is essential to many of us.

They didn't. It's referred to as "Secondary" click. In any case, check your Trackpad settings.

Ok, to reiterate:

1. The issue only happens on trackpads (both integrated and bluetooth-connected). Mice work as expected (and thus the title is misleading).
2. The issue is about dragging while holding the secondary click (which is Apple’s term for “right click”). Just doing secondary clicks works as expected.
3. The issue occurs only when secondary click configured on one of trackpad’s corners. When doing a secondary click with two fingers and dragging everything works as expected.
4. The issue is still not solved in macOS 15.2
5. The faulty behavior does not happen always, about 5-10% of times I manage to get the expected behavior, or at least start with expected behavior and then it bugs out in the middle of the dragging movement.

Usually you don’t encounter tasks that require you to drag while holding the secondary click pressed, but I can give you two examples.

1. In 3D-modeling software (CAD) it’s common to use primary-click+drag to orbit around a center point and use secondary-click+drag to pan the complete viewport. Because of the bug, even when I press the secondary click I keep orbiting and I can’t pan around.
2. In Minecraft (and probably some other games) you draw a bow by holding secondary click, and you release the click to shoot. I can draw a bow, but when I start to look around (dragging a finger on the trackpad) the bow immediately shoots as if the secondary click was released.

I was just issued a new 2024 MBAir at my office with Sequoia

. I frequently RDP to Windows Servers via the new MS Windows App. I can no longer right click to sign out of the server when I am done with my session.

I can use control c and control v on my keyboard to cut and paste, while in the Windows session but losing right click means staying logged into the Windows session. This is undesirable.

Why would Apple take right click away?

@Apple Please bring back this function.

It is essential to many of us.

I can confirm what Chris1994 posted is true: I'm experiencing the exact same issues, it doesn't affect Magic Mouse or other mouses, and there is a workaround by using "Click or tap with Two Fingers". I can also confirm what Æ8 said, I've also tried messing with both the Trackpad settings and Accessibility settings and I haven't figured out a workaround or solution.

However, I want add to this that it affects all Macs, not just MacBooks: I've tested a Magic Trackpad on both my MacBook Pro where I first encountered this issue and on an M4 Mac mini (somehow the issue is worse on the Mac mini, in my experience).

Regrettably to rub salt in the wound, this issue has been present since around Late June. I'm unsure if it was present since the first developer beta but I had reported this bug to Apple via Feedback Assistant on the 26th of June. Annoyingly my report says "Recent Similar Reports: None" and I haven't received a response from Apple at all.

I've updated my report and linked to this thread to hopefully highlight that the issue is affecting more Mac users. If anyone here participates in the macOS Public or Developer Betas it might be worth filing a report using Feedback Assistant as it may bring more visibility to the issue.

I really hope this gets fixed. I also play Minecraft on my MacBook and this issue makes it... challenging to say the least lol.

My tech support guru at work helped me fix this today.

I updated my 2024 MacBook Air to Sequoia 15.1.1 (the latest OS as of today).

I still could not see the mouse specific controls in the system settings.

I still prefer a wired apple mouse which was plugged into a wired keyboard into a hub into the USB-C port.

He said: The Mouse System Settings only shows up when a mouse is plugged in. He also said I had too many USB hops, so I plugged the mouse directly into the Hub, the mouse control showed up with Mouse button controls specific to my Mighty Mouse and I could set the right side of the mouse as Secondary Button.

Problem solved.

Turned on my new iMac today and discovered this issue. It would seem that Apple would have fixed this two months after after all of you reported it, but I guess Apple doesn't care. This is maddening. I can't set uo my dock the way I would prefer it to be. I can't right click on files in finder. I can't even right-click to copy/paste! WTELF?

Thank you very much, it worked

You're welcome.

Glad I wasn't going mad...issue resolved by turning on secondary click for the right button. Simple enough, but it never should be an issue. That's what happens with "improvement," I guess.