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MacOS mouse shortcuts are reset upon restart or shutdown

My custom mouse shortcuts reset after each restart or shutdown. I assign Mouse Button 5 to Mission Control and Mouse Button 4 to Application Windows.


I’ve tested various Bluetooth mice and don’t use any mouse software—such as Logitech Options or LinearMouse.


This issue appears to be specific to macOS 15.1, as I haven’t encountered it in the past 2 years of using macOS.

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 10, 2024 3:22 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 9:41 PM

Yes, this is also happening to me. M4 Mac mini MacOS 15.1. usually have Mission Control set to mouse button 4... but when I restart or shutdown my Mac it doesn't remember my setting. 🤞 this gets fixed because I use Mission Control a lot.

32 replies

Nov 19, 2024 8:40 AM in response to Ryan_2024

Also happening to me.


It happens also when I so much as log out and log back in.


I filed a Feedback about this: FB15889167.


This has not been a problem on my current M2-based Mac mini that ran Sequoia 15.0.


If it helps anyone else, I’m using a Viper Razer 8KHz (I like it because it’s wired, ambidextrous, and has plenty of buttons).

Dec 19, 2024 7:51 AM in response to PRP_53

Hi PRP,


No misconception here. This is a bug that Apple needs to resolve.


MacOS itself is resetting the shortcuts.


Following your reply, I've tested a dozen different mice of all brands available to me(benefits of working in an educational setting), and the issue still persists. This feature has worked since the option for mouse shortcuts was introduced, across all the macOS machines I've ever deployed. Trying to place the blame on 3rd party hardware is the wrong assumption.


For fun I even tested it on a classic Apple Mighty Mouse and the shortcut reset using Apple hardware...



Jan 13, 2025 7:51 AM in response to Ryan_2024

Solution found


First, 100% confirmed it is a macOS Sequoia bug. After countless hours of self-work, I got the solution thanks to the work of the user r/TheGreyAsteroid on Reddit. For advanced users, you can go with Terminal. For typical users, be aware that some folders are hidden to prevent you to fix things that Apple do not fix. Press Command+Shift+Dot to reveal hidden folders. After reboot, they will be hidden again.


  1. Set your Mission Control mouse shortcuts as usual.
  2. Go to ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.Desktop-Settings.extension/Data/Library/Preferences folder.
  3. Copy com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist file.
  4. Go to ~/Library/Preferences
  5. Paste the com.apple.symbolichotkeys.plist file. Re-writte the previous one.


The bug is the macOS core seems to save the shortcut preferences directly into the step 4 folder, but it should be saved in step 2 and 4 folders at the same time.


Inspired in this thread from Reddit.



[Edited by Moderator]


Dec 19, 2024 9:28 AM in response to PRP_53

Happening here on an M4 mini.


PRP_53 wrote:

This ship has sailed

As suggest the previous user

If this user cares to follow that suggestion

That too, remains to be seen

What even is this reply? Bitterness


Surely there is a benefit of discussion regarding the issue. I’m glad this thread is here to confirm that it isn’t just me having the issue.

Dec 31, 2024 7:50 AM in response to Ryan_2024


As has been reported by other users: Apple’s own hardware yields the exact same results. Including using the build-in keyboard of a MacBook. It’s not just mouse shortcuts but Apple’s own build-in MacBook keyboards too, as has been posted.


I use an Apple keyboard too. Same issue: when I map specific keys to Mission Control actions they stop working after a reboot. The shortcuts are reset to the default settings by the OS. Only on Sequoia.

In other words this happens when using Apple’s own hardware and peripherals.


There is a bug in the latest version of the OS. Bugs happen all the time. Nothing new. They are Apple’s responsibility.


On top of that every other mouse I and other users have tested yields the exact same results. If you can no longer use any third party peripheral, including the major suppliers (Logitech; HP; …), then yes, there is a problem Apple should have a look at.


Oh, and that it can take a long time is not new to me. When Apple broke their own Apple Movie Store service on their own Mac mini 2012 using their own Apple monitor (black screen: no visuals, only audio) we had to wait for at least half a year before they fixed that bug. And yes: it was their own OS breaking their own service on their own hardware. They fixed it, but it took a long time.


As a user of Apple computers and devices since 1995 and as an IT System Engineer I have witnessed this many times both on my own devices and on our customers devices.

“It just works” is unfortunately not always true.


[Edited by Moderator]

Dec 27, 2024 2:44 AM in response to Ryan_2024

Same here - on a Mac mini (Intel - model 2018).

This worked flawlessly for years and years using a Logitech USB mouse (not wireless).

MacOS Sequoia broke this useful feature from the moment I installed it. Really annoying as I use those Mission Control mouse shortcuts all the time.

FYI: I install new macOS versions (here macOS 15 Sequoia) by means of a "clean install". I wipe the internal drive and start from scratch.

Sequoia is the problem, not your peripherals.

Upgrading to 15.2 did not solve it.

Still waiting for a fix...

MacOS mouse shortcuts are reset upon restart or shutdown

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