Is text sliding a common problem on M4 chip computers?

It occurs to me that you may be using Apple's Magic Mouse with the touch sensitive top surface. Yes?

When I use that particular mouse I do find that text seems to 'slip around' on the screen, up, down and sideways.

I finally determined that the cause was me! I found that as I use the mouse I tend to be a little bit lazy and my index or middle finger would brush and move against that touch surface causing my problems. The touch was so light that I would not even feel it, regardless of any settings I could change.

I don't use that Apple mouse any more.

You might try working with a different mouse or a trackpad for a few days and see if that makes any difference for you.

dianafromtalent wrote:

Ryan and I went through everything under pointer and mouse in Accessibility and System Settings. Nothing on that shouldn't be on.

But what is on?

I don't use a trackpad as this computer refuses to recognize it.

Really? What kind of trackpad?

I used an optical mouse, an old magic mouse, and now a brand new magic mouse.

Ah, now we're getting somewhere.

What you're describing is horizontal scrolling. Horizontal scrolling is rare because it's extremely annoying. But most people never see it. They don't see it because they're using modern trackpads. People using mice are much more likely to see it. A few years ago, even connecting a mouse would cause scrollbars to appear everywhere. Apple seems to have fixed that, but there are still some settings that can make them appear.

When they do appear, in a specific "old style", they change the dimensions of the screen. The vertical scroller appears and makes the text view about 16 pixels smaller. That, in turn, triggers the appearance of a horizontal scroller. That would explain why your text, and only your text, is sliding left and right. And it would affect virtually all text in any app.

There are two places to check. First, in System Settings > Accessibility > Text > Text Size. Make sure this is set to "Default" and all apps to "Use preferred reading size". Apple is run by 24 year-olds with excellent eyesight. They think 6 point font is just da bomb, or whatever they say these days. You have no choice but to live with this. If you can't see the text, buy some high quality readers. I recommend Scojo Gels.

But the more important setting is System Settings > Appearance > Windows > Show scroll bars. This must never be set to "always". I recommend "when scrolling". I normally don't use a mouse. The setting "automatically based on mouse or trackpad" used to be the setting that would trigger this problem whenever a mouse is connected. This doesn't seem to happen anymore, but there's no way to tell on your computer. Try both settings and see which one works best. Just don't choose "always".

If you can't get the scroll bars to work normally, then get a Magic Trackpad. If an Apple trackpad won't work with your new Apple computer, then that's Apple's problem. Make them fix it.

Hmm... it does sound like a zoom thing - but more like the one from System Preferences > Accessibility. It's easy to activate it inadvertently with control-scroll.

We tried different mouses. I bought a new mouse and keyboard. No change.

Do you have a third-party mouse? Did you install the software that came with it? If you have some third-party mouse software installed, it can affect the performance of every mouse, including Apple's Mouse & Trackpad.

I have attempted to find some way to make my text slide around and cannot make it happen (M4 Mini). I don't have a mouse (haven't used one in at least a decade).

Can you give us all of the settings you have for the text in Pages (font, size, layout)? Is it in a text box or just a plain document?

From your description of the way to resolve, it sounds like the window is scrolling to show you the insertion point, but I can't manage to create a document where it scrolls on its own. If the text is off the viewport, it doesn't scroll when I select the next line unless I hit return or arrow right at the end of the line.

Does this problem happen only in certain apps, like Pages or Word, or does it happen in many apps?

Might it be related to the viewing size or Zoom - 100%, 150% etc - of the text of your document? In Pages, for example, Zoom can be increased to 300% or more and create a situation that seems to match what you describe.

Change the document view in Pages on Mac - Apple Support

dianafromtalent wrote:

While working online on a New York Times puzzle, the screen images may slide or edge up or down, showing the ad I have just managed to move out of view by using the scroll bar and downsizing the window.

IIRC, people were reporting this issue when Tahoe was launched or something very similar. You should search the Tahoe forums here to see what the ultimate result was or generalized consensus at the time (I believe there was only a single thread). Unfortunately I don't recall the details.

dianafromtalent wrote:

While working online on a New York Times puzzle, the screen images may slide or edge up or down, showing the ad I have just managed to move out of view by using the scroll bar and downsizing the window.

It sounds like it's just a website problem. Are you using Safari or something more sinister? Do you have any 3rd party extensions installed? If so, they could be causing the problem. If not, they could prevent the problem. 😄

And the New York Times is just awful. Try the new puzzles in Apple News. And if you want real journalism, Apple News has that too.

dianafromtalent wrote:

I'm using a 24" 2024 iMac with Tahoe.

I'd found a workaround while working on a small piece, enlarging the widow to half the size of the monitor so that I can see all text at all times,

but text still slipped.

verify your software is up to date—

The current stable release of Tahoe including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 26.2 — I would start there

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

If the txt (slip) seems to be dragged by your mouse or Trackpad — look at Accessibility setting if something got flipped on...

what Do you mean by “sliding?” Perhaps a screenshot is in order.

“Just had a weird thought. Silicon is used to prevent friction, and my M-4 chip is silicone-based.”

A slight correction: Silicone is a friction reducing compound.

Your computer uses a Silicon based CPU.

One is in no way related to the other.

"Is there a common problem of text sliding up, down, to the side, with

silicone-based computers? Just had a weird thought. Silicon is used to prevent friction, and my M-4 chip is silicone-based."

Sorry but your issue as posted is very hard to understand. You appear to be saying that there is a connection between the material used to make a CPU and movement of text on your display.

Please provide further details of your issue and its context.

Writing an effective Apple Support Commun… - Apple Community

Have you consulted with an HVAC expert?