Frozen Cursor on Mac? Check the Trackpad, Mouse, and Apps

You move your finger across the trackpad, but the pointer stays in the same spot. If you’re dealing with a frozen cursor on Mac, first check whether the keyboard still works.

That helps you separate a pointing-device problem from a stuck app or a Mac that has stopped responding.

Save any work you can before quitting apps or restarting. Force Quit can lose unsaved changes in the affected app. Forcing the Mac to turn off can lose unsaved work across open apps.

TL;DR

If the keyboard still responds, save your work and troubleshoot the mouse or trackpad first.

• Use Command-Tab to check whether only one app is stuck.
• Quit only the affected app, then try a normal restart.
• Hold the power button only if the Mac will not respond or restart normally.

The settings below follow the macOS 27 Mac User Guide. The accessory checks apply to the relevant mouse or trackpad model. Older macOS versions may show System Preferences instead of System Settings.

Check whether the pointer, an app, or the whole Mac is stuck

Press Command-Tab and release the keys to switch to another open app. If it responds, try Command-S to save an open document. These keyboard shortcuts let you check for a response without clicking.

What you can observe	What to try next
The keyboard switches apps, but the pointer won’t move.	Check the trackpad or mouse first. Use keyboard controls to save work.
Other apps respond, but one app stays stuck.	Try a normal quit in that app. Force Quit only that app if necessary.
The built-in trackpad works, but an external mouse doesn’t.	Check the external mouse’s power, connection, and surface.
Neither the keyboard nor a known-working pointing device gets a response.	Try a normal restart if you can reach the menu. Forced shutdown comes last.

These checks narrow down the next step. They don’t prove which part has failed.

A wireless keyboard with a flat battery can also make the Mac seem unresponsive, so try the built-in keyboard on a laptop before treating the whole computer as frozen.

How to control your Mac without the pointer

You can reach menus with the keyboard while the mouse is unavailable. Press Control-F2, or Fn-Control-F2 if your keyboard requires Fn, to focus the menu bar.

Use the arrow keys to reach the menu or item you need, then press Return to choose it.

Use Tab and Shift-Tab to move between controls, and arrow keys within lists. If Tab skips buttons, Control-F7 or Fn-Control-F7 changes which controls Tab can reach. Keyboard layouts and customized shortcuts can change these combinations.

With Full Keyboard Access enabled, Tab moves between items and Space selects the focused item.

For temporary pointer movement, Mouse Keys lets you move and click using the keyboard. It also takes over keys you’d normally use for typing, so turn it off when you need to enter text.

1. Press Option-Command-F5 to open Accessibility Shortcuts. You can also quickly press Touch ID three times on a supported keyboard.
2. If Mouse Keys appears, use Tab to reach its checkbox and Space to select it, then choose Done. If only one accessibility feature is configured for this shortcut, the shortcut toggles that feature directly instead of opening the panel.
3. With Mouse Keys enabled, use 7, 8, 9, U, O, J, K, and L to move the pointer. Press I to click. On a numeric keypad, use its surrounding direction keys and 5 to click.

If Mouse Keys isn’t offered in the shortcut panel, its setting is under Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. A working spare mouse can help you reach it.

Don’t keep changing unrelated accessibility controls to make the panel appear.

If the built-in trackpad won’t move the cursor

Start with one finger on the trackpad. Two fingers normally scroll rather than move the pointer. If the MacBook may be low on power, connect its charger.

A low-battery alert can sometimes be hidden when the trackpad stops responding.

Dry your hands and check for moisture or debris on the trackpad. If cleaning is needed, save your work, shut down, and unplug power first. Use a soft, lint-free cloth, keep moisture out of openings, and do not spray cleaner directly onto the Mac. Follow the relevant Apple cleaning instructions for your device.

If the trackpad stopped working after you connected a mouse, check System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. The option Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present deliberately disables it.

Turn that option off only if you want both devices available.

There’s a separate Ignore built-in trackpad when Mouse Keys is on option in the Mouse Keys information settings. Check that if the problem started while using keyboard pointer controls.

These are specific Pointer Control settings, so there’s no need to reset every trackpad preference.

If a Magic Mouse or external trackpad won’t respond

Check power before changing Bluetooth settings. Magic Mouse has a switch underneath. Turn it off, then on again so green is visible. Current Magic Trackpad models have a switch on the back edge.

Earlier Magic Trackpad models have a power button on the right side. Replaceable-battery models need the correct batteries rather than a charging cable.

For a rechargeable accessory, use the cable that fits its connector. USB-C and Lightning models need different cables. Connect the accessory to your Mac for about a minute, then disconnect it and try again.

This can both charge and pair the accessory through the Apple connection procedure.

Use the built-in trackpad or a USB mouse to check System Settings > Bluetooth. If Bluetooth is off and only your keyboard works, press Command-Space, type Bluetooth File Exchange, and press Return. Press Return again if asked to turn Bluetooth on. This turns Bluetooth on; pairing problems may need separate troubleshooting.

If the mouse connects but tracking stalls, try a clean, flat, nonreflective surface. Inspect the sensor window for visible hair or debris. Avoid scraping the sensor or pushing objects into the charging port.

For charging and pairing problems that continue, use the model-specific Apple mouse troubleshooting steps.

If a USB mouse or wireless receiver stops working

A mouse with a small USB receiver uses that receiver’s connection and may not appear in Bluetooth settings. Check its power or batteries, then reconnect only its cable or receiver and try another compatible port.

If the Mac reports USB Devices Disabled or insufficient power, connect the mouse or receiver directly to the Mac instead of through a hub. If you use a self-powered hub, check its power adapter.

These are the relevant USB power checks. Avoid disconnecting a storage drive while it’s in use just to test the mouse.

If a spare pointing device works in the same app, keep using it long enough to save your work.

That result helps separate the original accessory from the app, though it doesn’t identify the exact cable, receiver, or hardware fault. Follow the mouse maker’s pairing instructions for a third-party receiver.

If only one app is frozen, quit that app

Try switching to the affected app and pressing Command-Q for a normal quit. This gives the app a chance to offer saving. If it still won’t respond, Force Quit can discard its unsaved changes.

Save work in other responsive apps before proceeding.

1. Press Option-Command-Escape to open Force Quit Applications.
2. Use the arrow keys to select only the app that’s stuck.
3. Use Tab to reach Force Quit, then press Space to activate it and confirm if prompted. Don’t quit other apps merely because they’re listed.
4. Reopen the app and check whether the pointer works there.

If Finder itself is the affected app, select Finder and choose Relaunch. The Force Quit procedure applies to a named unresponsive app, rather than a list of processes to stop.

If the freeze returns only in that app, try a different document after saving your work. Check the app’s updates and compatibility, and consider whether a newly added plug-in or peripheral coincided with the problem.

The app troubleshooting steps help narrow that down without changing the rest of your Mac.

Restart normally before forcing the power off

If the pointer stays stuck after the relevant checks, save open documents and try Apple menu > Restart. You can reach that menu with Control-F2 or Fn-Control-F2 and the arrow keys.

Respond to any save prompts instead of forcing the computer off while an app is waiting.

If the Mac is fully unresponsive and you can’t restart it normally, a forced shutdown can lose unsaved work.

As a last resort, press and hold the power button for up to 10 seconds until the Mac turns off. On a laptop with Touch ID, hold the Touch ID button.

Press and release the power button to start again.

The normal restart procedure gives apps a chance to close. A forced power-off is for recovering control when that isn’t possible. If the entire Mac keeps freezing, continue with whole-Mac troubleshooting after you regain access.

Check the result and know when to get service

Once the pointer moves again, test movement and clicking in another app, then in the app you were using. If you changed an accessibility option temporarily, return it to the setting you need.

Note whether the problem returns with the same accessory, app, or connection.

A built-in trackpad that still won’t respond after power and the relevant settings checks needs a hardware assessment. Contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.

A frozen pointer alone doesn’t establish a battery or hardware diagnosis.

If there’s visible case distortion, a raised trackpad, liquid damage, or other physical damage, stop using the damaged device and arrange service. Don’t press it back into shape or open it to investigate a battery.

MacBook safety guidance warns against using a damaged Mac and explains the risks of battery damage.

These procedures were checked against Apple’s macOS 27 and accessory documentation in October 2026. The retained illustrations below the Force Quit steps are older examples with an unverified macOS version.

Frequently asked questions

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