Clicking a Dock Icons opens Applications Folder

[Hls811]

OK.. so this is sorta screwy and just started happening to me.. I searched and couldn't find anything similar..

Every so often I'll click an icon in the dock and instead of opening up the application itself it opens up Finder and highlights the application in the Application Window.. Then, I can click on there and it'll open the app.

I don't know what's causing it - I can't figure out any way to replicate it, but this is the 3rd or 4th times its happened..

I have OnyX installed so I did a clean/optimize hoping it would do something, but it didn't as I just got it a few minutes ago.

If I activate the screen saver and then de-activate, or just log off/on, it usually works itself out..

Has anyone come across this before?

 

[mkrishnan]

You sure you're not holding a modified key when you click? I forget which one, but I think either option or cmd does this.

 

[Eraserhead]

Command does do this. Control is for "right" click.

 

[unsanity]

You're most likely holding cmd, or maybe a book or something is on it. Either way, it's getting pressed, and it opens the folder that the program is in, which is most often the applications folder.

 

[Hls811]

You're most likely holding cmd, or maybe a book or something is on it. Either way, it's getting pressed, and it opens the folder that the program is in, which is most often the applications folder.

it is emulating that the CMD key is being pressed, but its not actually being pressed when it happens.. It doesn't feel like its stuck or anything like that, its a brand new MBP (SR) and it 'feels' like its supposed to.

I didn't realize it was emulating CMD-Click last time it happened so if/when it happens again I'll try pressing CMD to see what it does. (but I know the past times nothing else was pressed as I was clicking).

 

[mkrishnan]

Possibly check the universal access pane and also the trackpad behaviors to make sure that you're not using some feature that you're accidentally triggering that would cause a "sticky" virtual command key?

 

[Hls811]

Possibly check the universal access pane and also the trackpad behaviors to make sure that you're not using some feature that you're accidentally triggering that would cause a "sticky" virtual command key?

Thats what I thought too.. I checked the Universal Access pane, everything off.. I also checked the Keyboard and Mouse pane and removed a few checkboxes in the 'Keyboard Shortcuts' that I know I don't use..

Hopefully something I did makes it stop.. it doesn't happen often - and hasn't happened since i made the changes but we'll see...

 

[jerimy]

I am having this same issue, and it seems to be related to either a mac OS update, or wacom driver update, or some conflict between the two things. I have noticed this too - sometimes when it happens, it appears as though my open applications window order gets stuck(so if I try selecting a application from the back the window highlights, but the app doesn't move forward), and if I click spacebar a few times, it seems to fix the issue temporarily.

 

[katelizzz]

I am having this same issue, and it seems to be related to either a mac OS update, or wacom driver update, or some conflict between the two things. I have noticed this too - sometimes when it happens, it appears as though my open applications window order gets stuck(so if I try selecting a application from the back the window highlights, but the app doesn't move forward), and if I click spacebar a few times, it seems to fix the issue temporarily.

I'm having this issue with a Wacom tablet, too! I'm running the most up-to-date driver (6.3.17-5) on OSX 10.10.5. Have you found any permanent fixes??

 

[bchertov]

I am having this problem, too. I think it started after upgrading to Sierra.

 

[juannacho]

I am having this problem, too. I think it started after upgrading to Sierra.

Yes, it definitely feels like to be a Wacom / Sierra fail. Since Sierra my Wacom has been awful. Constantly making random erroneous command and control clicks. Fully removed and reinstalled drivers, but to no avail.

I disabled ALL my Express Keys for the Wacom (as I never use them) in case they were triggering key presses and oddly, they have reset themselves and come back on. Wacom are notoriously terrible at sorting out updates too

Oh yeah, and Adobe's latest CC update has made Photoshop a shambles too!

Gotta love the modern age of thoroughly regression tested app updates! For big companies today QA seems to now mean 'release it to the public and see what's broken'...

 

[reel2reel]

Yes, it definitely feels like to be a Wacom / Sierra fail.

I'm on Yosemite and using the newest (6.3.18-4) Intuos Pro driver and same thing: dock opens item in applications folder. No modifier key, this is fully Wacom wacky magic. Happened to me with their last driver release also. Guess I need to down-grade yet AGAIN.

What are the Wacom people smoking? Do they actually test their own products anymore?

Hey at least Wacom Centre consistently auto-starts. yay for that.

 

[alrowan]

It's happens to me on Sierra without a Wacom. I plugged my Cinema Display and it started. It happens quite often, perhaps 5 times a year. Restarting the Mac fixes it.

- Every click to open a link will open in a new tab
- Clicking on another app won't put it in focus, you have to CMD+Tab

 

[noll]

Just had the same problem. Found out what it cause, and it's pretty silly.

Thing is, I'm commuting on the train when it started happening. Turns out, I forget the switch off my bluetooth mouse which was in my backpack. Apparently one of the buttons is continuously pressed, which caused this to happen.

This probably just is the solution in my case, but still I thought I'd share it.

 

[EnigmaAkira]

Hey all! What I did to fix this problem was going to security and privacy, accessibility, and removing anything Wacom from it. I only used the Wacom tablet once, and it ended up messing my computer, I think it worked for me because im not an all time Wacom user.