Keyboard input dies in an app, but then is fine in other apps

[woolypants]

I'm getting a weird issue that is probably a macOS bug.

In an app like Messages, I will type something but then the keyboard will stop responding. Or perhaps a certain letter or certain letters will stop inputting. I switch to any other application and everything's fine – I can type without problems.

Sometimes the keyboard input is slow and laggy, too, and I can easily type ahead of the cursor so that I have to wait for it to catch-up.

If this was Windows I'd think there was a virus but I've scanned using Bitdefender, used KnockKnock to see any errant start processes, and checked Activity Monitor. I don't think there's anything going on.

Nor do I think it's a hardware issue, because switching immediately to another app "fixes" it.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

The fact that switching apps resolves it, to me points away from a "macOS" issue and toward some sort of app issue. Likely not the app it's not responding in, but some sort of app that involves the keyboard in some way. Typinator/TextExpander? Keyboard manufacturer (e.g. Logitech) software? Keystroke monitor of some kind?

The trick is it sounds like it's somewhat-random so going to be hard to troubleshoot. But - boot in Safe Mode and see if the issue goes away there. If so - then I'm definitely on the right track with the above.

 

[woolypants]

The fact that switching apps resolves it, to me points away from a "macOS" issue and toward some sort of app issue. Likely not the app it's not responding in, but some sort of app that involves the keyboard in some way. Typinator/TextExpander? Keyboard manufacturer (e.g. Logitech) software? Keystroke monitor of some kind?

The trick is it sounds like it's somewhat-random so going to be hard to troubleshoot. But - boot in Safe Mode and see if the issue goes away there. If so - then I'm definitely on the right track with the above.

Thanks. That was my thought, too. But I haven't got anything like that installed.

I have a sneaking suspicion it's the Telegram app. I just quit that now just as my typing was starting to get laggy, and hey presto, everything's back to normal.