My mouse pointer has been jumping around.

[jusacruiser]

My mouse pointer has been jumping around lately. What's going on with my MBP? Am I being hacked, or could it be my dying battery?

My pointer has been jumping around, opening up short cut menu's, and just acting with a mind of its own.

What is causing this erratic mouse behavior? How do I fix?

 

[Fishrrman]

You didn't tell us WHICH MBPro you have, or what year it was made.

I have a mid-2010 MBPro, and I've noticed that when I have it plugged into the Magsafe charger, the trackpad can sometimes get "jittery" and unresponsive if left on a flat surface.

Tilt the MBPro upwards just a little, and it's fine.
Unplug the Magsafe, and it's fine.

I believe that after almost 7 years of usage (still on the original battery which still registers at about 85% of capacity), the battery may be swelling just a bit with the Magsafe -- enough to press against the trackpad enough to affect cursor movement in some situations.

But this is so random that I'll just put up with it.
Otherwise, the computer runs fine.

 

[jusacruiser]

You didn't tell us WHICH MBPro you have, or what year it was made.

I have a mid-2010 MBPro, and I've noticed that when I have it plugged into the Magsafe charger, the trackpad can sometimes get "jittery" and unresponsive if left on a flat surface.

Tilt the MBPro upwards just a little, and it's fine.
Unplug the Magsafe, and it's fine.

I believe that after almost 7 years of usage (still on the original battery which still registers at about 85% of capacity), the battery may be swelling just a bit with the Magsafe -- enough to press against the trackpad enough to affect cursor movement in some situations.

But this is so random that I'll just put up with it.
Otherwise, the computer runs fine.

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a 2010 13" MBP. I tried unplugging for a while to see if that would calm the jitters....still did not help. Battery is probably just old and cranky. I will take to The Apple Store and get a new battery. Just as a side note.....my 2010 13" MBP is an albatross by today's standards, but if the battery fix works, it will be a lot less expensive than buying a new MBP!!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"my 2010 13" MBP is an albatross by today's standards"

Do you have a platter-based hard drive in it?
If so, buy a small-to-mid-sized SSD and put it in.
You will be AMAZED at the speed increase.
Best "low-buck" improvement you can make.

 

[Spudlicious]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have a 2010 13" MBP. I tried unplugging for a while to see if that would calm the jitters....still did not help. Battery is probably just old and cranky. I will take to The Apple Store and get a new battery. Just as a side note.....my 2010 13" MBP is an albatross by today's standards, but if the battery fix works, it will be a lot less expensive than buying a new MBP!!

Assuming you can get that problem fixed, it's a fact that Core 2 Duo computers will run all my regular use software just fine.

 

[jusacruiser]

Sad news.....I just replaced my MBP Battery and my mouse pointer stills continues to jump around the screen, open up short cut menus and has a mind of it's own.

Any other suggestions?

 

[Feenician]

Sad news.....I just replaced my MBP Battery and my mouse pointer stills continues to jump around the screen, open up short cut menus and has a mind of it's own.

Any other suggestions?

Are you using an external mouse or the trackpad?

 

[campyguy]

Bluetooth conflicts. Whenever my Plantronics EDGE headset is near my workstation and it's on and a phone call comes in my Mac goes nuts; if I use the included USB dongle with my Mac this doesn't happen but it's a crapshoot other times. Sometimes my Plantronics K811 keyboard goes bonkers when my nearby iPhone gets a call.

This goes away for me when my Mac is on a 5GHz wifi network (I segregate 2.4 & 5 GHz frequencies and connect to the latter).

BT devices like phones, headsets, and headphones often are the culprit in my home and office.

 

[token787]

My mouse pointer has been jumping around lately. What's going on with my MBP? Am I being hacked, or could it be my dying battery?

My pointer has been jumping around, opening up short cut menu's, and just acting with a mind of its own.

What is causing this erratic mouse behavior? How do I fix?

I had this problem and my trackpad was going bad. I had to get trackpad replaced. Also, sometimes u can wipe down track pad w/slightly moist paper towel with water and then wipe with dry paper towel. Hope this helps.

 

[jusacruiser]

Are you using an external mouse or the trackpad?

I was using a track pad. I have ordered a new track pad and am having it replaced. In the meantime I plugged in a mouse that I had lying around the house. Thanks.
[doublepost=1474159357][/doublepost]

Bluetooth conflicts. Whenever my Plantronics EDGE headset is near my workstation and it's on and a phone call comes in my Mac goes nuts; if I use the included USB dongle with my Mac this doesn't happen but it's a crapshoot other times. Sometimes my Plantronics K811 keyboard goes bonkers when my nearby iPhone gets a call.

This goes away for me when my Mac is on a 5GHz wifi network (I segregate 2.4 & 5 GHz frequencies and connect to the latter).

BT devices like phones, headsets, and headphones often are the culprit in my home and office.

I can rule out the BT because I am not using BT.
[doublepost=1474159517][/doublepost]

I had this problem and my trackpad was going bad. I had to get trackpad replaced. Also, sometimes u can wipe down track pad w/slightly moist paper towel with water and then wipe with dry paper towel. Hope this helps.

Cleaning the trackpad? Sometimes the most obvious fixes, are so simple. But in my case, I have already ordered a new trackpad. I am using a mouse for a few days until the new trackpad comes. Thanks.

 

[campyguy]

I can rule out the BT because I am not using BT.

USB 3? Poorly insulated USB 3 cables are also to blame for issues like yours. We bin ours and sub in quality cables.

 

[Feenician]

I was using a track pad.

Magic Trackpad? Something else? If the former then it's bluetooth

I can rule out the BT because I am not using BT.

 

[jusacruiser]

To all of you who have shared your time and provided guidance regarding my mouse pointer jumping around....Good News....Problem Solved! I took it to a local Apple Repair Shop and they replaced my faulty TracPad. Now my pointer is behaving as it should.

 

[lambertjohn]

OP wrote:
"my 2010 13" MBP is an albatross by today's standards"

Do you have a platter-based hard drive in it?
If so, buy a small-to-mid-sized SSD and put it in.
You will be AMAZED at the speed increase.
Best "low-buck" improvement you can make.

Did that with my 2010 Macbook Pro 15 and it was like night and day. The thing flies now. I'm typing on it right now. But, I still went head and purchased a refurb 2015 model a few days ago. Wanted to nab one while they still had them in the refurb store.