Trackpad pointer movements jerky, imprecise, and laggy in macOS 15.1

[sirozha]

Hi,

I updated to macOS 15.1 yesterday, and I didn't notice any issues right away, but my M1 Pro MacBook Pro was connected to external monitors, external Magic Trackpad, and external Magic Keyboard. Today I'm at the office, using the built-in Magic Trackpad, and I immediately noticed that the mouse pointer is behaving erratically, like it does on Windows laptops. The movements are imprecise. It doesn't react to touch properly, so when I try to scroll, it doesn't always work. It's like using a Synaptics trackpad on an older Windows laptop. I was at the office exactly a week ago, while I still had macOS 15.0.1 installed, and I didn't have any of these issues. The only thing that changed on my MacBook Pro is the upgrade from 15.0 to 15.1.

Also, when using the built-in trackpad to move the mouse pointer across the dock, the dock icons popping-up (and enlarging) effect is not smooth but rather jerky. Again, this did not happen with macOS 15.0.1.

Anyone seeing this in macOS 15.1?

 

[sirozha]

I resinstalled macOS from the recovery mode (shut down macOS, press and hold the power button until the recovery options show up). It only took 20 minutes to reinstall macOS 15.1, and after the reinstall, the mouse pointer is working just fine, and there is no more shuttering of the image on the screen. So, it's a very quick fix, and I'm back in business.

 

[lucasrant]

I just bought the new usb-c Magic Trackpad, but my issue is that the pointer works but gestures don't. Configuring the trackpad in Settings only modifies the behavior of the built-in trackpad, not the external one.

 

[thguenther]

I just bought the new usb-c Magic Trackpad, but my issue is that the pointer works but gestures don't. Configuring the trackpad in Settings only modifies the behavior of the built-in trackpad, not the external one.

I have the exact same issue. Not even a right click works. Did you find a solution?

Edit: I just updated to Sequoia 15.1 and now it works just fine.

 

[sirozha]

I just bought the new usb-c Magic Trackpad, but my issue is that the pointer works but gestures don't. Configuring the trackpad in Settings only modifies the behavior of the built-in trackpad, not the external one.

Do the gestures work when the Trackpad is connected to the Mac via the USB-C cable?

 

[lucasrant]

I have the exact same issue. Not even a right click works. Did you find a solution?

Edit: I just updated to Sequoia 15.1 and now it works just fine.

the problem is that the operating system thinks the trackpad is a Magic Mouse (the old one).

It seems Sonoma 14.7.1 doesn't include support yet for this device. Pretty huge oversight, if you ask me.

 

[lucasrant]

Do the gestures work when the Trackpad is connected to the Mac via the USB-C cable?

See my other message above.

It's seems it's a firmware issue. My Mac thinks it's a mouse. In Settings, pairing the trackpad makes a new Mouse section appear, and modifying the mouse's properties, like the tracking speed, modifies the trackpad's settings.

 

[MallardDuck]

Here too, multiple machines. Trackpad stutters on both. Fine on .0, broke on .1

 

[MallardDuck]

15.1.1 didn't fix it

Anyone find a solution to the stuttering?

 

[JuicyGoomba]

Sorry but even the garbage Dell laptops we use at work don't have jittery/laggy trackpads on Windows 11.

I foolishly picked a MBP 16" M3 Pro as my work computer, and I can confirm that regardless of it being on Sonoma or Sequioa, the trackpad is garbage. Mouse jitters like crazy, especially noticeable on the 120hz laptop display as the trackpad seemingly has awful polling rate, likely 125hz.

The only way I can actually fix the "delay" you describe, is by using a gaming mouse with a respectable polling rate.