Most Mac users rely on a mouse cursor, but even a Macbook user who can use the touchpad also needs a mouse pointer to lead his way. So it could be very vexing when the mouse pointer disappears or becomes invisible on a Mac or Macbook. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This post will help you fix the issue and bring your cursor back.

Before trying any fixes, please make sure your mouse or touchpad is turned on and fully charged. Make sure your mouse or touchpad is working properly.

I am on Reddit and my cursor is visible, but I click on a video post to watch it and when I enter that video in a new window my cursor is gone. However, it is still technically there because I can click around. The only way to get it back is to open up some other menu or right-click. This is a small problem but very tedious and irritating.

Try these fixes:

Mac Mouse Fix now works under macOS 10.15 Catalina. Added full support for Bluetooth mice. Scrolling and zooming now work better with applications like Pixelmator, Photoshop, Terminal, and more. The next most important step in fixing your Apple mouse is to eliminate either your Mac or your mouse as the source of the issue. The simplest way to do this is to try your mouse with another Mac or iOS device and see if it behaves normally. If it works properly with a different computer, you can be fairly sure it’s an issue with the computer. Try These Steps To Fix Your Disappearing Mouse Pointer For third-party mice and trackpads, check the manufacturer for a firmware update (drivers) compatible with macOS Catalina Change the mouse’s or trackpad’s on-screen pointer to a larger size Move down to the Dock, pause, and then move up to screen center.

The Apple Mouse first appeared in 1983 with the original Apple Lisa. Since its birth, the Apple Mouse has experienced numerous upgrades. The Apple Mighty Mouse was released in 2005 and is made of white plastic. It uses a cord to connect to the computer and trackball technology for scrolling.

The reason for cursor disappeared issue could be various. You don’t need to try all the fixes, just work your way down till you find the one that works for you.

Fix 1: Quick tips to bring your cursor back

Restart your Mac/Macbook is an effective way to bring your mouse cursor back — if the cause of the disappearance is not related to hardware.
However, nobody wants to restart a computer now and then. So you can use these quick tips to bring your cursor back.

• Right-clicking your mouse or touchpad.
• Move your mouse or trackpad down to the Dock, wait few seconds and then move up to the screen.
• Switch the active applications by keyboard shortcuts or finger gestures.
• Enter Force Quit menu by pressing Command + Option + Esc keys together and you’ll see the mouse pointer.
• Ask Siri for help if Siri is enabled on your Mac/Macbook.

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Fix 2: Adjust System Preferences

One way to make the cursor more visible is to make the cursor size larger. You can go to System Preferences to adjust the size.

1. Click the apple on the top left corner and click System Preferences.
   
2. Choose Accessibility.
   
3. Select Display in the left panel. Then adjust the Cursor size in the right. Make sure you enable the Shake mouse pointer to locate option. This option could help you bring the cursor back when you quickly move the mouse pointer and make the cursor bigger.
   

Fix 3: Reset NVRAM or PRAM

NVRAM (non-volatile random-access memory) is a small amount of memory in Mac that stores certain settings. This section could help macOS access them quickly. PRAM (Parameter RAM) stores similar information.

If these stored settings have issues, resetting might help.

The steps to resetting the NVRAM and PRAM is the same.

1. Shut down the Mac.
2. Turn it on and press the Option + Command + P +R four keys together immediately. Hold these four keys for about 20 seconds. The computer should be restarting.
   NOTE: To reset NVRAM, you need to turn off the firmware password first.

After your Mac finishes rebooting, you might want to go to System Preferences to adjust settings that were reset. For example, sound volume, display resolution or time zone.

Fix 4: Use third-party apps

App Store offers many different apps to meet your needs. So you definitely can find an app to help you bring the invisible cursor back. Type “mouse locator” in the App Store and search. Choose one to try. There’re number of apps that claim to help you locate the cursor, you can find one to fix the problem.

Bonus Tip: Keyboard shortcuts

Use these keyboard shortcuts to save or finish your work when you meet problems.

Close (Window or Document) = Command +W
Save = Command +S Print = Command +P
Quit = Command +Q
Force Quit = Option+Command +Esc
Quit All Apps and Shutdown = Control+Option+Command +Power Button (or Media Eject )
Force Restart = Control+Command +Power Button

Basic shortcuts:

Minimize window = Command +M
Switch Application = Command +Tab
Swap Windows in current application = Command +~
Switch Tabs in current application = Control+Tab
Copy = Command +C
Cut = Command +X
Paste = Command +V
Undo = Command +Z
Redo = Command +SHIFT+Z
Select All = Command +A
Find = Command +F
New (Window or Document) = Command +N
Open = Command +O
Spotlight = Command +Spacebar
Open Application Preferences = Command +Comma (,)

That’s it! Hope this post could help you fix the cursor disappears on Mac problem. If you have any suggestions or questions, you’re welcome to leave comments below.

You might be working on your Mac when, out of nowhere, your cursor goes crazy or starts to drift aimlessly across your monitor. This erratic “cursor dance” can be both unsettling and utterly frustrating. After all, you need it to perform nearly every task on your computer.

With a cursor moving on its own Mac virus can be the first conclusion you jump to. However, in the majority of cases, your cursor acting up is not caused by a virus at all. With just a bit of targeted troubleshooting and regular maintenance, you can usually reclaim your wayward cursor for good.

What to do when your Mac cursor is moving on its own

If you’ve noticed your Mac cursor has started to exhibit troubling symptoms, such as ghost clicks, a slow horizontal drift, or making large selections independently, it’s time to investigate and find the root of the issue.

Reasons your cursor malfunctions may range from pointing devices interfering with one another and corrupted files preventing hardware from working properly to physical issues, like a damaged trackpad or swollen battery. With all these possibilities, you need to examine a few things to ensure you completely eliminate the issue.

1. Check your Mac and devices

First things first, take a closer look at your Mac and pointing devices. One reason trackpads can malfunction on a MacBook is the battery bulging underneath. If your trackpad seems to be slightly lifted, your battery might need immediate replacement.

Similarly, if you’re using a mouse or pointing device like a drawing tablet, check to see if the USB fits properly in the port, if the cord is damaged, if the mouse is dirty, or if the tracking surface is uneven. Some physical hardware issues may require replacement, but sometimes there might be just lint stuck in your mouse, which is easily fixed with a quick clean.

2. Reset all pointing devices

Having multiple pointing devices connected at once can sometimes cause interference. Your computer may try to jump from one to another while you’re working, which could result in bizarre cursor movement.

Bluetooth or USB, test your pointing devices individually. If when switching from one device to another you start thinking, “Hey! My Mac cursor is moving on its own!” — you’ve found your problem.

Making sure Bluetooth devices are fully charged and have fresh batteries is a good first step. Try to resolve interference by unplugging and reinstalling your mouse, or resetting your Bluetooth pointing device:

1. Open Bluetooth in System Preferences
2. Remove all devices by clicking the X
3. Turn Bluetooth devices off and on, make then discoverable, and reconnect

In addition, uninstall and reinstall USB pointing devices:

1. With the device unplugged, search for your device using Finder
2. Open your device’s application folder and run the uninstaller. If your device has no folder, just drag the icon to the Trash.
3. Restart your Mac, plug the device in, and follow the steps to reinstall

3. Ignore your trackpad

With interference in mind, one solution to consider if you’re using an external mouse is to disable the trackpad when your computer senses another device. This could also be used to temporarily resolve problems if a trackpad is damaged and needs repair.

Simply turn on Ignore Trackpad:

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1. Open System Preferences from the Apple menu
2. Select Accessibility
3. Find and select Mouse & Trackpad
4. Check the box “Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present”

4. Restart your Mac in Safe Mode

If your devices don’t seem to be the source of your cursor’s independent streak, restart your computer in Safe Mode, which won’t open programs, apps, or cached files, and will internally repair issues it detects. Hence just starting your computer in Safe Mode to check if the cursor issue persists and restarting it again from Safe Mode can resolve all kinds of problems.

To start your Mac in Safe Mode:

1. Restart your computer normally from the Apple menu but hold the Shift key
2. Release Shift when you see the login window

In addition to Safe Mode, try going fully offline. Turn off your Wi-Fi, unplug your Ethernet, and shut off Bluetooth. If you suspect you have a “cursor moving on its own Mac virus,” and the issue still persists while disconnected in Safe Mode, you can be sure that it’s not malware, adware, or other intrusive programs that are disrupting your cursor.

5. Reconfigure SMC, NVRAM, and PRAM

The SMC (System Management Controller) controls your computer’s thermal, power, and battery recharging operations. Resetting the SMC will allow it to refresh any corrupted file paths that may be preventing pointing devices from working correctly.

To quickly reset your SMC:

1. Select Shut Down from the Apple menu
2. After your Mac shuts down, hold Shift + Control + Option + the power button for 10 seconds
3. Release all held keys
4. Power on normally

Additionally, as your NVRAM (nonvolatile random-access memory) and PRAM (Parameter RAM) perform quick access memory tasks related to the devices you use every day, restarting them will help cure corrupted file paths:

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To reset your NVRAM and PRAM:

1. Select Shut Down from the Apple menu
2. Once your Mac shuts down, press the power button, followed quickly by Cmd + Option + P + R
3. Hold Cmd + Option + P + R until your Mac restarts
4. Once you hear the startup chord, release the buttons and allow the Mac to start up

6. Repair disk permissions

One more option you have at your disposal to get your computer to resolve internal issues is to repair your disk permissions. Essentially this forces your Mac to return to its default permissions and ensure everything is running in the way the macOS expects it to, which prevents applications from malfunctioning:

1. Open Disk Utility
2. Click File and then Run First Aid. Choose Run.

When First Aid is done, a dialogue box will report any programs or applications preventing your Mac from running optimally and point out the next steps to resolve these issues.

Consolidate troubleshooting in a single solution

If you find yourself exhausted by all the manual troubleshooting or you don’t have the time to move through all the step-by-steps, a simple but effective way to target and resolve your cursor issue is to download an optimization app like CleanMyMac X, which tackles all these problems at once.

Using the Maintenance scan in CleanMyMac X will repair disk permissions and free up RAM while flushing your cache at the same time. This utility also features a handy Uninstaller, which allows to select and uninstall any problematic applications. To perform maintenance with the app:

1. Install CleanMyMac X (free trial available)
2. Select the Maintenance tab
3. Choose which areas you want to focus on (or all)
4. Run the scan to solve the issues!

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Ultimately, there are just as many solutions as causes to cursor issues, and finding the right one manually can be quite the undertaking. While some solutions will be as simple as cleaning your mouse, many will require a lot more effort. That’s where an app such as CleanMyMac X really shines, consolidating all possible fixes into a simple one-click interface that will get your cursor back to normal without eating up your time.