Mouse Pointer Disappears on Mac

You are working on an important document, and suddenly, the mouse pointer disappears. Yes, we understand that something odd is going on. But no, your Mac is not possessed by a ghost. It’s just that it happens. Although not for all, there are cases when the mouse cursor becomes invisible on Macs.

In this article, we’ll try to pinpoint some possible causes why your mouse pointer disappears and provide some possible methods that can fix the problem.

Why the Mouse Pointer Disappears on Mac

There are many possible reasons why your mouse pointer disappears. Here are a few:

Reason #1: Problems with Your Trackpad Settings

For some Macs, the issue is associated with the trackpad settings. To know if your mouse pointer problem is caused by your settings, open System Preferences, go to Trackpad, and uncheck the box next to Trackpad Gestures. And then, make sure to check the Ignore accidental trackpad input settings. By doing this, you are making your trackpad less sensitive to user input.

Reason #2: PRAM Needs to Be Reset

The PRAM or the Parameter RAM is where your Mac stores basic information about your system, including the time. That way, you don’t have to re-enter the time every time your Mac boots up.

Reason #3: Your Mac Is Infected by Malware

If your Mac is infected by a malware entity, it can sometimes result in mouse pointer issues. While it is common knowledge that Macs are generally less vulnerable to malware, attacks still happen.

Reason #4: The External Mouse Device Is Damaged

In some cases, the external mouse peripheral is the culprit. If it’s too old already, there is a chance that it will no longer work as expected.

How to Fix the Disappearing Pointer on Mac Issue

We understand how annoying a disappearing mouse pointer issue is. So, what to do?

Solution #1: Make sure your mouse is turned on.

You may want to make sure that your wireless mouse is switched on. Also, you can check the battery status of your device. If you are using the trackpad as a mouse, try changing its color into something solid. Often times, the pattern differences can confuse your system.

Solution #2: Access System Preferences

You can make the necessary changes on System Preferences to fix the issue. Here’s how:

1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display.
2. Select Cursor Size.
3. Change the size of your cursor.

You can also do this:

1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Zoom.
2. Click More Options.
3. Check the Enable temporary zoom option.

Solution #3: Visit your Mac’s dock

The moment you notice your Mac’s mouse pointer goes invisible, scroll blindly to the Dock. After that, scroll up again. This trick has worked for many Mac users.

Alternatively, you can move your mouse pointer to the menu bar. From there, choose a menu and click. A menu click can often trigger your system to bring back the mouse pointer.

Solution #4: Use the touchpad

If your Mac has a trackpad, use your three fingers to swipe to the right to get you to the Widgets window. Wait for 10 to 20 seconds, then swipe to the left again with your three fingers. Hopefully, this will bring back your mouse pointer.

Solution #5: Click and drag

Another easy solution you can try is to click on any parts of your desktop and drag as if you are highlighting or selecting a section. And then, release. Most of the time, this will bring back the cursor.

Solution #6: Force quit all active applications

You may try to press and hold the CMD + Option + ESC keys to force quit all active applications. Sometimes, opening the force quit menu can bring back your mouse pointer. If it doesn’t work, simply press the CMD + CTRL + Power buttons. This will force restart your PC.

Solution #7: Install a trusted anti-malware tool

Macs are less prone to malware attacks because of their secure nature. But if you suspect that the issue is caused by a malware entity that has infected your Mac, then you may run a quick malware scan. Doing a malware scan using a trusted and reputable anti-malware software program can get rid of any malware entities on your Mac and keep your device running smooth and error-free.

Solution #8: Be patient

Finally, you can just wait patiently for a couple of minutes. It is possible that your mouse cursor is just hiding or taking a rest. If you feel bored, close your laptop’s screen and walk away for a few minutes. In a few minutes time, your mouse pointer returns.

Wrapping Up

A disappearing mouse cursor may happen to any Mac user. However, regardless of what’s causing the problem, the solutions that we have listed above are worth trying.

What other Mac issues have you encountered? Let us know in the comments!