A small but growing number of users have reported issues using the "three finger drag" gesture on the new MacBook Pro's trackpad.

late_2016_macbook_pro_trackpad
Affected users say the gesture either works only intermittently or does not work whatsoever on both 13-inch and 15-inch late 2016 models.

MacRumors reader Luke said the three finger drag gesture does not work in the upper left side of his MacBook Pro's trackpad.

I have the news 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and it seems there is an issue with the trackpad. Although it is enabled, the three-finger drag feature doesn't work in the upper left side of the track pad. It's most bizarre.

Some users have speculated the trackpad's palm rejection feature could be to blame, particularly since the gesture appears to be buggiest along the edges.

A handful of topics have been posted about the issue on the MacRumors discussion forums (1, 2, 3, 4) and Apple Support Communities over the past few weeks.

MacRumors reader David:

With the 13-inch MacBook Pro, I switched to three finger drag, and the palm rejection kind of gets in the way. If you go from typing to try and drag a window, you have to hit the center of the trackpad with your finger tips, or it doesn't register.

MacRumors reader Mustafa:

I always enable 3 finger drag. Ever since OS X 10.11, Apple tucked that feature away under Accessibility. I turned it on as usual and I am finding that it does not always move the windows as intended.

Apple Support Communities user Darren:

Try to enable three finger drag and do a 3 finger drag gesture on the bottom left of the trackpad. There is a 40% chance that it's wrongly detected as a secondary click. Sometimes it failed to detect 3 finger drag at the middle of the trackpad as well.

MacRumors forum member C.clavin:

Just bought a 2016 15" MacBook Pro and I am having an issue with the 3 finger drag. Since enabling the gesture, it works about 50-60% of the time. It's strange because it works at times on one window, and not others, and sometimes not at all.

"Three finger drag" is a Multi-Touch gesture supported on both traditional and Force Touch trackpads on many MacBook Pro models. It lets you use three fingers to move the active window on your screen without clicking.

On OS X Yosemite and later, the gesture can be toggled on by clicking on System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad > Trackpad Options > Enable Dragging. Select "three finger drag" from the dropdown menu and check off the box.

Apple does not appear to have publicly acknowledged the issue, while it remains unclear if the issue is software or hardware related. If related to software, the issue will likely be addressed in a future macOS Sierra update.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Top Rated Comments

yesjam Avatar
107 months ago
Has there been a single Apple product in recent memory with this many software-hardware integration problems?
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DrumApple Avatar
107 months ago
Cancelled my order yesterday and feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I'll be skipping this generation. Too many issues all around. Sad times.
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dannys1 Avatar
107 months ago
QUICK Rabid forum members, we've dug up another minor bug that a handful of users are experiencing....GO MAD, GO GO GO!

Next a topic on that if you press the emoji laugh icon on the touch bar twice on a Tuesday it only registers once on a small batch of 13" MacBook Pro's running 10.12.1 (16B2657) after 8pm.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ries Avatar
107 months ago
can't wait for all the comments from those who don't own said laptops.
Some people don't have to eat poop to know it sucks. But I guess some people are different.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
107 months ago
QUICK Rabid forum members, we've dug up another minor bug that a handful of users are experiencing....GO MAD, GO GO GO!

Next a topic on that if you press the emoji laugh icon on the touch bar twice on a Tuesday it only registers once on a small batch of 13" MacBook Pro's running 10.12.1 (16B2657) after 8pm.
How many threads are you going to post the same comment before realizing the "common thread" in all the threads is bugs/issues from Apple? At some point, it's going to dawn on you that maybe, just maybe the MBP is a bit buggy.

To be fair, release buggy-fix later is modus operandi for tech from any company these days. It's not just Apple. But to constantly apologize for, and be accepting of buggy releases only encourages companies to continue doing business as is.

If you were to complain that early adopters should quit batching because they know that the price of early adoption is buggy hardware/software I'd get behind that idea all day every day. But that "it's minor" meme you got going is pretty sad. Think of it like this. Each bug is a nickel. If I hit you with one, it's a minor annoyance. If I put a bunch of them in a sock (MBP) and hit you with them, you're going to be pissed... and most likely concussed, but pissed nonetheless... that is if the retrograde amnesia doesn't set in. If it does, I'll just tell you that you fell and bumped your head. Wait, where was I?

Oh yeah, please get some new material for the next inevitable bug.:D:p
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zorinlynx Avatar
107 months ago
I really feel like buying a refurb 2015 model now. At least then I'll have a trouble free Macbook Pro for 4-5 years until we get past this crappy generation.

Of course there's no certainty that Apple will start doing things better eventually, but.. it puts off the pain.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

App Store vs EU Feature 2

Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15 pm PST by
Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem. We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Will Include These New Features for Your iPhone

Wednesday February 5, 2025 7:15 am PST by
iOS 18.3 was released last month, so the first iOS 18.4 beta should be coming soon. iOS 18.4 is expected to be a more substantial update for the iPhone, with several new features and changes related to Apple Intelligence and beyond. Apple's website suggests that iOS 18.4 will be released in April, following beta testing. Below, we outline what to expect from the update so far. Apple...
General Apple Invites Feature

Apple Launches New 'Invites' App

Tuesday February 4, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple today announced the launch of a new app called "Invites," which is designed to allow users to plan events like birthday parties, graduations, vacations, baby showers, and more. "With Apple Invites, an event comes to life from the moment the invitation is created, and users can share lasting memories even after they get together," said Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple's senior director of...
maxresdefault

An Apple TV Refresh is Coming in 2025 - Here's What You Should Know

Wednesday February 5, 2025 10:17 am PST by
Apple hasn't refreshed the Apple TV since 2022, but rumors suggest that we're finally going to get an update in 2025. We don't have a full picture of what to expect yet, but we have some hints on what's coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Updated A-Series Chip The current Apple TV 4K uses the A15 Bionic chip that was in the iPhone 13 lineup, and it's time for...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Raises Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhones

Tuesday February 4, 2025 9:35 am PST by
Apple this week increased the prices for its monthly AppleCare+ subscription prices for the iPhone, raising the cost by 50 cents for all models in the United States. Standard AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 models is now priced at $10.49 per month, for example, up from the prior $9.99 per month price. The 50 cent price increase applies to all available AppleCare+ plans for Apple's current...
iCloud General Feature Redux

'Apple Invites' Leaked on iCloud Website

Tuesday February 4, 2025 7:11 am PST by
Update: The new Apple Invites app has officially been announced. The main iCloud.com page has seemingly confirmed Apple's rumored invites tool, which has yet to be officially announced by the company. The page says "Apple Invites" will be an iCloud+ feature:Upgrade to iCloud+ to get more storage, plan events with Apple Invites, and have peace of mind with privacy features like iCloud...
apple power beats pro 2

Apple Expected to Announce Powerbeats Pro 2 on February 11 With These New Features

Sunday February 2, 2025 6:15 am PST by
Apple previously teased that Powerbeats Pro 2 would be released in 2025, and now an announcement date has leaked. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said Apple plans to unveil the wireless earbuds on Tuesday, February 11. Powerbeats Pro 2 will be priced at $250 in the U.S., he said. Powerbeats Pro are a sportier, fitness-focused alternative to AirPods Pro with built-in, adjustable ear hooks...
maxresdefault

Testing Apple's New Invites App for Event Planning

Tuesday February 4, 2025 10:26 am PST by
Apple today surprised us with a new Invites app, which is designed for planning events like birthday parties, vacations, and baby showers. We checked it out in our latest video to see how it works, what you can use it for, and to demonstrate all of the different features in the app. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Invites is a standalone app that you can download...