How to troubleshoot having to double click everything in Safari on Mac

Do you have the mouse double-click problem on your Mac? To those who have not yet encountered it, it may appear to be a relatively innocent and basic issue, but for those who have, few things can be more aggravating than double-clicking to perform a task in Safari. It’s not just bothersome; it’s also infuriating since a double-click can have an impact on your workflow or could be the cause of you missing some tasks out since you forgot you need to double click. Don’t be alarmed if you’re having this issue with Mac OS, we have some solutions to help fix this issue.

  1. Restart your Mac OS device
  2. Check scroll settings for your mouse
  3. Update Mac
  4. Check hardware

Above are some of the key solutions you should follow to ensure you can resolve the issue of having to double click everything in Safari on Mac. Follow through for more information on how to achieve this.

Restart your Mac OS device to fix double clicking issue

Sometimes the best options are the simplest, when you use your Mac OS device there may be instances there is a bottleneck as the RAM space is pretty much fully used up. Restarting your Mac device allows for the RAM to clear and lag-based issues to be resolved. If an issue is prominent with Safari in general it can also help to refresh the browser and help it to run better. Follow through for more information on how you can achieve this.

  • Firstly, click on the Apple icon on your desktop.
  • Now click on “Restart”.
  • Finally, click on “Restart”.

info Note: This may not work for everyone, from personal testing I found it resolved the issue for me, however, it’s not a consistent fix. If you are looking for a more permanent solution, use our other solutions.

That’s it, once your Mac is reset, open Safari again and see if the issued solutions help to resolve the error of having to double click on open everything in Safari.

In-depth guide [with screenshots] – Restart your Mac OS device

  • Firstly, click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your desktop. (1)
  • Select “Restart” from the dropdown menu. (2)
  • Then click the “Restart” button in the popup dialog box. (3)

You’d think that in this day and age, there’d be a more modern method of troubleshooting a device’s technical faults than the old “turn it off and turn it on again” method, yet for so many devices, restarting is still the best answer to many problems. During the restart process, a Mac quits all apps, allowing it to begin from scratch when it is back up and running, and it installs any pending updates, which supposedly means the system will be more optimized and working better than before.

Check scroll settings for your mouse to fix double clicking issue

Whereas earlier versions of macOS provided more mouse setting choices, Big Sur focuses on modifying tracking, scrolling, and double-clicking speeds. These are still highly useful settings that can help with several mouse-related difficulties. It is really simple to use this menu and make changes. Follow through for more information on how to achieve this.

  • Firstly, click on “System preferences.”
  • From there click on “Accessibility.”
  • Now click on “Pointer control.”
  • Now navigate over to the “Mouse & Trackpad” option.
  • From there increase or maximize the “Double-click speed.”
  • Finally, test your mouse on Safari.

For quite some time, it has been found that the double-click speed causes the double-clicking problem on most macOS versions. It’s most likely due to the OS’s difficulty recognizing single-clicks from double-clicks when the latter is set too slow. It should be noted, however, that some people may be unable to keep up with a too-quick double-click speed option. You may slow it down if you’re finding it difficult. The crucial word here is experimentation. Just be careful not to set it too slowly.

In-depth guide [with screenshots] – Check scroll settings for your mouse

  • Firstly, go to System Preferences. (1)
  • From there click on “Accessibility.” (2)
  • Scroll down the left menu and select “Pointer Control.”
  • Then increase the “Double-click speed.”
  • Finally, test your mouse on Safari.

Update Mac to fix double clicking issue

Updating macOS software is more likely to affect a third-party mouse than Apple’s Magic Mouse, but it’s as crucial. Software updates can assist in resolving basic setup issues for which the remainder of this list may not have a solution. To stay up to date, follow the instructions below.

  • Firstly, open system preferences using the launcher.
  • Click on “Software Update”.
  • Install any updates that are pending.

Software-related issues could be a huge reason why this issue is persistent. If this issue does come across and you do need to update your Mac with pending updates, ensure you update the software then check back to see if the issue is resolved. Updates can also be around the browser itself, if there are pending issues in the software, those must be fixed before you can proceed to have the double click error fixed.

In-depth guide [with screenshots] – Update Mac

  • Firstly, open System Preferences using the dock or launcher. (1)
  • Click on “Software Update.” (2)
  • Then install any pending updates.

Software issues might be a major factor for this issue’s persistence. Whether you encounter this problem and need to update your Mac with outstanding updates, be sure you update the program first, then check back to see if the problem has been repaired. Updates can also occur inside the browser itself; if there are any ongoing issues in the program, these must be resolved before the double click error can be resolved.

Check hardware to fix double clicking issue

First, check to see if the mouse is clean. If it’s been a while since you’ve used the mouse, dirt and dust may have collected within it, creating erroneous clicks. The trackpad surface should be maintained clean as well. If you’re using a wireless mouse, make sure the batteries are charged. Weak batteries might result in anomalous mouse behavior, such as unresponsive ghost clicks.

Computer mice have a limited lifespan as well. If you’re using an old mouse, it’s likely that it’s reached the end of its useful life and is now registering erroneous clicks. Furthermore, an overused mouse will serve you for a shorter amount of time. To determine whether the issue is with your mouse rather than your Mac or its mouse settings, consider using another mouse that you know works fine. If it works on your Mac, it’s the other mouse that’s broken or has a problem.

Conclusion

That’s it for this Blog, thank you for taking the time to read our information. Please email our team if you followed the instructions or if you need more help with the questions we answered in this Blog.

Saajid Gangat

Saajid Gangat has been a researcher and content writer at Business Tech Planet since 2021. Saajid is a tech-savvy writer with expertise in web and graphic design and has extensive knowledge of Microsoft 365, Adobe, Shopify, WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and more! You can connect with Saajid on Linkedin.

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