How to fix a disappearing Mac cursor

Q: Sometimes the cursor disappears from the screen of my MacBook Air laptop. If I open and close the “lid” of the laptop, the cursor eventually reappears. Does it indicate that more serious problems are about to occur?

A: The disappearing cursor problem is common on Macs, and usually isn’t serious. But there are several potential causes, and you’ll have to figure out through trial and error which one is the source of your problem. Here are some of the common causes:

● You may not have enough RAM memory available because of the way you use the Mac. RAM (random access memory) chips temporarily store data for software that’s currently running. But you can use up your RAM storage capacity if you run too many Web browsers or other apps at the same time, or if you use two or more computer screens at once.

● An app may be interfering with the cursor. To find the culprit, “force quit” apps one at a time.

● Your Mac may have malware; run the free version of Malwarebytes (tinyurl.com/4sbj2pah).

● If you use a wireless mouse, its battery charge may be low.

● If you’ve recently installed a new operating system, you may need new Mac software drivers for a wireless mouse (see tinyurl.com/5n9426s2) or new mouse “firmware” (software for a particular device) from the manufacturer’s website.

● If you watch YouTube videos while using other apps, the video may be causing the cursor to disappear. This is by design; the cursor isn’t supposed to be visible while a video is playing.

For more on disappearing cursors and fixes, see: tinyurl.com/bdcvvfdn tinyurl.com/bde3rp7h tinyurl.com/yv7xzupn