4-Finger Double Tap Gesture repeats several times per second while resting 4 fingers on trackpad.

Configuration Help & General Discussion
1

Update 2:

Possibly fixed it after disabling (removed the checkmark) the "Palm / Thumb Handling" checkbox. Ive restarted multiple times and tested using live view to see if it continues to trigger double taps and it appears to have stopped trigger false double taps. Will continue to monitor.

I would have thought enabling it would prevent the issue, not the other way around.

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Update: I found a way to reproduce the issue.

I use an external Magic Trackpad with my MacBook Pro and may accidentally touch the MacBook’s built-in trackpad while using the external one.

To reproduce it:

  1. Rest four fingers on the external Magic Trackpad and keep them there.

  2. While keeping those fingers in place, touch the MacBook Pro’s built-in trackpad with your other hand.

When both trackpads are touched at once, BTT appears to switch between detecting the four-finger touch on the built-in trackpad and the external Magic Trackpad. This causes my four-finger double-tap action to trigger repeatedly.

This seems to explain the behavior I was seeing. I’m not sure whether it’s expected when both trackpads are touched or a device-detection issue, but I hope these steps help reproduce it.

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Original Post:

Hi, I’m having an issue with a custom gesture in BetterTouchTool and would appreciate some help.

I set up a four-finger double-tap to make the current window full screen. On my Magic Trackpad, the action keeps triggering rapidly when I simply rest four fingers on the surface. It also happens when I swipe up with four fingers to open Mission Control.

In the trigger’s Basic Config, Repeat action is unchecked. I tested the trackpad on a smooth, level, stable surface, but the problem continued. I don’t have this issue with my MacBook’s built-in trackpad.

Could BTT be mistaking a held touch or a four-finger swipe for repeated double taps? Is there a setting or diagnostic that could help identify the cause? Could the Magic Trackpad itself be faulty?

For now, I’ve disabled the custom gesture because the window keeps switching in and out of full screen. This has caused my MacBook Pro to crash several times.

Details:

  • macOS 27.1

  • BetterTouchTool 6.861

  • Magic Trackpad model A3120

2

I had this as well with external trackpad. I think it’s something with latency on the bluetooth. I change these settings and haven't had this issue since. Its the settings menu thats in the upper right corner.

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3

Thanks. I think the issue was my left palm touching the built in MacBook trackpad while I was using the external trackpad with my right hand. BTT or MacOS seemed to switch between the two, causing unintended gestures and false multi finger double taps.