How can I set the mouse position?

Question

I need to set the position of the mouse on the screen. In some other similar question, it was suggested to use CGDisplayMoveCursorToPoint(CGDirectDisplayID display, CGPoint point), but I cannot figure out how to get the CGDirectDisplayID. Please tell me how to get the CGDirectDisplayID or a different method to set the mouse position.

Intercom

Answer 1

The real answer to this question is:

CGMainDisplayID()

https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/GraphicsImaging/Reference/Quartz_Services_Ref/index.html#//apple_ref/c/func/CGMainDisplayID

CGDisplayMoveCursorToPoint(CGMainDisplayID(), point);

Rue

This worked for me. I also tried some of the swift solutions after converting them to the new syntax, but they no longer seem to work. – Foretime

What's the difference between CGMainDisplayID() and kCGDirectMainDisplay? – Abuzz

That’s the best solution, even for Swift developer. Thank you! – Street

Surely that's "the real answer" only as soon as you can rid the world of second monitors? – Immure

Answer 2

Try CGWarpMouseCursorPosition(). It doesn't require a display ID.

If you want a display ID, you can pick an element, using whatever criteria you like, from the array returned by [NSScreen screens]. Invoke -deviceDescription on that NSScreen object. From the dictionary that's returned, invoke -objectForKey: with the key @"NSScreenNumber".

Rubenrubens

Answer 3

Here's a way to do it:

// coordinate at (10,10) on the screen
CGPoint pt;
pt.x = 10;
pt.y = 10;

CGEventRef moveEvent = CGEventCreateMouseEvent(
    NULL,               // NULL to create a new event
    kCGEventMouseMoved, // what type of event (move)
    pt,                 // screen coordinate for the event
    kCGMouseButtonLeft  // irrelevant for a move event
);

// post the event and cleanup
CGEventPost(kCGSessionEventTap, moveEvent);
CFRelease(moveEvent);

This will move the cursor to point (10,10) on screen (the upper left, next to the Apple menu).

Subchaser

Does not work. For some reason, it sets the x of the mouse correctly, but if I try to change the Y, it flickers between the top and bottom of the screen. Even if I use the current position of the mouse. – Intercom

I just tried it with a variety of x and y values, and it moved to each of them. Are you posting any other events, or modifying this one, in some other fashion before posting it? – Subchaser

Answer 4

Here's a Swift version, just for kicks:

let pt = CGPoint(x: 100, y: 10)
let moveEvent = CGEventCreateMouseEvent(nil, .MouseMoved, pt, .Left)
CGEventPost(.CGSessionEventTap, moveEvent);

Byrann

Answer 5

Swift 3 (and beyond) version of the answer that helped me:

let pt = CGPoint(x: 100, y: 10)

let moveEvent = CGEvent(mouseEventSource: nil, mouseType: .mouseMoved, 
mouseCursorPosition: pt, mouseButton: .left)

moveEvent?.post(tap: .cgSessionEventTap)

Jook

still valid in Swift 5 – Actuality