TextEdit table cells cannot be resized by dragging

Since you have  reproduced this on two Macs running macOS 27.1, with no third-party software installed, and confirmed that resizing works correctly on an older Mac running Monterey, I would suspect a possible TextEdit/macOS regression rather than a hardware problem.

I would first test with a new document. In TextEdit, choose Format > Make Rich Text, then select Format > Table to insert a simple table. Try dragging a row or column border to see whether the problem also occurs in a new document.

Apple’s TextEdit User Guide explains how to work with tables. When resizing, position the pointer over a cell border and drag when the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow. If dragging fails, check whether you can change the row and column settings through Format > Table. If the menu controls work but dragging does not, that would be useful evidence that the problem is specific to the dragging operation.

If you have not already done so, you could also try starting your Mac in Safe Mode to help rule out certain software-related causes. However, given that you’ve already reproduced the problem on two Macs without third-party software, I wouldn’t spend too much time pursuing this possibility.

I’d also check System Settings > General > Software Update to see whether a newer macOS version is available. I wouldn’t recommend reinstalling macOS or erasing either Mac at this stage.

If the problem persists, I’d report it to Apple through its macOS feedback page. Include your MacBook Pro model (M1, 2020), the exact macOS version and build, the steps needed to reproduce the issue, and the fact that resizing works correctly on Monterey but fails on two newer installations. A short screen recording showing the unsuccessful drag would also be helpful.

I haven’t found an Apple-published fix specifically addressing this issue, so it would be premature to say that a confirmed bug has been identified. Nevertheless, your comparison across three Macs and two macOS generations provides a good basis for reporting a possible regression to Apple.

One detail that might help narrow down the cause: when you position the pointer over a table border, does it change to a double-headed arrow but dragging has no effect, or does the pointer never change at all?

The current released version of macOS is 27.0.1 and anything newer is still in macOS beta. If the latter is true, and you are running beta software, then tables in TextEdit that lack resizing, may be fixed once the next version of macOS is released. We also cannot provide support here for beta releases of macOS.

In macOS 27.0.1, I can state that the grip adjustments that should work to resize table cells in TextEdit do apppear, but are inoperable. No one here can fix that and you should send direct feedback to the macOS Product team as a bug report about TextEdit.

In the interim, use another free product (e.g. Pages) that offers resizable table cells.

What you have presented is reproducible on a M6 Mac Mini operating macOS 27.0.1

Use the  Product Feedback - and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue

Thanks for the reply OWL-53.

I should have mentioned that the mouse pointer does change to the 2-sided arrows when hovered above the cell borders, but it fails to work, when either click-hold or 3-finger drag (in my settings) are used. This is where it is failing.

Did you try it on your own Mac? (Only takes ~30secs to see if it works).

. Ich habe heute mit Apple Support telefoniert und die hörte das erste mal davon(Deutschland)

Die wollte das nachdem wir vieles probiert haben mit den Leuten der IT besprechen.

I spoke with Apple Support today, and they had never heard of this issue before (in Germany).
After we had tried various things, the representative said they would discuss it with their IT team.

Thanks for verifying OWL-53.

(I also note that I made an error with macOS version. It should be 27.0.1 as you mention. I'm too late for editing my first post)

You are very welcome

🦉-53

I made a typo on macOS version, as I mention further down. (I noticed too late to edit). I'm using 27.0.1.