How many unresponsive clicks does it take before you finally give up and get rid of your mouse? A malfunctioning mouse can be frustrating, but there are steps you can take to troubleshoot a broken mouse. If your mouse is not working on your laptop or desktop computer, there are simple solutions that can fix it immediately.
Your broken mouse could be caused by all sorts of reasons such as a dirty mouse lens, drained batteries, or a disconnected Bluetooth connection.
Here are some common reasons why computer mice stop working:
If your mouse isn’t working, the issue could be dirt obstructing sensitive components. Dust, hair, and other debris can build up in small crevices, blocking the sensor, wheel, or touchpad and causing unresponsiveness or erratic movements. Over time, this accumulation can interfere with clicking and reduce the mouse's sensor accuracy.
If you use an external mouse on a surface that’s too reflective, it can overwhelm the sensor. Mouse sensors detect light patterns and movement, but when they get washed out by too much input, they struggle to track mouse movements accurately. That’s why an optical mouse often requires a proper mousepad, though newer models with advanced sensors are less prone to this issue.
A loss of power to your computer mouse can occur due to drained batteries in a wireless mouse or an issue with the cable on a wired mouse. If you start experiencing delays in response time or decreased mouse functionality, you may have depleted batteries or a faulty power connection.
Incorrectly plugging in connectors and cables can lead to performance issues. This applies to some wireless mice as well if they require adapters or dongles for operation. If your wireless mouse won’t move but the battery is full, the wireless receiver might have become disconnected.
Most wireless mice connect to computers using Bluetooth, and it’s fairly common for Bluetooth-enabled devices to unpair and your headphones, mice, or keyboards to unexpectedly stop working. If you use your mouse with a tablet or a laptop too, it’s possible your mouse has simply connected to the wrong device.
If your USB mouse isn't working or has intermittent connectivity, the problem might lie with the USB port it’s connected to. Both wired and wireless mice (when using a receiver) can be impacted by faulty or loose USB ports, which can deteriorate over time due to dust accumulation or wear and tear, leading to unrecognized or inconsistent connections.
If the USB receiver device connecting your mouse to your computer is damaged, loose, or obstructed, it can cause your wireless mouse to malfunction. Alternatively, you may be using an incompatible receiver intended for a different device.
If your mouse isn’t responding as expected when you try and move it, the sensitivity settings might be too low. Sensitivity determines how much the cursor moves in response to your hand movements. With higher sensitivity, the cursor travels farther with smaller movements.
Low sensitivity is common with ultra-low dots per inch (DPI) mice and trackball mice typically used by gamers using a custom PC or other unique setup. A lower DPI results in a slower, more precise cursor that requires more physical movement to cover the same distance.
When a computer mouse stops working, it could be due to an outdated driver. Computer drivers act as intermediaries between device software and hardware components such as sound speakers, USB ports, and printers. If drivers are incompatible, outdated, or corrupted, they can cause your wired mouse or USB receiver to malfunction.
Compatibility issues may also arise if you’re running an operating system that’s too old for your mouse. For instance, you might have a mouse designed for Windows 11 that doesn’t work on Windows 10. Unsupported operating systems, like Windows 7, are also more susceptible to bugs, glitches, and malware — all of which can impact mouse performance.
A touchpad or trackpad on laptops serves as a tactile sensor device, acting as a mouse for laptops. Sometimes, the touchpad gets accidentally turned off — perhaps by unintentionally pressing the corresponding function (fn) key or shortcut combination on your keyboard.
To fix a broken mouse, perform hardware checks, confirm power and connectivity, update software and drivers, adjust settings and configuration, and reset your Bluetooth and mouse.
Here’s a detailed list showing how to fix the various reasons your mouse may not be working:
You should regularly clean your computer and peripheral devices, including your mouse, especially if you use them daily — aim for a monthly clean. Use a soft, dry cloth or a cotton swab to gently remove any debris from the surface and crevices.
NB: Never use household cleaning liquids, as they can damage sensitive components.
Make sure you’re using your mouse on the right kind of surface. Materials like glass, certain types of wood, steel, and uneven or textured surfaces can interfere with your mouse’s functionality. For optimal performance, choose a smooth, solid-colored surface, or use a mouse pad.
Wireless mice rely on an internal power source and either require charging or batteries. If your mouse uses a charging cable to connect to your device or power source, check that the cable isn’t broken and charge your mouse. For optimal performance, avoid overcharging by disconnecting the cable once fully charged.
Other wireless mice use disposable batteries, rather than rechargeable ones. You can often fix an unresponsive wireless mouse just by replacing the batteries. Many wireless mice operate with AAA batteries but check your mouse to be sure.
Another simple solution is changing your mouse’s connection from one USB port to another. USB ports can fail over time, so your USB may not recognize a mouse even if it’s plugged in. This is often the result of outdated device drivers . If your USB mouse is not working or cutting in and out, plug it into a different USB port.
Unfortunately, some laptops only have one USB port. If your USB mouse isn’t working on a laptop like this, you may need to get an adapter or a dongle that plugs into a different port to enable you to connect a USB mouse.
If you have multiple receivers, identify the correct receiver for your mouse by checking the underside of the mouse battery plate for the manufacturer’s logo. The receiver should have the same logo, indicating compatibility.
You can also troubleshoot an unresponsive wireless mouse by disconnecting it from other devices it has previously been paired with. Then, reset your Bluetooth settings. The method varies depending on your computer's operating system.
On Windows
On Mac
If your mouse still doesn’t appear in the Bluetooth menu, flip your mouse over. There should be a button on the mouse to enable pairing, or to turn it off and on. Do this and it should appear on your computer under Bluetooth now.
You may be able to revive your mouse or fix an inactive USB port by updating your drivers. This ensures that the hardware is compatible with the latest software updates and can also fix bugs that cause devices to malfunction.
Here’s how you can do it manually on Mac and Windows:
On Windows
To manually update drivers on Windows:
On Mac
On a Mac, you can install the latest drivers for external devices like your mouse by updating your macOS — the operating system will take care of any updates for you.
Here’s how to update your macOS:
Outdated system software can cause compatibility issues. This may cause updated hardware (such as your mouse) to suddenly become incompatible with your computer or laptop. For example, if your Windows 10 mouse randomly stops working, it’s probably because you need to update the operating system.
An outdated system can be affected by bugs and glitches, some of which may affect mouse performance. Updating your system will fix known bugs that could be the cause of your Windows mouse not working. If you have automatic updates turned on, your computer will update when you reboot it. That’s why it’s a good idea to shut down your computer from time to time.
There are a couple of ways to reset a computer mouse. For a wireless mouse, simply turn it off and on using the power button or slider. Alternatively, unplug its receiver, then hold down the left and right mouse buttons while plugging it back in. Release the buttons after about five seconds.
Some mice have a reset button underneath — hold it for at least five seconds with the mouse unplugged. You may need a pin to press the reset button.
You can also reset your mouse using your Windows PC’s Device Manager settings:
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