Interactive fix flowchart
Mouse not working
Fix a mouse that is not moving, wireless mouse problems, Bluetooth mouse pairing, USB mouse issues, laptop touchpad problems, cursor lag, scroll wheel problems, and mouse clicks not working.
All fixes in this guide
Fix: Mouse not moving
A mouse that does not move usually has a power, battery, USB receiver, Bluetooth, sensor, surface, or driver problem.
Fix: Wireless mouse not working
A wireless mouse with a USB receiver usually stops working because of low battery, a loose receiver, USB port problems, interference, wrong mode, or lost pairing.
Fix: Bluetooth mouse not working
A Bluetooth mouse usually fails because the battery is low, it is not in pairing mode, it is connected to another device, Bluetooth is stuck, or the saved pairing is corrupted.
Fix: USB mouse not working
A USB mouse usually stops working because of a loose cable, bad USB port, USB hub problem, dirty sensor, stuck driver, or mouse hardware failure.
Fix: Laptop touchpad not working
A laptop touchpad can stop working because it is disabled by a keyboard shortcut, turned off in settings, disabled when a mouse is connected, missing a driver, or physically failing.
Fix: Mouse cursor lagging, jumping, or freezing
Cursor lag, jumping, or freezing is usually caused by low battery, wireless interference, dirty sensor, bad surface, high CPU usage, USB issues, or Bluetooth problems.
Fix: Mouse click not working
Mouse clicks fail because of low battery, dirt under the button, software focus issues, swapped buttons, driver problems, or a worn-out mouse switch.
Fix: Mouse double-clicking by itself
A mouse that double-clicks by itself is usually caused by a worn mouse switch, too-fast double-click settings, low battery, dirt, or mouse software settings.
Fix: Mouse scroll wheel not working
A scroll wheel can stop working because of dirt, app focus problems, mouse settings, low battery, custom mouse software, or a worn scroll encoder.
FAQ
Why is my mouse not working?
The most common causes are low battery, a loose USB receiver, Bluetooth pairing problems, a bad USB port, dirty sensor, wrong mouse mode, disabled touchpad, driver issues, or the mouse itself failing.
What should I try first when my mouse stops working?
Check power and batteries, reconnect the USB receiver or cable, try another USB port, restart the computer, and test the mouse on another device if possible.
Why is my wireless mouse not moving?
A wireless mouse may not move because the battery is low, the USB receiver is loose, the mouse is switched off, it is too far from the receiver, or it lost pairing.
Can a dirty mouse sensor stop the cursor moving?
Yes. Dust, hair, shiny surfaces, glass desks, or dirt on the sensor can make the cursor stop, jump, or move badly.