A mouse not working can look like a frozen pointer, a pointer that jumps, clicks that do nothing, or a wheel that will not scroll. It affects USB mice, wireless ones with a small dongle, and Bluetooth mice on a laptop or a desktop PC.
Because a mouse is a simple device, the fix is almost always in the port, the battery, the pairing, the surface or a Windows setting. Work down the steps below. You can control Windows with the keyboard while you work, and the page shows which keys to use. If the pad on your laptop is the thing that stopped, jump to touchpad not working.
Common causes
1Dead or weak battery in a wireless mouse
How to tellPointer lags, jumps, or stops after a while, and the light is dim or off
What fixes itFit a fresh battery and check the contacts for dirt
2Faulty USB port or loose cable
How to tellLight on the mouse flickers; another device in the same port also drops out
What fixes itTry a different port directly on the laptop, not through a hub
3Wireless pairing lost
How to tellLight is on but the pointer does not move after a restart or a battery change
What fixes itRe-plug the dongle, or remove and add the Bluetooth mouse again
4Dirty or unsuitable surface
How to tellPointer skips on glass, glossy tables or a dusty mouse pad
What fixes itUse a plain mouse pad and clean the sensor window with a dry cloth
5Driver or Windows setting issue
How to tellWorks in the BIOS or on another computer but not in Windows
What fixes itRemove the mouse entry in Device Manager, restart, then check Mouse settings
6Worn button switch or broken cable
How to tellLeft click double-clicks or fails to press; wiggling the cable brings it back
What fixes itReplace the mouse; a basic one is cheap compared with repair time
How to fix it, step by step
Try the mouse in another USB port
Unplug it and plug it into a different port on the laptop or at the back of the PC. Avoid shared hubs and front panel ports for the test. If the light under the mouse stays off, the port or the cable is the problem.
Test the mouse on another computer
This answers the main question in one minute. If it fails there too, the mouse is faulty. If it works, your computer or its settings are the cause and you can skip the replacement.
Replace the battery and re-seat the dongle
For a wireless mouse, switch it off and on, put in a new battery and check the contacts. Plug the small receiver straight into a port near the mouse, since a port at the back of a desktop can be too far away.
Re-pair a Bluetooth mouse
Open Settings, then Bluetooth and devices, remove the mouse, then hold its pairing button until the light blinks and add it again. If pairing keeps failing, read Bluetooth not working.
Move around Windows with the keyboard
Press the Windows key to open search, Tab to move between items and Enter to press. To open Device Manager, press Windows key + X, then M.
Reinstall the mouse driver
In Device Manager open "Mice and other pointing devices", select the mouse with the arrow keys, press Shift + F10 and choose Uninstall device. Unplug the mouse, restart, and plug it in again. Windows reinstalls a basic driver.
Check the mouse settings and button swap
Under Bluetooth and devices in Settings, open Mouse and make sure the primary button is the one you expect and the pointer speed is not set to the lowest. Set the sensitivity to a normal middle level.
Check power saving for USB
In Device Manager, open the USB Root Hub entries, open Properties, then Power Management, and untick the box that lets Windows turn off the device to save power. This stops a mouse from going to sleep and not waking up.
Mouse not working only in some cases
| What you see | Look at |
|---|---|
| Left click not working but right click is fine | Worn switch, or buttons swapped in settings |
| Right click not working | Switch fault, or the mouse set to a different button mode |
| Middle button does nothing | Wheel switch worn; the button is not needed for basic use |
| Pointer jumps and lags | Battery, surface or interference from other wireless devices |
| Wheel will not scroll | Dirty wheel; see mouse scroll not working |
Wireless mouse not working properly
Wireless mice use a receiver and a small radio, so metal desks, a crowded USB hub or a Wi-Fi router very close by can add noise. Move the receiver to a front port or use a short USB extension. Keep the mouse within a metre or two at first. If the mouse works for a minute and then stops, the battery is the first suspect. Rechargeable models should be fully charged with the cable the maker supplies.
Your wireless mouse stops each time you stand up and sit down. The receiver is in a back port behind the PC. You move it to the front and the problem goes.
Games and special programs
Some older games read the mouse in a different way, so the pointer may be missing or the mouse may act like it is stuck at the screen edge. Try running the game in windowed mode, turning off pointer enhancement in the game options, and restarting it. If the mouse works everywhere else, the fault is the game, not the mouse.
When it is time to change the mouse
A basic mouse costs little against the time you lose to a failing one. Replace it if the cable is broken near the plug, the switch gives double clicks, or it fails on a second computer. A good habit is to keep a spare cheap wired mouse in the bag. For related laptop problems see laptop not working and the keyboard guide at laptop keyboard not working.
Never open a mouse that is plugged in to charge. Unplug it first, and do not try to repair rechargeable cells.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my mouse not working but the keyboard is?
The USB port, the battery or the pairing is the likely cause, because the keyboard is on a different path. Try another port and test the mouse on another computer.
How do I fix a wireless mouse that is not working?
Change the battery, move the receiver to a nearby port, switch the mouse off and on, and re-pair it if it uses Bluetooth. Also test on a non-glossy surface.
Why does my mouse left click not work?
The switch under the button is probably worn, especially after heavy use. Check that the buttons are not swapped in settings. If it still fails, replace the mouse.
Can a USB mouse stop working because of a driver?
Sometimes. Uninstall it in Device Manager, restart and plug it in again so Windows sets it up again.
Why does the mouse not work in Windows after sleep?
Power saving may be switching off the USB port. Turn off that option in the USB Root Hub power settings in Device Manager.