why is computer mouse not working

A computer mouse is one of the most important computer hardware. Its functions are so important that working without it is next to impossible. However, mouse fails from time to time. This can be devastating. So why is computer mouse not working? It could be due to many problems such as an external mouse, hardware problems, driver problem

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Why is my wired mouse not working

There are several reasons why your wired mouse could not be working. Here are some of the reasons.

Computer frozen

It is usually the case that the mouse no longer responds to the monitor when a computer freezes. You can determine if your computer is freezing if your mouse pointer stops moving by following these steps.

The Mouse is dying

It may be hard to believe by electronic device fails at some point or another. It is known that mouse tend to die after a prolonged use. A mouse can last up to 5 years. However, how long mouse last depends on how it is used.

Using the Num Lock key

Press the Num Lock key on the keyboard to ensure the computer is not frozen. You should see the Num Lock indicator light on your keyboard turn on and off repeatedly when you press Num Lock. A computer that does not change this indicator is frozen, which means all hardware (including the mouse) will not function. Restart your computer. The next part of this section will explain how to install an indicator light if yours does not.

Num Lock indicator doesn’t work on the keyboard

You can press Ctrl+Alt+Del anywhere in Windows if your keyboard doesn’t have the LED discussed in the previous section. Pressing this key combination will open Windows’ options screen. By pressing the Esc key, you can leave this menu. Your computer is frozen if the blue screen does not appear within a few seconds. Restart your computer to fix the problem.

Hardware conflict

It’s a good idea to remove any new hardware that has been installed recently on your computer to ensure it doesn’t cause conflict with your mouse.

The mouse is not connected correctly

For a mouse to work well, it has to be connected to the PC either through a dongle or usb cable. Disconnect the mouse cable from the USB port and plug it into a new USB port if you’re using a USB or cordless mouse. Connect the mouse to a USB port on the back of the computer if it is connected to a USB hub. Read more on Best Lightweight Mouse

Software or driver conflict

Enter Safe Mode in Windows. Generally, if the mouse does not work in Safe Mode, it is most likely a software or driver conflict. You can fix this problem by following these steps.

Device Manager should now be open.

By clicking the + symbol in Device Manager, you can expand the mouse (mice) option.

Then press the Del key on your keyboard to remove all mice listed.

Mouse driver outdated or missing

Install the mouse driver if necessary. Device Manager can help you with this. Although Windows may already have a standard or default driver for mice, you may need to install a driver-specific to your mouse.

Outdated USB driver

Hardware drivers, including USB drivers, are regularly updated by motherboard and computer manufacturers. It is possible that outdated USB port drivers cause issues with USB mouse detection and functionality.

Upon updating USB port drivers, your mouse functionality and detection issues can be resolved. Visit the websites of the computer manufacturers and motherboard manufacturers l for more help. It is possible to download updated USB port drivers from the mouse manufacturer’s website. The updated drivers should be downloaded and installed. Ensure that the updated drivers have fixed the problem by restarting your computer and testing your mouse.

Other USB driver issues

Having problems with your USB mouse on the computer may be caused by corrupt USB ports drivers. Several ways can be attempted to fix corrupt drivers, including restoring Windows to a previous point when the USB mouse worked or uninstalling and reinstalling the USB port drivers. Read more on Best Trackball Mouse

Bad port

Trying a different mouse may solve the problem if previous solutions failed. The mouse that doesn’t work on one computer can be tried on a computer that works. The mouse port may be the problem when multiple mice do not work. The motherboard may need to be replaced if you’re using the PS/2 or USB port.

Bad mouse

Mouse replacement is necessary if the mouse can no longer communicate with any computer or the wire has been partially cut or frayed. If you have a bad mouse, it is cheaper to buy a new one than to try and repair it.

How to Fix a PC or Laptop Mouse That’s Not Working

It is important to troubleshoot the mouse problem since there are a number of reasons why it may not be working properly. Listed here are steps arranged from easiest to most challenging, based on the most common and most intensive.

Make sure your mouse is not damaged.

The case of the device may be cracked, have a missing ball, have sticky or silent finger switches, or have an optical sensor that does not glow.

Due to the low cost of most mice, it is usually better to replace rather than repair them if there is hardware damage.

Remove the mouse and clean it.

If jerking movements or a lack of responsiveness are occurring, try cleaning your mouse. If you have a wireless mouse, you can use a rollerball to clean it.

Be sure that nothing on the bottom of the mouse covers the laser as you clean it. A paper or tape obstructing the laser will prevent the mouse/cursor from moving.

You need to replace the batteries.

It would be a good idea to replace the batteries, especially if you are still using the ones that came with the device. In addition, ensure the batteries are installed properly.

In the same vein, the mouse needs to be plugged into its charger for 30 minutes to ensure that it has enough battery power to connect.

A mouse with a USB port and non-rechargeable batteries can suddenly fail without warning if the charge level is too low.

If you are having problems with a USB port, try another one.

Try unplugging your mouse or receiver and finding another USB slot if the one you’re using is malfunctioning. Before jumping to another step, make sure you have tried all of the ports on your desktop computer. You might also find that the plug has partially come out of the socket.

Your mouse should be connected directly to the USB port.

There may be a problem with the multi-card reader or the external USB hub instead of the mouse or USB port if you use either of those devices.

Check if the problem disappears by connecting the mouse directly to the computer.

Choose an appropriate surface for using the mouse.

(Almost) all mice are suitable for most surfaces. However, some are not. Examine your device’s capabilities before you buy it-you may need a mouse pad if you have an older mouse. On surfaces with shiny or very dark or very light colors, for example, some optical mice are unable to track movement.

Update your driver.

You can check the manufacturer’s website or use driver-updater tools to locate the most recent driver updates. Try searching for and downloading any driver you need from the manufacturer’s website if your mouse doesn’t do something that it promises to do (side-to-side scrolling, for example). You can download these files for free.

Reconnect a Bluetooth mouse and release it.

It can be annoying to lose the pairing status of a Bluetooth device or have it forgotten if the PC is paired with another Bluetooth mouse.

A trackpad integrated into the keyboard can be disabled.

Your operating system’s settings utility can help you disable your laptop’s internal trackpad if it is supported. There may be conflicts between an internal trackpad and an external mouse.

Touchpad mouse not working

Do you have a problem with the touchpad on your laptop? You can restore your mouse’s functionality in no time by following these touchpad troubleshooting tips.

Do You Have a Frozen Computer?

It sounds silly, but you should double-check. Your computer could lock up if the touchpad stops working for no apparent reason. If that’s the case, neither the keyboard nor the touchpad will function.

You can open the Security screen by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete while holding down the Windows key. If you have a Mac, you can open Spotlight by pressing Cmd + Space. Spotlight is an easy way to check if your keyboard is working.

Remove Any External Mice

Next, unplug any USB mice you have connected to your laptop that you are using to troubleshoot a touchpad that’s not working. If you are using a Bluetooth mouse, you should also disconnect it.

In some laptops (as well as Windows and macOS) you can connect an external mouse and the touchpad will be disabled automatically. The touchpad may not be working because of this. It is best to shut down your computer and unplug all connected devices and accessories before testing this.

Review Mouse Settings in Windows

In case something went wrong inside Windows, you should next check the mouse settings.

In the Settings menu, choose Devices > Touchpad.

You need to enable the Touchpad slider here. Make sure your input works as expected by checking the other touchpad options while you’re here.

Windows 10 Touchpad Settings: why is computer mouse not working

It’s possible that you can find touchpad-specific settings elsewhere if this menu doesn’t solve your problem. The additional mouse options link can be found in Settings > Devices > Mouse. The Settings window can be dragged horizontally to appear if you don’t see it.

Dig Into the Device Manager

Unless your laptop mouse pad still does not work, you will have to go through some deeper troubleshooting steps. Select Device Manager from the Power User menu by pressing Win + X or by right-clicking the Start button.

You can expand this category here. In case you have connected another mouse than your touchpad, you will see multiple entries here. You can find out what it is (on the General tab) by double-clicking it and looking at its Location. This means that your touchpad is not a USB input device.

Device Manager Manage Mice

You can disable your mouse by right-clicking it, and then enable it again after you’ve found it. Then, right-click on the entry and choose Update driver. Then, select Automatically search for updated drivers. Sometimes a new driver helps fix the issue, though it’s unlikely.

There will be yellow exclamation points or red X’s next to any devices that have this problem. For more information, see Installing Windows drivers.