Hello! If you are reading this article, it means that your mouse has stopped working, or it works intermittently, or some buttons (wheel) do not work. In most cases, this problem can be solved independently at home, without the need for any special skills or tools. In this article we will look at the main reasons Why doesn't the mouse work on a laptop or PC? , as well as ways to troubleshoot the problem.
Causes of mouse malfunction
No matter what model or type of mouse you have, it can fail for three main reasons:
- Software;
- Hardware;
- Doesn't work in game or app.
Although the third point can also be attributed to software reasons. I think it’s clear what software failures mean - related to incorrect installation drivers, conflict with the system etc. Hardware problems come down to mechanical breakdowns - wire break, contact closure etc.
Sometimes the mouse works on the desktop, but when entering the game the pointer does not respond to mouse movement. For example, GTA fans often encounter the problem that the mouse does not work in GTA San Andres. It turns out that this problem can be solved by simply pressing Esc several times and returning back to the game. Gamers also recommend going to the Task Manager and closing the explorer.exe process in it. If the mouse does not work in GTA in Windows 7, then in the Task Manager on the Details tab you need to find the task gta-sa.exe, right-click and uncheck all the boxes next to the processor cores, except for any one. These recommendations help in 99% of cases.
Problems with wired mice
If your mouse has a “tail” that has PS/2 connector(round plug), check whether you inserted it into the right port. Sometimes users confuse the keyboard and mouse connector. The mouse port is green. 
If the input device is connected to USB port , then problems may arise in this case too. For example, a USB mouse often does not work because Windows does not have necessary drivers. In new versions of the OS, this problem is much less common. There may be a malfunction in the USB port. To eliminate this possibility, change the connector, or connect the mouse to another computer/laptop.
If a new mouse that does not work when connected does not come with a driver disk, the necessary drivers can be easily found on the Internet.
Sometimes users wonder why the mouse stops working. Those. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. The problem most likely lies in broken cord– at a certain position, the contacts close and the mouse works; if you move a little, the contacts open and it stops working. If the mouse is cheap, it’s better not to bother and buy a new one, because... When soldering, there is a high probability that the wire will break in a new place. 
Sometimes wired the mouse lights up but doesn't work. This indicates that it is powered from the mains, because the diode is on. Perhaps the touch laser has gone wrong and needs to be corrected. Also, the problem may lie in the same contacts in the wire or in the socket. In any case, fixing this breakdown requires some experience and skill, so it is better to contact the service.
Why doesn't my wireless mouse work?
The first recommendation, of course, may seem obvious, but still... Make sure your batteries are not dead. Also check whether the sensor is lit; if not, the mouse may not be turned on (the toggle switch is usually at the bottom). And it’s very simple – you just need to click the mouse button. This helps if the mouse has become inactive due to prolonged inactivity.
Now to more serious reasons why it doesn’t work wireless mouse on the computer. One of them - signal receiving unit. Try inserting the USB receiver into a different port. Also, the failure may lie in the mouse itself - the signal is not sent for some reason.
Concerning software, then wireless mice are characterized by the same problems as wired ones. You may need to update or install new drivers.
The mouse wheel and buttons do not work
If on the mouse buttons don't work, then most likely it is a mechanical failure, although there is also a small risk of infection with the virus. The main mechanical failure is when the microphone breaks off. Mikrik is a button that clamps contacts. You can feel such a breakdown by lightly pressing the mouse button. Again, in case of such troubles, it is better to buy a new device than to try to solder or change the microphone - this work is impractical.
It happens much less often that the right or left mouse button does not work, but the cursor moves, the wheel scrolls the page in certain programs or games. Here you need to look at the input device settings.
Why Mouse wheel doesn't work? Perhaps a mechanical part has broken down - in this case it will be difficult to do something yourself. Also, the reason may lie in the lack of the necessary drivers. Look at the mouse settings in operating system, perhaps they contain the wrong functions for the wheel. 
I hope you found the cause of your electronic rodent's malfunction and were able to fix it.
Today, personal computers are found in almost every home. And where there is a computer, there is almost always a mouse and keyboard. Wired “rodents” are still more common, but more and more often we are faced with their wireless counterparts, which are ideal for use not only for laptops, but also for personal computers.
Wireless mice are mobile and convenient. If you have a laptop, then working with them is much easier. It will be indispensable for presentations, since you will be able to control the computer from a distance. But problems happen when a wireless mouse does not work. And a wired model is not always at hand. Of course, you should always have spare batteries. It’s also a good idea to stock up on two mice: wired and wireless. Let's try to figure out why it doesn't work and how to solve this problem.
Problem one. Batteries are dead
First of all, make sure that your “rodent” non-wireless mouse and keyboard requires AA batteries for power. Check them for functionality. Often even new batteries cannot provide correct work.
Problem two. The port is not working
If you have a problem with your mouse, for example, the wireless or Microsoft mouse does not work, make sure that the USB mouse is connected to the appropriate port on the computer. As a rule, wireless mouse The kit includes a small device that connects to the computer and transmits a signal. Check that the device is connected correctly and try connecting it to another USB on your computer. The USB port itself may not be working.
Problem three. The program froze
If your wireless mouse does not work, the program or the computer itself may simply have frozen. Try resynchronizing the mouse with the receiver first. Microsoft devices have a special small button at the bottom for this. Place the device next to the receiver; other wireless devices must be removed from long distance. On the signal receiver, press the button and make sure the indicator starts flashing. If the result appears on your computer monitor, then you need to follow the instructions indicated in it.
If the window does not appear, at the bottom of the mouse you need to click on the “Connection” button. If the indicator is green and not blinking, the devices have been synchronized successfully.
If this action does not help, simply restart your computer. Maybe the software was simply broken.
Problem four. Software update required
If your wireless mouse requires certain software, you may need to update it. For example, you can download software for Microsoft devices on the official website.
Problem five. The lens is dirty
If your wireless mouse still doesn't work, the lens may be dirty. To clean it, you need to do the following:
- wipe the lower part of the “rodent” with a dry cloth;
- remove dust from the lens, blow the lens with dry air several times;
- Gently wipe the lens with a cotton swab.
Problem six. The mouse is faulty
If after all the steps the wireless mouse still does not work, it is most likely faulty. You can check this on another computer. In this case, you can take the device to service center, where experts will probably tell you why the breakdown occurred, or buy a new mouse. Most often, the second method is much simpler, because you will save time, and your work on the computer will not be suspended. Moreover, wireless “rodents” do not cost much.
Avoid mouse damage
First of all, you need to figure out what the cause of the problem is: in the device itself or in the computer. To do this, connect your mouse to any other desktop or laptop. If it works, then the problem is in your PC; if not, the mouse itself is faulty.
You can do the opposite. Find and connect a known-good mouse to your computer. If it does not work, this will confirm problems with the PC.
UEFI BIOS settings screen.
Another way to make sure the manipulator is working is to check its functions outside the OS. This can be done in UEFI settings on modern computers, as well as when booting from an installation or Live CD on older ones. If everything is fine with the mouse, the problem is definitely with the OS or drivers.
It is easier to replace a faulty mouse with a new one than to repair it. The only exceptions are expensive gaming models that you can try to repair. Computer problems can be easily fixed using one of the methods below.
Check the wire
The cable is the weak point of wired mice, so it’s better to start troubleshooting there. Carefully inspect the insulation for kinks and other damage: perhaps the cable has been crushed by something or animals have chewed it.
If the mouse starts to work when the wire is moved or in a certain position, it means that the contact in the conductors is broken. There are two options here: don’t bother and just replace the manipulator with a new one, or tinker around, strip the cable cores and solder them, insulating the connection.
Photo: Public domain / Pinterest For wireless devices, the reason for the lack of communication with the receiver may be a dead battery. If this is really the case, then the problem can be easily solved by replacing it with a new and high-quality one. When using the battery, it will be enough to charge it.
The next step is logical to check the functionality of the port to which the mouse is connected. If it is, try inserting a flash drive or other device into it and make sure it works. You can also simply connect the pointing device to another port - preferably one that is on the back panel or at the very top.
Photo: Public domain / Pinterest PS/2 port for mouse on motherboard There is only one, so you can try connecting to USB using a special adapter. It also makes sense to check the contacts of the connector itself - they are shaped like pins and sometimes bend. They can be easily straightened with tweezers or a thin screwdriver.
By the way, check if the mouse is accidentally connected to the keyboard connector. The ports are not interchangeable, so nothing will work.
Reset your laptop battery
Mice failure portable devices often happens due to software glitches, which can be corrected by performing an initialization procedure. Proceed like this:
- Turn off your laptop completely and unplug it from the power adapter.
- if it is removable.
- Press and hold the power button for 30–60 seconds.
- If you removed the battery, reinstall it.
- Turn on the laptop and connect the mouse, it should work.
Change settings
Sometimes the manipulator works, but behaves strangely. For example, the cursor moves too slowly or jerkily. In this case, you should check the sensitivity settings and other mouse parameters.
Windows
- Launch "Control Panel", go to the "Hardware and Sound" section.
- Open Mouse and switch to the Pointer Options tab.
- Pay attention to the “Pointer movement speed” option. Set the average value and change it little by little. But don't overdo it: too much high speed may result in poor accuracy.
- “Enable enhanced pointer precision” - problems often arise due to this setting. Try turning it on or off and check the operation of the manipulator.
- “Display mouse pointer trail” - when this option is enabled, a long trail trails behind the cursor, which many people mistake for system slowdown. Check and disable this option.
macOS
- Open system settings.
- Go to the "Mouse" section.
- Try changing the values of all parameters. Move the sliders and evaluate the result.
Linux
- Call the main menu and open system settings.
- Go to "Mouse and Touchpad".
- Turn on the toggle switches “Acceleration is set by the user” and “Sensitivity is set by the user”.
- Experiment with changing the settings.
How to fix system problems with the mouse in Windows
Check your computer for viruses
The mouse may not work due to viruses and other malware. To make sure they are absent, you need to run full check all disks using .
To start, open the Start menu with the Win key and, moving around it using the arrows, find the right application and open it by pressing Enter. You can also launch a search using the combination Win + S and enter the name of the program. To navigate the application window, use the same arrows and the Tab key.
Use the Troubleshooting Wizard
If you have Windows, use the built-in hardware troubleshooter. It doesn't always help, but it's definitely worth a try.
1 Open the Run menu using the Win + R key combination, type control and press Enter.
2. Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to highlight the “Hardware and Sound” item and open it by pressing Enter.
3. In the same way, go to the “Devices and Printers” section.
4. Select the mouse and press the context menu key on the keyboard or the combination Shift + F10.
5. In the menu that opens, select “Troubleshooting” and follow the wizard’s prompts. After that, restart your computer and check the mouse operation.
Install or update drivers
On Windows computers, a damaged driver is another common cause of mouse problems. You can fix the problem by updating or reinstalling the appropriate software in Device Manager.
1. Using the Win + R combination, bring up the “Run” menu, enter devmgmt.msc and press Enter.
2. Using the down and up arrows on your keyboard, navigate to the “Mice and other pointing devices” section.
3. Expand the list with the right arrow, find your mouse and call context menu the corresponding key or combination Shift+ F10.
4. Select Update Drivers and wait while Windows completes this procedure.
5. If this doesn’t help, try removing the device and restarting the computer. The next time you start the system, it will detect the mouse and install the driver for it.
How to fix system problems with the mouse in macOS
To do this you need to install the driver.
Drivers for branded mouse from Apple are included in macOS, and problems never arise from them. When using third-party controllers with additional buttons, problems may occur. As a rule, basic functions work properly thanks to the standard driver, but advanced features are not available.
Troubleshooting can be done by downloading specific drivers for a specific mouse. To do this, download them from the official website of the device manufacturer and install them following the wizard’s prompts.
How to fix system problems with the mouse in Linux
As in other operating systems, input device drivers are installed automatically in Linux distributions, but sometimes glitches occur that lead to hardware problems. The most common method to solve the problem is to reinstall the drivers.
To do this, launch a terminal and run the following command:
sudo apt‑get install -reinstall xserver‑xorg‑input‑all
Restart your computer and everything should work.
How to temporarily solve a mouse problem
As a workaround, you can use the keyboard cursor control feature, which allows you to move the pointer using the keys on the number pad. To enable it, you need to do the following.
Windows
1. Open the search using the combination Win + S, enter “Center special features" and press Enter.
2. Use the Tab key to highlight Make the mouse easier to use and press Spacebar or Enter.
3. In the same way, go to the “Enable keyboard pointer control” option and highlight it.
4. Use the Tab and Enter keys to activate the Apply button and then select OK.
5. Now all the buttons on the numeric keypad are responsible for cursor navigation. Using “/” you can select the left mouse button, “–” - the right one, and “5” - click. To drag objects, use “0” and “.”, use the first key to “grab”, and the second to “release”.
To switch the number pad to normal mode, you need to press the combination of left Alt + Shift + Num Lock. Pressing again will return the cursor control function from the keyboard.
macOS
Illustration: Apple - Press Option+Command+F5.
- Use the Tab key to highlight Enable Control Keys
- Press Spacebar and Enter.
- Now, to move the mouse, use the keys 7, 8, 9, 4, 6, 1, 2, 3 on the numeric keyboard or 7, 8, 9, U, O, J, K, L on the regular one. For pressing the mouse button, “5” on the number pad or the “I” key is responsible, and for pressing and holding - “0” and “M”, respectively.
Linux
In most distributions, keyboard cursor control works out of the box and is called by the combination Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock, as in Windows, or simply Shift + NumLock. In some cases, the feature may be disabled by default. Then to activate it you need to enter the following command in the terminal:
setxkbmap -option keypad:pointerkeys
Cursor movement is carried out using buttons numeric keypad located around the “5” key. The top row switches mouse buttons, and clicks are performed with five and plus.
If the mouse is connected to the system unit via the PS/2 connector (the round socket on the rear panel, next to which there is sometimes a picture of a mouse), it cannot be connected and disconnected in a “hot” way, i.e. when the computer is turned on. A short circuit can occur, to which PS/2 ports are very sensitive.
If you see that the cursor does not move and the system does not respond to mouse keystrokes, turn off the computer using the keyboard. To open the Start menu, press Ctrl+Esc or Win. Use the Down Arrow and Enter keys to select the Shutdown command and confirm the shutdown request by pressing OK.
Disconnect the mouse wire from the port and carefully, being careful not to bend the electrode pins, connect it again - the problem may be a lack of contact. Turn on your computer. If the mouse works, it means you did everything right.
The USB ports are designed for hot plugging. However, if the mouse is connected via USB, still turn off the system unit before connecting the connector - rebooting may help.
If the problem persists, try the mouse on another computer. If the cursor moves and the keys work, the port on your system unit or there are problems with the software.
To identify the source of the trouble, alternately connect known-good mice to the computer via PS/2 and USB ports. Usually there is no need to install special drivers - standard ones are also suitable Windows utilities. If not a single device works, there is most likely a software problem.
Using the Win keys, directional arrows, Tab and Enter, from the “Start” menu, go to the “Control Panel”, activate the “System” icon, in the “Hardware” tab, click “Device Manager”, then expand the “Mouse and other pointing devices” list . Use the combination Shift+F10 to call up the context menu and select the “Delete” command, then reboot. The system, having detected a new device, will reinstall the drivers for it.
If you connected new equipment or installed new program, the reason may be a hardware conflict. Log into the system in safe mode when it boots in minimal configuration. To do this, restart your computer and press F8 after a short sound signal. In the boot mode menu, select " Safe mode" When the system asks you to continue working in this mode, answer “Yes”. If the mouse works fine, remove the new hardware and software. Boot into normal mode.
If your system has System Restore enabled, try selecting “Load Last Known Known Configuration” from the mode selection menu. The system will offer you several system restore points to download. Choose the one closest to the time when the problems started. If the attempt fails, try another date.
There is another way to enter system recovery mode. When rebooting, select the “Safe Mode” option, but answer “No” when asked by the program to continue working. You will then be prompted to select a restore point.
OS Windows has a built-in “Troubleshooter”. To launch it, go to the “Control Panel” using the keyboard and expand the “Mouse” icon. Go to the “Hardware” tab using Shift+Tab and click “Diagnostics”. To run diagnostics, use the “Next” button. To select an answer to the system questions, press Shift. Perhaps, as a result, it will be possible to find out the reason for the inoperability.
If these methods do not help, check your computer for viruses. Download free program AVZ4 and deploy it to the flash drive. Press Win+R and enter the command F:\AVZ4\avz.exe into the “Open” window, where F: is the name of the removable disk in the system. Start scanning.
If the mouse works but sporadically, click right key on the free space on the screen, select the “Properties” option and go to the “Options” tab. Click "Advanced" and select the "Diagnostics" tab. Move the Hardware Acceleration slider one notch to the left and confirm by clicking OK.
After the advent of wireless computer mice, many owners of such equipment have begun to actively use these devices, as they remove restrictions associated with the length of the power cable. However, such models have their own problems. For example, some users ask the question on the Internet: why doesn’t a wireless mouse work if it is connected to the computer correctly?
Naturally, before starting to describe the treatment method, the main “symptoms of the disease” should be identified.
Causes of wireless mouse failure
So, a person decided to install a wireless type computer on his computer, but it does not want to function. Initially, you should identify the most common symptoms of this malfunction:
- The movement of the device pointer on the screen is incorrect, completely chaotic.
- When you try to use the buttons, the laptop or computer does not respond in any way to the commands given by the user.
- The device initially functions normally, but after a certain period of time it completely stops responding to human actions.
- The system simply “does not see” the connected device.
If the wireless mouse does not work and the user has detected one of these symptoms, then it is recommended that you read the next part of the material, which will describe how to solve the problems that have arisen.
What to do: algorithm for solving the problem
So what to do? The first and most logical steps are to check the device for functionality:
- Change the battery;
- Try a different port. Sometimes it is enough to move the receiving element to a different USB port for everything to start functioning correctly;
- If possible, connect to another computer where another model of a similar device is guaranteed to function;
- Clean the lens from dirt if it lights up, but the cursor does not move across the screen during interaction.
In some situations, it happens that the wireless mouse seems to be on, but does not work. That is, it does not respond to user commands in any way. This usually happens when used simultaneously Wi-fi router. The fact is that such systems often use the same communication channel to transmit commands. This leads to a conflict, which manifests itself in the fact that the cursor does not move on the screen or the wheel simply does not work. How to fix:
- Change the computer to a model that uses Bluetooth data transfer technology. Although the same channel is used, the likelihood of equipment conflict is reduced;
- Purchase an additional cord to connect the receiving element. The further it is from the router, the less likely it is to cause interference;
- Change the channel used on the Wi-Fi router or the computer itself - according to the instructions from the manufacturers of this equipment.
The next situation is that the laser does not light up and the mouse does not respond to the user’s actions, although literally a few minutes ago everything was fine. This indicates that the RAM is turning off in automatic mode ports to save energy consumption. Correction:
- Through the control panel of the operating system, go to the power menu;
- Go to plan parameters, then to additional ones;
- Find the option responsible for recharging USB ports;
- Find the parameters for temporarily disabling these elements and set them to “Prohibited”.
Another one possible reason malfunctions - previous use of similar systems and the presence of programs installed for them, which cause a similar conflict. Naturally, they should be deactivated:
- Go to search bar through the “Start” button;
- Drive “appwiz.cpl” into it;
- In the list provided, search for all software that relates to similar wireless equipment. Properly uninstall it.
If you do not have the required software to identify the computer by the system, it is recommended to visit official resource manufacturer, download the required drivers and install them.
The last option concerns the precise determination of whether the device used is in working condition or not. It is suitable in cases where it is not possible to double-check the mouse on other PCs:
- Go to the Microsoft website and download and then install IntelliPoint software;
- Through the “Start” button, enter the menu of all programs, go to standard;
- Click on “Run” and enter “mousinfo”.
This will launch a diagnostic tool that allows you to check the functionality of the connected device.
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