Why Isn't My Mouse Working?

A mouse that won't move the cursor, isn't detected at all, or has buttons that do nothing is usually one of a few things. Work through these in order.

1. Wrong surface for the sensor

Optical and laser mice track by reading the surface underneath them — glass, mirrored, or high-gloss desks give the sensor nothing consistent to lock onto, so the cursor jitters or doesn't move at all. Put a sheet of paper or a mousepad under it before assuming the mouse itself is broken.

2. Check the connection

For wired mice, try a different USB port — some ports lose power under load, and a hub can be the culprit. For wireless, re-pair the Bluetooth connection or unplug and replug the USB dongle, and swap the battery even if the indicator says it's fine. A mouse that's detected by the OS but does nothing is almost always a connection or battery issue, not a dead sensor.

3. Pointer settings changed by accident

A cursor that moves but feels wrong — too slow, too fast, jumping unpredictably — is often a settings change, not hardware. On Windows, check Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse and the "Enhance pointer precision" option under additional mouse settings. On Mac, check System Settings → Mouse for tracking speed. Third-party mouse software (Logitech Options, Razer Synapse) can also silently apply a bad profile — try uninstalling it temporarily.

4. Debris under buttons or the scroll wheel

A button that doesn't register every press, or a scroll wheel that skips, is often dust or crumbs around the switch rather than a worn part. Compressed air around the button edges and under the scroll wheel clears most of it without opening the shell.

5. Stuck DPI setting or a corrupted onboard profile

Gaming mice with onboard memory can end up with a corrupted profile after a firmware hiccup, making the cursor move at the wrong speed or ignore certain buttons. Resetting to factory defaults through the manufacturer's software (or holding the DPI button combo listed in its manual) usually clears it.