For those who spend hours a day at a laptop or PC, you will benefit from a mouse that's super-comfortable to use, plus fast and responsive. Some also have other helpful features (the type that'll have you wondering how you lived without them, like programmable buttons).
There may be several issues that cause the mouse not to work properly with Microsoft Windows. This page contains solutions that may help.
TipYou can use your keyboard to navigate in Windows or connect a different mouse that does work to access areas of Windows mentioned on this page. For help navigating using a keyboard, see: How to navigate Windows using a keyboard.
NoteIf you're having trouble with a touchpad mouse on a laptop, see: Why is my laptop mouse touchpad not working?
When a computer freezes, the first sign is usually that the mouse has stopped responding. If your mouse pointer has suddenly stopped responding, follow these steps to determine if your computer is completely frozen.
Make sure the computer is not frozen by pressing the Num Lock key on the keyboard. When Num Lock is pressed repeatedly, the Num Lock indicator LED on your keyboard should turn on and off. If this indicator does not change, your computer is frozen; meaning all hardware on the computer (including the mouse) will not work. Reboot the computer to resolve this issue. If you don't have an indicator light, proceed to the next part of this section.
If your keyboard does not include the LED described in the previous section, anywhere in Windows, press the Ctrl+Alt+Del keys at the same time. This action should bring up a blue Windows options screen. You may leave this menu by pressing the Esc. If you are not taken to the blue screen within a few seconds, your computer is frozen. Reboot your machine to resolve this issue.
If any new hardware was recently installed on the computer, remove it to help verify the new hardware is not causing a conflict with your existing mouse.
Follow these steps to verify the mouse is connected correctly to the computer.
If you are using a USB mouse, disconnect the mouse cable and reconnect to a different USB port. If the mouse connects to a USB hub, try connecting the mouse to a USB port on the back of the computer.
With a PS/2 mouse, check the back of the computer to verify that it's plugged into the PS/2 mouse port and not the PS/2 keyboard. If the mouse has worked properly in the past (i.e., not a new mouse), shut down the computer and disconnect and reconnect the mouse.
A PS/2 mouse should not be disconnected and reconnected while a computer is turned on.
TipIf the computer's keyboard works, shut down Windows properly by pressing the Windows key, and then using the arrow keys and Tab to select shut down.
Boot into Windows Safe Mode. If the mouse is working in Safe Mode, there is likely a driver or software conflict. To fix this problem, follow the steps below.
Check if a driver is installed for the mouse. You can check in the Device Manager for this. While Windows may have a standard or default driver for the mouse, installing a driver for your specific mouse may fix the issue. Check our mouse manufacturers list for links to many mouse manufacturer websites to download a driver for the mouse.
If a driver is installed for the mouse, we recommend you check for an update released since the installation of the driver. Updating the driver may fix issues with a non-functioning mouse.
Motherboard and computer manufacturers update hardware drivers periodically, including USB port drivers. USB mouse detection and functionality issues may be a result of outdated USB port drivers.
Updated USB port drivers can fix mouse detection and functionality issues. Check our computer manufacturers list and motherboard companies list for links to manufacturer websites. You can visit the website of your mouse manufacturer to check for updated USB port drivers. If updated drivers are available, download and install the new drivers. Restart your computer and test the mouse to see if the updated drivers fix the issue.
If your USB mouse does not work on the computer, the USB port drivers may be corrupt. Two options for trying to fix corrupt drivers are to restore Windows to a previous point when the USB mouse did work, or uninstall and reinstall the USB port drivers.
If your USB mouse worked previously, activate a Windows restore point to a date when the mouse worked on your computer.
USB port drivers can get corrupted, causing a USB mouse not to work. Follow the steps below to uninstall and reinstall the USB port drivers.
You need to navigate Windows using your keyboard, for help navigating using the keyboard, see: How to navigate Windows using a keyboard.
If the above solutions do not resolve the issue, there is a possibility of corrupt system files in the operating system. You may need to run an operating system repair using the system installation disc.
If you have a Windows restore point saved from when the mouse was working, restore your system to that state.
These hardware issues may also apply to you.
If the previous solutions did not solve the problem, try another mouse. If that mouse works, try the mouse that is not working with another computer. If multiple mice do not work, the problem is with the mouse port. If you're using the PS/2 or USB port on the back of the computer, the motherboard may be bad and needs to be replaced.
If the mouse doesn't work with any computer or the mouse wire is partially cut or frayed, the mouse needs to be replaced. It's cheaper to buy a new mouse than to try fixing a bad mouse.