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Your mouse is probably not a device you give too much thought—until it becomes a useless brick on your desk. If yours can't connect to your PC or only works intermittently, it's a problem. Do you need to get a new one? Not necessarily. While swapping in a cheap wireless mouse is an easy fix, there are a few things to try before you shell out for a new ergonomic or gaming mouse.
1. Check on the Power Source
Like any other peripheral, a mouse needs power. If your wireless mouse isn't working, first make sure it's actually turned on—wireless mice usually include a power switch on the bottom. If it's on, many mice have onboard indicator lights, so check if there's a red or yellow light somewhere. If it's just out of juice, open up the battery bay and swap in some fresh batteries. Otherwise, you'll need to plug it into a power source—look for the charging indicator light to come on.
(Credit: Tom Brant)2. Make Sure You're Plugged In
Many wireless mice require a dongle to work. These 2.4G mice come with a small receiver that plugs into a USB port and communicates with the device. They're typically small enough to be stored within the battery bay on the mouse itself, so open that up and see if a small connector is hidden within. If you find one, pull it out and plug it into the computer. Switch on the mouse and it should connect. If you've lost this dongle, many mice can also connect via Bluetooth.
If you have a wired mouse, make sure it's plugged into a USB port. If it is, ensure the plug is in all the way. If that doesn't fix the problem, try carefully jiggling the plug in the port; if the mouse can only make a temporary connection, you may have a hardware issue.
(Credit: Mike Epstein)3. Connect to Bluetooth
It's possible that your mouse is working fine but has yet to be paired with the computer—or it was paired and has since been unpaired. If your mouse doesn't connect via a dongle, you'll have to do it manually through the Bluetooth menu. Look for a Bluetooth-pairing button on the mouse; sometimes it doubles as the power button or can even be on the dongle. Hold down the button and keep the mouse close to the computer to begin the pairing process.
If you're on a PC, Microsoft's Swift Pair feature should surface a notification about your device; click Connect to pair. Otherwise, you can manually connect the mouse. In Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices > Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth and select your mouse. For Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Add device > Bluetooth. Got a Mac? Open System Settings > Bluetooth. Click Connect next to the device to pair it.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)PCMag's Top-Rated Computer Mice
4. Rule Out the USB Port
If your mouse is plugged in and it's still not working, you may want to rule out the USB port itself. Plug your mouse into a different USB port or computer and see if it works. You can also try plugging a different device into that same port. Just because the USB port isn't working, doesn't mean you need to visit the repair shop immediately. Try cleaning out any debris inside the port or update your drivers from the Device Manager menu. For more on fixing your USB port, see our guide.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)5. Update Drivers
Your mouse communicates with your computer through a small piece of software known as a driver. Usually, they hum along in the background, but things can go awry at times. To fix the issue in Windows, you may need to update or uninstall and re-download the driver.
Right-click on the Start menu and choose Device Manager. Scroll down to Mice and other pointing devices and unfurl the down arrow. Right-click the appropriate device and click Update driver to pull in any updates. Or click Uninstall device to remove the driver, then restart your PC and Windows will automatically pull the right driver to hopefully solve the problem. It's possible you also need to download a driver directly from your manufacturer's website.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)6. Try a Mousepad
Does the cursor jump around on the screen as you move the mouse? The problem may be with the surface you're using. Generally, you want to have your mouse on a flat, smooth, and opaque surface so that the light it emits isn't interrupted. Generally speaking, you should try to avoid any overly reflective, glassy, or uneven surfaces. If this is a problem, you should consider a mousepad.
(Credit: Vilgun / Shutterstock)7. Update and Restart
Before you throw in the towel, check for OS updates that may offer a fix. In Windows 10, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click Check for updates. For Windows 11, head to Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. If you own a Mac, open System Settings > Software Updates to scan for updates.
No updates available? Try the tried-and-true "turn it off and on again" method and hit the restart button. In Windows, click the Start menu, press the Power button, then select Restart. On a Mac, click Apple > Restart. With any luck, this'll fix whatever hiccup was affecting your mouse.
(Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)