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You move your mouse and nothing happens on screen. Or it moves but clicks don’t register. Or it works everywhere except one program. A mouse that stops working on a PC can have a dozen different causes, from a loose cable to a driver conflict to a worn-out switch inside the mouse itself.
Before you buy a replacement or spend an hour reinstalling drivers, you need to know whether the problem is the mouse hardware, a Windows setting, or something in a specific app. The fastest way to find out is to test the mouse in a tool that runs entirely in your browser.
Test it with our free Mouse Tester
Open the Mouse Tester in your browser. It works on any device and doesn’t install anything.
- Click inside the test box with your mouse.
- Click the left button, the right button, and the middle button (press the scroll wheel down). Each one should light up green when it registers.
- Click both side buttons if your mouse has them. They should also turn green.
- Scroll the wheel up and down. Watch the counters under “Scroll wheel.”
- Move the mouse quickly in circles inside the box and check that the movement rate updates.
If every button lights up, the scroll counters change, and movement registers, your mouse hardware is working. The problem is a Windows setting, a driver issue, or something in a specific program. Keep reading. If one or more buttons never light up, or if movement and scrolling don’t register at all, and you’ve tried the mouse on a different USB port or with fresh batteries, the hardware has likely failed. Skip to the replacement section below.
Why it happens
A mouse can stop working on a PC for several reasons. Microsoft Support documents settings that can disable or remap mouse buttons, change pointer speed to near-zero, or hide the pointer entirely. A loose USB connection is the most common physical cause: the cable wiggles in the port, or a wireless receiver isn’t fully seated. Driver conflicts happen when Windows Update installs a generic driver that overrides the manufacturer’s software, or when mouse software from one brand clashes with another. Finally, mechanical switches inside the mouse wear out over time; Razer and Logitech both rate their switches for tens of millions of clicks, but once that limit is reached, contacts can fail and stop registering presses.
How to fix it
1. Check the physical connection
Unplug the mouse USB cable and plug it into a different USB port on your PC. If you’re using a USB hub, plug the mouse directly into the computer instead. For a wireless mouse, take the USB receiver out and plug it into a different port, making sure it’s fully inserted. Replace the batteries with fresh ones, even if the mouse has a power light that still turns on. Microsoft notes that a weak battery can cause intermittent connection drops that look like a software problem.
2. Restart your PC
A simple restart clears temporary driver states and re-enumerates USB devices. Save any open work, then select Start > Power > Restart. After the PC boots, test the mouse again.
3. Check mouse settings in Windows
Windows can hide the pointer, set the speed to nearly zero, or remap buttons in ways that make the mouse seem broken. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse (Windows 11) or Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse (Windows 10). Make sure Primary mouse button is set to Left unless you deliberately swapped it. Move the Mouse pointer speed slider to the middle position. Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings. In the Pointer Options tab, clear the checkbox for Hide pointer while typing if it’s selected, and make sure Enhance pointer precision is turned on. Select OK and test the mouse. These steps are documented in Microsoft’s mouse settings guide.
4. Update or reinstall the mouse driver
Right-click Start and select Device Manager. Expand Mice and other pointing devices. Right-click your mouse in the list and select Update driver, then Search automatically for drivers. If Windows says the best driver is already installed, right-click the mouse again, select Uninstall device, check Delete the driver software for this device if the option appears, and select Uninstall. Restart your PC. Windows will reinstall a fresh driver when it boots. If your mouse came with manufacturer software (such as Razer Synapse or Logitech Options), uninstall that software from Settings > Apps, restart, then download the latest version from the manufacturer’s site and install it.
5. Test in Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads Windows with only essential drivers, which can reveal whether third-party software is blocking the mouse. Hold Shift and select Start > Power > Restart. When the blue screen appears, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. Press 4 or F4 to start in Safe Mode. Test the mouse. If it works in Safe Mode but not in normal Windows, a background program or driver is interfering. Uninstall recently added software and restart normally.
6. Try the mouse on another computer
Plug the mouse into a different PC, laptop, or even a tablet that accepts USB devices. If it works there, the problem is in your original PC’s settings or drivers. If it still doesn’t work, the mouse hardware has failed.
When to replace it
If the mouse fails the browser test on multiple computers, or if one or more buttons never register no matter which port or device you use, the hardware is done. Mechanical switches wear out, cables fray at the connector, and wireless receivers can fail. If you’ve been fighting double-click problems for months and the mouse is now completely unresponsive, the switch has likely reached the end of its rated life.
When you shop for a replacement, look for a mouse with optical switches instead of mechanical ones. Optical switches use a light beam to register clicks, so there are no metal contacts to wear out. Our researched picks for mice that won’t double-click include models with optical or hybrid switches rated for 70 to 90 million clicks. The Razer DeathAdder V3 uses third-generation optical switches and carries a “90-million click lifecycle with no double-clicking issues” claim (manufacturer). For a compact wireless option, the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2 uses Logitech’s LIGHTFORCE hybrid switches, rated for 70 million clicks (manufacturer), and weighs just 60 grams (manufacturer). Both are built to outlast traditional mechanical-switch mice.
FAQ
Why is my mouse not working on my PC?
A mouse can stop working because of a loose USB connection, a drained battery in a wireless mouse, a Windows setting that hides or slows the pointer, a driver conflict, or a failed switch inside the mouse. Microsoft Support documents settings that can disable buttons or hide the pointer, and manufacturers rate switches for tens of millions of clicks before they wear out.
How do I fix my mouse not responding on Windows 11?
First, test the mouse in a browser-based tool to confirm the hardware works. Then check the physical connection, restart your PC, verify that Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse has the pointer speed set to the middle and the primary button set to Left, update or reinstall the driver in Device Manager, and test in Safe Mode to rule out software conflicts. Microsoft’s guide covers each setting.
How do I know if my mouse is broken?
Open a browser-based mouse tester and click every button, scroll the wheel, and move the mouse. If buttons don’t light up, scrolling doesn’t register, or movement doesn’t show, and the same thing happens on a different computer or USB port, the mouse hardware has failed.
Can a mouse stop working because of a driver?
Yes. A corrupted or outdated driver, or a conflict between the manufacturer’s software and a Windows Update, can prevent the mouse from working. Uninstalling the device in Device Manager and restarting the PC forces Windows to reinstall a fresh driver.
What should I look for in a replacement mouse?
Look for optical or hybrid switches instead of mechanical ones. Optical switches use a light beam to register clicks, so there are no metal contacts to wear out. Mice with optical switches are rated for 70 to 90 million clicks and are less likely to develop double-click faults or complete failure.
Sources
- Microsoft Support, Change mouse settings | Microsoft Support.
- Logitech Support, Computer Mice – Wireless Mouse, Bluetooth, Wired | Logitech.
- razer.com, Gaming Mice – Wired and Wireless Gaming Mouse | Razer United States.
Last updated: October 21, 2026. Researched and written by 123EasyTech Editorial.
