How do you solve the problem with the left button that works every once in a while?
One of the most annoying problems with a mouse is the problem with its left button. A situation arises when suddenly, for no apparent reason, the left mouse button does not work or it begins to respond to user clicks every now and then.
Every fourth or fifth click is not perceived by the system, this behavior is very annoying because it makes it difficult to work on the computer - instead of double-clicking on a program shortcut, sometimes you need to click 3 or 4 times. This also applies to performing any actions - we want to quickly select, for example, a group of shortcuts on the desktop so that we can drag them with the mouse cursor, but it turns out that the left button does not work. Why doesn't the left button always respond to user clicks?
Of course, the problem may be in the mouse itself and the damage is purely technical. The left button is worn out and does not always respond to clicks. In this case, you need to repair it or buy a new mouse.
But before you do this, you need to check whether it works on another computer or, if possible, connect another working mouse to the computer. Thus, you can exclude or confirm its technical malfunction. But if you connect the problematic mouse to your friend’s computer and it works correctly, then this means that there is a problem with your PC. Then there is no point in buying a new mouse - you should look for a solution in the Windows 10 settings.
Step 1: Connect the mouse to a different USB port
See which input your mouse is connected to your computer through. In most cases, the connection is made via a USB port, but occasionally there are devices with a PS2 connector.
The first step is to check the serviceability of the USB port, because it can be damaged and cause problems with operation. Connect the mouse to another port without turning off the computer's power - it should be detected in a few seconds.
Step 2: Check your settings in Windows Device Manager
If the above method does not work, the culprit may be the controller responsible for the operation of the USB ports. The system is equipped with a function that, as part of the energy-saving mode, turns off or reduces the activity of individual computer components. There is a possibility that the mode affects the USB driver and therefore Windows 10 sometimes does not “catch” left button clicks.
In Windows 10, right-click on the Start button and go to Device Manager or open it with the command “devmgmt. msc"
Expand "USB Controllers". Here you will find items such as “Generic USB Hub” and “USB Root Hub”. Double-click to open each one and go to the “Power Management” section.
Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power." Repeat these steps for each item in the USB Controllers item.
Step 3: Check your power settings
The next step is to configure the power settings for the active profile. To do this, go to the Windows 10 Control Panel and enter “Power Options” in the search bar in the upper right corner.
A window will appear with a list of main and additional plans. One of them will be marked, that is, the one used by the system. Click next to it on “Change plan settings”, and then in the new window select “Change advanced power settings”.
Find "USB Options - Option to temporarily disable USB port" and select "Disabled". Then check how the device works.
Step 4: Turn off touchpad delay (on laptops)
Windows 8.1 and 10 come with features that benefit laptop users, including a feature that slows down the response to clicks while typing. Have you ever been typing on your laptop and accidentally touched your palm to the touchpad, causing the mouse cursor to jump?
The touchpad delay serves to prevent such situations. When the laptop detects that you are working on the keyboard, a click delay is activated. However, this feature may not be convenient for players who play on laptops with mice, and here's why.
It turns out that in some cases the function blocks the action of the buttons on a mouse connected via USB. If you play on a laptop, then your hands, as a rule, are always on the keyboard - other input devices, according to system considerations, should not be used.
The delay function treats the game the same way as typing and blocks mouse clicks for a short period of time, and, unfortunately, periodically (the button fires every other time). In this case, the delay function on the laptop can be disabled.
Good afternoon!
In general, I would like to immediately note that the left mouse button is one of the most loaded. It would seem, what is simple office work? But with it, LMB* is pressed up to 100 times or more per hour (on average)! In some games the figure can be several times higher (in general, God forbid...).
And if it fails, working on a PC becomes very inconvenient (and in some cases, completely impossible). In general, it would be more correct to separate problems into hardware and software (for example, if the button itself is broken, then this is a hardware problem, if the problem is in the driver, for example, then it is a software problem). Actually, based on this, I will try to divide this article....
And so, let's get down to business.
* Popular abbreviation: "LMB" - left mouse button.
Problem with the mouse? (Let's diagnose!)
The very first thing I recommend doing in this case is to check if everything is okay with the mouse itself. Often, with intensive use, the mouse button itself stops working (and you need to press it too hard for it to respond). By the way, a characteristic symptom in this case: periodically the mouse’s left mouse button either does not react, or then starts to work, and often you get a double click at once.
For diagnostics: just connect the mouse to another computer/laptop (which does not have a similar problem). If it behaves similarly on it (i.e. the LMB does not work), then the problem is probably in the mouse (the button may be faulty, the board may be damaged, etc.).
In this case, there are two options: either buy a new mouse, or try to repair it (if you have free time for experiments).
By the way!
You can buy cheap mice (and other computer hardware) in Chinese online stores. I recommend you take a quick look at this note:
A few words about its renovation
If you have soldering experience, you can try to disassemble the mouse, clean it from dust and see if any contacts have come loose and if everything is okay with the board. If everything is OK, then you can try soldering a new one instead of the old button. In principle, there is nothing complicated here (unless you may need old mice from which you can get a working button).
By the way, you can also try installing the right button in place of the left one, and the left button in place of the right one. This option is especially relevant in cases where your LMB does not work well (or a double click occurs).
Services, as far as I know, do not repair mice (since the technician’s time costs more than a new mouse). Unless you have an expensive gaming mouse (with which you have already become familiar and are ready to pay any reasonable amount for it) ...
What to do if the mouse itself is functional, but LMB does not work
This is a more interesting option (i.e. on another PC the mouse works and everything is fine with it, but on the current one it behaves “strangely” for some reason). In general, one of the first pieces of advice would be to try restarting the computer (sometimes this problem occurs due to various system failures, high CPU load, etc.). If rebooting doesn't do anything, I recommend the following...
1) Try connecting the mouse to a different USB port
It is highly advisable not to connect it to the USB ports that are on the keyboard or go through some kind of splitters or other adapters. Connect directly to USB on the back of the system unit (if you have a laptop, then directly to it). In any case, check several of your USB ports in sequence.
If you have a problem with a PS/2 mouse, connect it via an adapter to a USB port.
2) Check the power saving mode
The fact is that when it is running, the computer can turn off the mouse in order to save energy. To check if this is so, you need to open the device manager (I’ll give you a way to do this without a mouse):
- press Win+R to display the "Run" window;
- enter the command devmgmt.msc ;
- press Enter.
IN device manager Find the “Mice and other pointing devices” tab (see screenshot below). If your mouse does not work: first press "TAB" (so that the pointer appears) and then use the " buttons to move up and down ", "↓" (note: regular "arrows" on the keyboard), to expand the tab, click "→" .
Selecting the desired device (for example, "HID-compatible mouse". By the way, your name may be slightly different) just press "Enter".
Next (using the “TAB” and “arrows”), open the “Power Management” tab and uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Save the settings and restart your computer.
3) Check power settings
5) Check the drivers for the mouse (this especially applies to gaming mice that come with additional buttons)
According to statistics, as a rule, more problems arise with sophisticated mice: those that have additional keys (they are often used in games for quick access to the game character). So, for such mice it is often necessary to install drivers manually (since the driver that Windows selects may not work correctly with it).
In general, the topic of drivers is “quite” extensive. If you don’t know how to update them, I recommend using the materials linked below:
- 10 Best Programs to Update Drivers (Automatically!) -
- How to find and install a driver for an unknown device -
Additions on the topic are welcome...
Sometimes users encounter a problem when the mouse does not respond to clicks. Why might this happen? How is it proposed to deal with the task? What features and nuances of the process are recommended to pay attention to? Sometimes factors that are not at all related to information can influence the mouse. Users can immediately take faulty equipment to system administrators for diagnosis. This is a logical decision, but there is no need to rush. You can independently figure out why the mouse does not always respond to clicks, and even cope with problems without outside help.
Garbage
The first and fairly common cause of the phenomenon under study may be simple clogging of equipment. If the mouse does not respond well to clicking or does it every other time, it is recommended to check its cleanliness.
Clogging can be eliminated only with new equipment. If the device has been working for some time, then if there are problems with the mouse, you can clean the component. It's not that hard to do. The result will not be long in coming - after the user removes all the dirt accumulated under the buttons, the mouse will work at full capacity.
Malfunction
But this is only one option for the development of events. In fact, there are a lot of possible scenarios. Mouse not responding to clicks? It is likely that the equipment is in faulty condition. Relevant for any devices - both new and those that have been working for some time.
It is recommended to take faulty equipment to a service center. There, the technicians will check the device and tell you whether it can be repaired. If yes, then you can leave the mouse at the service center until the problem is fixed. Otherwise, you will have to completely change the input device.
Functionality check
If a new mouse or a mouse that has already been cleaned of dirt and dust does not respond to clicks, you can check its functionality yourself. To do this, it is recommended to connect the device to another computer, install hardware drivers and make sure everything works.
This technique allows you to make visits to service centers with specific complaints. Also, with the help of such a check, you can often understand the sources of problems and failures. What other scenarios are possible? What should you pay attention to in this or that case?
Jacks and connectors
Mouse not responding to clicks? What to do? For starters, don't panic. This problem occurs among many users; often the source of the problem is a purely technical component; this does not pose any danger to the computer or operating system.
Alternatively, the cause of problems with the mouse may be a damaged connector. The socket to which the equipment is connected is damaged, as a result of which contact between the machine and the manipulator is established only once.
There is only one way out - connect the mouse to another socket. This is the only way to fix the problem. By the way, the connection connector on the device may also be damaged. In this situation, it is better to purchase a new mouse. After all, connectors are usually not repairable. Or after these manipulations they still break, and very quickly.
Drivers
What if the mouse does not respond to clicks or does it every once in a while? There are a lot of options for the development of events. It has already been said that often all problems are technical. But there are exceptions.
For example, the following layout is typical for gaming mice. It's all about the drivers. This software is responsible for recognizing devices in the operating system. An old version or the complete absence of these applications can lead to the fact that the mouse will work only once in a while. Or they will find themselves among equipment unknown to the computer.
In this case, you just need to install drivers on your computer (usually they are included with mice) or update existing ones. After this, the operating system reboots. Is there progress? Then you don't have to worry. The mouse still doesn't work fully? We need to look further for the source of the problem. There are still many alternatives.
Touchpad
Only laptop owners encounter this problem. Does the mouse not always respond to clicks or does not work at all, although there is a cursor? You can try to check the operation of the touchpad. If it functions normally, it is recommended to disable this component.
The thing is that some laptops and operating system builds do not support simultaneous operation of the touchpad and mouse. Therefore, a hardware conflict occurs. As a result, the mouse refuses to work normally.
As soon as the touchpad is disabled, the connected device will return to full functionality. And you can continue to use the mouse. By the way, you shouldn’t be surprised if the problem arose suddenly - no one is immune from this.
CPU
But if the mouse does not immediately respond to clicks, then the problem may be different. For example, slow response from information is sometimes due to high processor load.
Why does this phenomenon occur on computers? There are a lot of options. Among the most common are the following:
- a large number of functioning programs;
- the computer does not comply with the system requirements of the operating system;
- viruses;
- long-term operation of equipment without shutting down or rebooting;
- lack of hard disk space for normal operation of the OS.
In any case, you need to provide the processor with unloading. It is recommended to close numerous programs running in the background and restart the machine. It's better to give her a few hours to rest. Next, the user must resume trying to connect the mouse. The problem should go away.
Viruses
Mouse not responding to clicks? A virus, as already mentioned, is the real cause of a problem with equipment. Any computer “infection” can lead to this phenomenon.
What to do in this case? We need to try to cure the computer. If the problem occurs on a laptop, the touchpad will help. With it you can easily control your computer and cursor. The anti-virus system will find and disinfect potentially dangerous files. If this fails, the user will be prompted to delete the document.
As a rule, when the cursor cannot be controlled at all, the computer is taken to a service center. There, the system will quickly be cured of all viruses without causing any damage to the owner’s data.
Incompatibility
If the mouse does not respond to clicks, you should pay attention to the system requirements. The thing is that all modern equipment has certain demands on the computer. Non-compliance with this makes the device impossible to operate. Or it will function unstably.
When an incompatibility with the operating system is detected, you can solve the problem in several ways. Either the user changes the OS or the connected equipment. The second option is most often encountered in practice. It is recommended that Windows 10 owners pay special attention to compatibility issues. A lot of equipment conflicts with this operating system. Therefore, there is no need to be surprised that Windows does not respond to mouse clicks.
What to do in this situation? It has already been said: either change the connected equipment, or change the operating system. What exactly to do? Everyone decides for themselves.
Power supply
This is the last reason why the mouse connected to the computer is not responding. It's all the fault of the power settings. This problem most often occurs on laptops.
As practice shows, after this the mouse works better. It's actually not that difficult. It is enough to go through all possible options. This is the only way to understand 100% what’s going on. There is also no need to rush into purchasing new equipment. It is likely that you can do without it.
If the user doubts his abilities, he can take the computer along with the faulty equipment to a service center. They will quickly help you not only diagnose, but also fix any computer problem. What exactly to do? The final decision always remains with the user!
Sometimes users encounter a problem when the mouse does not respond to clicks. Why might this happen? How is it proposed to deal with the task? What features and nuances of the process are recommended to pay attention to? Sometimes factors that are not at all related to information can influence the mouse. Users can immediately take faulty equipment to system administrators for diagnosis. This is a logical decision, but there is no need to rush. You can independently figure out why the mouse does not always respond to clicks, and even cope with problems without outside help.
Garbage
The first and fairly common cause of the phenomenon under study may be simple clogging of equipment. If the mouse does not respond well to clicking or does it every other time, it is recommended to check its cleanliness.
Clogging can be eliminated only with new equipment. If the device has been working for some time, then if there are problems with the mouse, you can clean the component. It's not that hard to do. The result will not be long in coming - after the user removes all the dirt accumulated under the buttons, the mouse will work at full capacity.
Malfunction
But this is only one option for the development of events. In fact, there are a lot of possible scenarios. Mouse not responding to clicks? It is likely that the equipment is in faulty condition. Relevant for any devices - both new and those that have been working for some time.
It is recommended to take faulty equipment to a service center. There, the technicians will check the device and tell you whether it can be repaired. If yes, then you can leave the mouse at the service center until the problem is fixed. Otherwise, you will have to completely change the input device.
Functionality check
If a new mouse or a mouse that has already been cleaned of dirt and dust does not respond to clicks, you can check its functionality yourself. To do this, it is recommended to connect the device to another computer, install hardware drivers and make sure everything works.
This technique allows you to make visits to service centers with specific complaints. Also, with the help of such a check, you can often understand the sources of problems and failures. What other scenarios are possible? What should you pay attention to in this or that case?
Jacks and connectors
Mouse not responding to clicks? What to do? For starters, don't panic. This problem occurs among many users; often the source of the problem is a purely technical component; this does not pose any danger to the computer or operating system.
Alternatively, the cause of problems with the mouse may be a damaged connector. The socket to which the equipment is connected is damaged, as a result of which contact between the machine and the manipulator is established only once.
There is only one way out - connect the mouse to another socket. This is the only way to fix the problem. By the way, the connection connector on the device may also be damaged. In this situation, it is better to purchase a new mouse. After all, connectors are usually not repairable. Or after these manipulations they still break, and very quickly.
Drivers
What if the mouse does not respond to clicks or does it every once in a while? There are a lot of options for the development of events. It has already been said that often all problems are technical. But there are exceptions.
For example, the following layout is typical for gaming mice. It's all about the drivers. This software is responsible for recognizing devices in the operating system. An old version or the complete absence of these applications can lead to the fact that the mouse will work only once in a while. Or they will find themselves among equipment unknown to the computer.
In this case, you just need to install drivers on your computer (usually they are included with mice) or update existing ones. After this, the operating system reboots. Is there progress? Then you don't have to worry. The mouse still doesn't work fully? We need to look further for the source of the problem. There are still many alternatives.
Touchpad
Only laptop owners encounter this problem. Does the mouse not always respond to clicks or does not work at all, although there is a cursor? You can try to check the operation of the touchpad. If it functions normally, it is recommended to disable this component.
The thing is that some laptops and operating system builds do not support simultaneous operation of the touchpad and mouse. Therefore, a hardware conflict occurs. As a result, the mouse refuses to work normally.
As soon as the touchpad is disabled, the connected device will return to full functionality. And you can continue to use the mouse. By the way, you shouldn’t be surprised if the problem arose suddenly - no one is immune from this.
CPU
But if the mouse does not immediately respond to clicks, then the problem may be different. For example, slow response from information is sometimes due to high processor load.
Why does this phenomenon occur on computers? There are a lot of options. Among the most common are the following:
- a large number of functioning programs;
- the computer does not comply with the system requirements of the operating system;
- viruses;
- long-term operation of equipment without shutting down or rebooting;
- lack of hard disk space for normal operation of the OS.
In any case, you need to provide the processor with unloading. It is recommended to close numerous programs running in the background and also restart the machine. It's better to give her a few hours to rest. Next, the user must resume trying to connect the mouse. The problem should go away.
Viruses
Mouse not responding to clicks? A virus, as already mentioned, is the real cause of a problem with equipment. Any computer “infection” can lead to this phenomenon.
What to do in this case? We need to try to cure the computer. If the problem occurs on a laptop, the touchpad will help. With it you can easily control your computer and cursor. The anti-virus system will find and disinfect potentially dangerous files. If this fails, the user will be prompted to delete the document.
As a rule, when the cursor cannot be controlled at all, the computer is taken to a service center. There, the system will quickly be cured of all viruses without causing any damage to the owner’s data.
Incompatibility
If the mouse does not respond to clicks, you should pay attention to the system requirements. The thing is that all modern equipment has certain demands on the computer. Non-compliance with this makes the device impossible to operate. Or it will function unstably.
When an incompatibility with the operating system is detected, you can solve the problem in several ways. Either the user changes the OS or the connected equipment. The second option is most often encountered in practice. It is recommended that Windows 10 owners pay special attention to compatibility issues. A lot of equipment conflicts with this operating system. Therefore, there is no need to be surprised that Windows does not respond to mouse clicks. 
What to do in this situation? It has already been said: either change the connected equipment, or change the operating system. What exactly to do? Everyone decides for themselves.
Power supply
This is the last reason why the mouse connected to the computer does not respond. It's all the fault of the power settings. This problem most often occurs on laptops.
As practice shows, after this the mouse works better. It's actually not that difficult. It is enough to go through all possible options. This is the only way to understand 100% what’s going on. There is also no need to rush into purchasing new equipment. It is likely that you can do without it.
If the user doubts his abilities, he can take the computer along with the faulty equipment to a service center. They will quickly help you not only diagnose, but also fix any computer problem. What exactly to do? The final decision always remains with the user!
Users often encounter problems that arise when working with a computer. One of these problems is the computer mouse stops working. What could be the cause of the malfunction will be discussed in the article.
Types of mice
Computer mice can be classified according to the following criteria.
Causes of problems
There are quite a few reasons why the cursor does not move and the computer mouse has stopped working, but they can be divided into two groups: hardware and software.
The hardware includes:
The software includes:
- Problems related to the device driver.
- Deliberate disabling of the mouse by malware.
- Conflict between mouse utilities and other software.
- Malfunctions of the operating system that created a chain of problems that led to the inoperability of the device.
Trouble-shooting
Before taking any serious troubleshooting steps, check:
Important! If the device is not recognized (device descriptor request failed) or your mouse is in the "Other devices" section, the solution to the problem is described in detail here.
Wired
If you have checked the software of the pointing device, and when connected, the cursor does not move or moves erratically, the problem is in the hardware of the device. To resolve:
Wireless with USB transmitter
If you have a wireless mouse connected to your PC via a transmitter, go through and read the publication about. Nothing helped? Try this:
Important! Software installed for another product (mouse, wireless keyboard, touchpad, sensor) may cause a conflict with the wireless mouse. We recommend uninstalling the utilities, restarting the computer and checking the operation of the manipulator.
Bluetooth
If you are using a Bluetooth-enabled pointing device and the cursor stops working:
- Turn off, replace batteries and turn on the device.
- Check the operation of the transceiver (restart it, connect another device to Bluetooth).
- Check the driver for the Bluetooth transmitter.
- If necessary, roll back to a previous version or reinstall the driver.
WiFi
If the Wi-Fi mouse cursor stops working or begins to “twitch”, the reason may be in the protocol that the router uses. This is because the device and router operate in the same 2.4 GHz band. To solve this problem without replacing the mouse:
- Go to the router settings in the Wi-Fi section.
- Change the protocol to 802.11g, and save the changes (the experiment was carried out on a D-Link Dir-615M).
- Reboot the router and turn off/on the mouse.
Important! Changing the protocol is suitable if the Internet speed is not higher than 25 Mbit/s.
Touchpad
First of all, check if the touchpad on your laptop is enabled. We recommend that you read the information about setting up the touchpad on this page.
The touchpad can be disabled by software. Go to BIOS:
If turning it on does not help and everything is fine with the driver, then there is a hardware problem. It could be:
- damage to the touch panel;
- disconnecting the cable.
Advice! If you are confident in your abilities, you can check the fastening of the touchpad cable. It happens that during transportation it jumps out of the connector for connecting to the motherboard.
If the tips in this article did not help you identify the mouse connection problem, . Describe your problem in detail, we will try to find an answer together.
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 a mouse connected via USB does not work, still turn off the system unit before
If the problem persists, try the mouse on another computer. If the cursor moves and the keys work, the port on your system unit may be faulty or there are software problems.
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 Windows utilities are also suitable. 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 a 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 beep. 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 the "System Restore" option 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 the free AVZ4 program and deploy it to a 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 freezes from time to time, right-click on an empty 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.
Regardless of what type of pointing device is used, sometimes problems may arise due to the fact that the mouse cursor does not move, but the mouse works. What are the reasons and how to eliminate the consequences of the problem, read on.
The mouse cursor does not move, but the mouse works: reasons
When starting to consider the reasons, we need to focus on dividing these devices by type. The easiest way to troubleshoot problems is when using standard devices connected to computers and laptops using a special plug or via USB ports.
In the case of wireless pointing devices or non-standard models intended for gaming, there may be many more reasons why the mouse buttons work but the cursor does not move.
However, some of the most common problems include the following:
- surface contamination;
- incorrect connection or switching on of the device;
- incompatibility and other problems with the USB port;
- incorrectly installed, missing or outdated drivers;
- exposure to viruses.
The mouse cursor does not move, but the mouse works: what to do first?
In the simplest case, first you need to inspect the bottom surface of the device. If there is dirt on the underside, it must be removed. Very often, it is precisely because of this that it is impossible to perform any actions with moving the cursor on the screen.
In some cases, when the mouse cursor does not move but the mouse works, the problem may be due to a momentary software glitch. In this case, you can try to revive the mouse by simply rebooting the entire system. Please also note that if there is an inoperative device, the BIOS does not generate warning signals.
In the case of wireless devices, the problem that the mouse cursor does not move, but the mouse works, may be due to a dead battery. It needs to be replaced. Another reason is that the device is not turned on correctly. In many manipulators, in addition to turning on the special button or power slider on the bottom surface (on the back side), you also need to press the left mouse button (this also applies to sleep mode, which the manipulator goes into when the computer or laptop is turned off). For Bluetooth devices, make sure that the corresponding module is active. For Wi-Fi, you may sometimes need to log into your router and change the protocol to 802.11g.
Sometimes the reason the mouse cursor doesn't move but the mouse works may be because it's plugged into the wrong USB port. As a rule, any modern computer or laptop has several such connectors of the USB 2.0 and 3.0 standards. This also needs to be taken into account.
Finally, you can check the functionality of any type of device quite simply by connecting it to another computer terminal. If it works, then the problem is in the user's system. Otherwise, the main problem may be the drivers.
Changing the driver
For standard devices, the system installs drivers independently. But for some gaming mice, they are supplied complete with the manipulators themselves, and you need to install them manually. In such a situation, the drivers need to be reinstalled or updated. But what to do if the cursor doesn’t move?
This is where knowledge of entering commands and using the switch between various functions, applications and system sections using the keyboard will come in handy. To access the “Device Manager” you need to use the console call “Run” (Win + R), in which the command devmgmt.msc is entered, after which in the manager itself, movement is carried out using the arrow buttons and tabulator. You can also use the Start menu, opened with the Win key. Functions are called and confirmed by pressing buttons using the enter key, and the Esc key is sometimes used to cancel actions.
When reinstalling a driver, the system will need to specify its location (removable media or a folder on your hard drive) rather than using the recommended installation from the Windows database. Once driver integration is complete, it is advisable to reboot the system, although this is not always required.
Conclusion
It remains to be said that the cause should be looked for exclusively taking into account a certain type of device. But in most cases, if the mouse cursor does not move, but the mouse works, and the problem is not related to software failures or physical damage to the mouse itself (or damage to the connection cord), at least one of the above methods will restore the operation of the manipulator. Problems with viruses were not touched upon here, since every user should take care of security first.
A computer mouse is an ingenious device that was created almost in the middle of the last century. Without this simple thing, we would not be able to fully manage a computer and laptop, because there is simply no replacement for it as such. Therefore, when it stops working normally or simply “glitches”, it is necessary to somehow solve this problem. Today I will talk about why the mouse may not work and what actions need to be taken to revive it.
Causes of problems and their solutions
- To understand whether the device really does not work or the problem lies with your computer, you need to connect it to another PC or laptop. If the mouse turns out to be fully functional, then try inserting it into another port on your main computer - it is known that USB ports often “glitch”, and rearranging the plug gives the result. If you have a PS/2 mouse, I recommend purchasing a special PS/2/USB adapter so that you can use the device via any USB port. The PS/2 connector itself may not be working, hence the problems.
- The next step is to carefully look at the mouse, in particular at the LED. If it lights up, but the device does not want to work, then the problem is probably in the “software”. First, try just restarting your computer (and don’t laugh, this works in many cases) and if that doesn’t help, then try installing the driver specifically for your device. To do this, go to the manufacturer’s official website and download the necessary drivers.
- In some cases, a problem may occur after installing this or that software - there is probably a conflict in the system, as a result of which the mouse stops responding to any actions. Often something similar happens when viruses get onto a computer. What to do in such situations? It is recommended to boot the computer in safe mode and check the functionality of the “rodent”. If it works, then we either remove the installed software or roll back the system to an earlier date. And of course, don’t forget to scan your PC for viruses.
- Interestingly, users of PS/2 mice encounter this problem more often. Why? The fact is that the plug used in such devices is not ideal. It consists of many contacts (sort of pins) that tend to bend. For example, you removed the plug from the port and inserted it back, after which the mouse stopped working. Apparently, some of the pins are bent and need to be returned to their normal position. This can be done, for example, using the most ordinary tweezers or something sharp (even the most ordinary ballpoint pen may suit you). USB mice are completely free of this problem due to a much more thoughtful system.
- Theoretically, the wire could be damaged. This rarely happens, since it is not subjected to strong mechanical stress. Still, pets often chew through the wire. So, we carefully examine it for external damage, and if you haven’t found any, then do the following: pick up the mouse and start moving the wire. If the indicator (LED) starts blinking at this moment, then, apparently, the problem is really in the wire. It will need to be replaced, although in most cases it will be cheaper to purchase a new rodent.
- If you use a wireless mouse, then the most common cause of the problem is a dead battery, as well as a problem with the Bluetooth receiver driver.
- Now let's move on to the buttons and wheel. When it comes to buttons, the failure of one or both of them is most often due to a mechanical problem. Theoretically, you can resolder the chip, but usually this is not economically viable - a new mouse costs the same amount, if not cheaper. But if the wheel jams, then it makes sense to disassemble the device and clean it of dirt - hair and other “charms” are wrapped around the wheel, which interfere with its operation. Try cleaning the wheel, everything should return to normal.
- Continuing the conversation about buttons, we cannot fail to mention that for additional buttons that are located on the sides of the mouse (they are usually used in games), it is necessary to install other drivers that come with the device. They can also be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website.
- If the mouse still works, but not quite adequately, for example, jumps from side to side, then dirt may be to blame for this (in the case of ball mice this is, one might say, normal) and problems with settings. If in the first case it is enough to clean the device from dirt, then in the second you need to play with the settings. For example, try adjusting the sensitivity of your gadget. How to do it, I.
- If problems with inoperability arise in games, or rather, the mouse does not work in a particular position, then the problem is 99% in the settings of the game itself.
What can't you do?
- If you recently purchased a mouse that is under warranty and it stops working, do not try to repair it yourself - this may void your warranty.
Sometimes users encounter a problem when the mouse does not respond to clicks. Why might this happen? How is it proposed to deal with the task? What features and nuances...
During the day, an active computer user clicks the left mouse button tens of thousands of times if he is busy with regular office work. The mechanisms in the manipulator are ready for this, and failure of the mouse due to a broken button is very rare. In this case, situations are possible when pressing the left mouse button does not lead to the desired action. Sometimes a similar problem can only occur with double or triple clicks, which are supposed to be used in the Windows operating system. Below we will give tips on what to do if the left mouse button does not work.
Computer mouse diagnostics
If the left mouse button does not work, the first thing you need to do is make sure that the problem is not related to mechanical or electronic damage to the manipulator. Even if the button "clicks" as before, the command may not work due to failures in the components of the mouse board. To verify this assumption or refute it, you need to check the operation of the mouse on another computer.
Important: When connecting a USB mouse to a new computer, you will need to wait some time until Windows detects the mouse and installs the necessary drivers for its operation.
If the mouse works on a third-party computer, you can continue testing it on the PC where there were problems, looking for ways to fix them.
Connecting a mouse to another USB port
USB mice are the most common on the market, and it is quite rare now to find mouse devices with a PS2 connector. If your computer uses a USB mouse, first try connecting it to a different connector on the system unit. This is the most common reason why the mouse does not work.
It should be remembered that after connecting the mouse to a new USB connector, you must wait a while until it is detected.
Disabling Power Saving Mode
The Windows 10 operating system has a power-saving mode that automatically turns off some connected devices, considering them to be inactive. If the mouse power is turned off or reduced, you may not be able to press the left mouse button. To make sure that the problem is not related to the power settings, you can do the following:
After making settings in all designated devices, restart your computer and check if the problems with the mouse persist. If nothing has changed and the left button continues to not issue commands as expected, you need to check the power settings in the control panel. For this:
After saving the changes, restart the computer again and check the correct operation of the manipulator.
If the problem occurs on a laptop, then you need to try disabling its touchpad, which may conflict with the mouse. The method for disabling the touchpad differs on different laptop models. In most cases, to disable the touchpad, you need to press the FN function key on the keyboard and one of the buttons from F1 to F12, which shows the corresponding icon for disabling touch control of the mouse cursor.
