[Easy solution] Causes and solutions when the mouse cannot be used or does not respond

This time, we will explain what to do if the mouse on your computer does not work, does not respond, or does not work.

There are physical reasons why the mouse won't work, but there are also system-related causes.

Even though I have a mouse connected to my computer, the pointer does not move when I move it! If you are having trouble with this problem, please refer to this content.

In addition, we also explain a little about cases where the keyboard does not work, and cases where the mouse does not work or respond when using the Nintendo Switch.

Causes and solutions when the mouse cannot be used or does not respond on a computer

If you can't use the mouse on your computer, it doesn't respond, or it doesn't work, the following may be the cause:

In addition to common causes for wireless and wired mice, we also explain the causes for wireless and wired mice.

• Common to wireless and wired mice
  • Make sure it is firmly inserted into the USB port
  • Try another USB port
  • Driver update
  • Perform Windows Update
• Causes and solutions for Bluetooth and wireless mouse not working
  • For Bluetooth, check if pairing is possible
  • Is the battery dead?
• Causes and solutions when a wired mouse cannot be used or does not respond
  • Try reseating the mouse cable
  • Restart your computer
  • I suspect a disconnection

Common to wireless and wired mice

Common problems and solutions when using a wireless or wired mouse that doesn't work include:                           

Make sure it is firmly inserted into the USB port

If you're using a mouse on your computer and it's not working, try making sure it's firmly connected to the USB port.

Even if you are using a wireless mouse, you may have a receiver attached to your computer via USB, so make sure that it is properly connected.

You can also check in Device Manager whether it is firmly inserted into the USB port.

[How to check whether the mouse is connected to the USB port using Device Manager]

1. Right click on "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Device Manager"
3. Select "Mouse and other pointing devices"
4. Check if the connected mouse is displayed
5. If you want to check the status, right-click the mouse
6. Select "Properties"
7. Can be checked in "Device status"

Try another USB port

If you are using a mouse on your computer and it does not work, try connecting it to a different USB port than the one you are currently connected to, which may solve the problem.

If the mouse responds to a different port, there is a possibility that the computer misrecognized it or the USB port in question is malfunctioning.

If the mouse doesn't respond when you plug it into another port, or if it doesn't respond on another computer, you might want to suspect that the mouse itself is malfunctioning.

Driver update

If you're using a mouse on your computer and it's unresponsive, doesn't work, or doesn't work, updating the driver may solve the problem.

[How to update the driver]

1. Right click on "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Device Manager"
3. Select "Mouse and other pointing devices"
4. Right click on the appropriate mouse
5. Select "Update Driver"
6. Select "Search automatically for updated driver software"
7. When "The driver has been successfully updated" is displayed, select "Close"
8. Restart your computer and check if the problem is resolved

Perform Windows Update

If you're using a mouse on your computer and it's stuck, unresponsive, or unusable, running Windows Update may fix the problem.

The latest device drivers may be published on Windows Update, so if you are unable to update the device driver, please try this method as well.

On the other hand, if the mouse stops working after Windows Update, this may be the cause.

→Problem with Windows Update

[How to perform Windows Update]

1. Select "Start (Windows mark)"
2. Select "Settings (gear mark)"
3. Select "Update & Security"
4. When "Windows Update" appears, select "Install now"

Causes and solutions for Bluetooth and wireless mouse not working

If you are using Bluetooth or a wireless mouse and it does not work or respond, the following are possible causes and solutions.

For Bluetooth, check if pairing is possible

If you are using a Bluetooth mouse and it does not work or respond, please check if it is paired.

Also, please note that in order to use a Bluetooth mouse, the computer you want to connect to must be compatible with Bluetooth.

[How to pair a Bluetooth mouse]

1. Type "control panel" in the search box on the taskbar
2. Select "Control Panel"
3. Select "View devices and printers"
4. Put the Bluetooth mouse into pairing mode (this varies depending on the mouse, but you often need to press a button)
5. Select "Add device"
6. Select the appropriate mouse when it appears
7. When "This device was successfully added to this computer" appears, select "Close"
8. Wait for device driver installation to complete
9. Check if the mouse moves

Is the battery dead?

If your computer mouse does not move or respond, the mouse battery may be dead.

Wireless mice run on batteries, so unlike wired mice, they may stop working if the batteries run out.

If this happens, try replacing the mouse battery and see what happens.

Causes and solutions when a wired mouse cannot be used or does not respond

If you are using a wired mouse on your computer and it does not work, cannot be used, or does not respond, the causes and solutions are as follows.

Try reseating the mouse cable

If you're using a computer mouse and it's not working or responding, replugging the mouse cable may solve the problem.

In this case, there is a possibility that the mouse is no longer recognized or there is a problem, so it may be a good idea to unplug the mouse cable and plug it in again.

Restart your computer

If you're using your computer's mouse and it's not working or responding, restarting your computer may fix the problem.

Try turning off your computer and restarting it to see if the problem with your computer is resolved and the mouse works.

I suspect a disconnection

If you're using a computer mouse and it doesn't move or move, or feels like it's not working properly, a broken wire may be the cause.

This disconnection may also be suspected if there is a reaction depending on the direction of the wire, so if the usage environment or dirt on the mouse is not the cause, you may want to suspect this cause.

If the wire is broken, you can repair it, but it may require materials and labor, so it may be faster to replace it.

Causes and solutions when only the mouse cursor does not move

If only the mouse cursor does not move, the following causes and solutions may be considered.

This is a relatively easy workaround to improve, so try it once and you may be able to solve the problem.

• Improve your environment
• clean the mouse

Improve your environment

If you are using a computer mouse and it does not move (moves strangely) or does not respond, the environment in which you are using it may be the cause.

For example, the cursor may not move on metal desks or glass tables as the sensor may not respond well.

In addition, in environments where patterns are drawn, the sensor may not respond well and the cursor may not move.

In this case, placing a mouse pad under the mouse may make it more responsive.

clean the mouse

If you're using a computer mouse and it doesn't work, doesn't respond, or doesn't work, it may be because the mouse is dirty.

In particular, there is a sensor on the bottom of the mouse, so if this sensor is dirty, the mouse may not respond well.

In this case, cleaning your mouse as follows may solve the problem.

1. Turn off your mouse if you have one
2. Use a toothpick or similar tool to clean any dirt caught between the wheels, etc.
3. Clean the sensor on the bottom of the mouse with a cotton swab, etc.
4. If you are concerned about the overall dirt, wipe it with a disinfectant wipe, etc.

Causes and solutions when the mouse and keyboard do not work on Windows 10 and 11

If the mouse and keyboard do not work on Windows 10 or 11, the following causes and solutions may be considered.

• Problem with Windows Update
• Is Windows frozen?

Problem with Windows Update

If you are using your computer's mouse and keyboard and they are not working or responding, the problem may be caused by Windows Update.

It seems that there are actually cases where the mouse and keyboard become unresponsive depending on the contents of the update.

In such cases, it is necessary to remove the updated program, but it is dangerous to remove it blindly without knowing for sure which program is causing the mouse or keyboard problem. If important programs disappear, it may lead to further problems and you may be unable to do anything. If you want to determine the cause of such a problem yourself, it is a good idea to thoroughly search for similar cases and solutions.

Is Windows frozen?

If you are using a computer mouse and it does not move or respond, it is possible that Windows itself is frozen.

If this happens, please check to see if not only the mouse but also the keyboard works.

If the keyboard works, try opening the task manager by pressing "Ctrl key" + "Shift key" + "Esc key". If there are any applications that are causing a heavy load, try closing them.

If the keyboard doesn't work or the computer remains frozen even after a while, try force shutting down your computer and restarting it.

Causes and solutions when the mouse cannot be used or does not respond on Switch

If you can't use the mouse on your Switch, it doesn't respond, or it doesn't work, the causes are almost the same as on a PC.

First, try re-inserting the mouse, but if the problem still persists, try cleaning it and checking for broken wires. Regarding the usage environment, it is best to use it on a mouse pad rather than on a metal or glass table.
Also, in the case of Switch, depending on the game you are playing, the mouse may not be compatible. In this case, the mouse cannot be used even if there is no abnormality, so please be careful.

Summary of causes and solutions when the mouse cannot be used or does not respond

This time, we have explained the causes and solutions when the mouse on your computer cannot be used, does not respond, or does not work.

Mouse problems can also occur due to dirt on the sensor or wheel. First of all, take measures such as cleaning the mouse and avoiding touching the sensor part with your hands.

Additionally, the mouse may stop working due to temporary problems, so try restarting the computer or changing the mouse's USB port. Additionally, updating the driver or replacing the battery may resolve the issue.

However, if the mouse still does not work, the mouse may be disconnected or malfunctioning. If the mouse in question does not work even when connected to another computer, it may be malfunctioning, so you may want to replace it.