The mouse is one of the most important peripherals connected to your PC. You can use a computer without a keyboard, but not vice versa. This is why hardware manufacturers designed wireless mice that run on Bluetooth and batteries. Undoubtedly, they are better than wired mice, but the troubleshooting methods are rather complex when a wireless mouse is not working, even when the light is turned on. In this article, we have compiled a list of different methods that can be used to fix various issues, such as the wireless mouse not turning on and more when working on Windows.
There can be multiple reasons why the wireless mouse is not detected or working on a laptop or desktop. Here is a list of reasons that will also help you understand the cause of the issue and judge which relevant steps you should take to fix it.
Now that the reasons for this issue are clear let’s move on to the troubleshooting part.
After you complete each step, we recommend you check if your wireless mouse is working properly. This way, you can stop troubleshooting and ignore the remaining methods when your mouse starts working.
Before we troubleshoot the mouse that is not detected or working in Windows, we suggest you physically check the power button on it and ensure it is turned on. Also, wipe the mouse with a clean cloth because dust particles in the Bluetooth sensor area might interfere with signals.
| Category 1 | Basic troubleshooting Methods | These steps will help fix most issues with your wireless mouse. |
| 1 | Check For Hardware Damage | Physical examination of the device. |
| 2 | Replace Batteries | Change the old batteries with new ones. |
| 3 | Remove Metal Objects | Remove all the clutter near your PC. |
| 4 | Change USB Port | Use another USB port |
| 5 | Disable USB Power management | Turn off the USB auto power off |
| 6 | Reset USB Ports | Refresh USB Ports |
| 7 | Reconnect Mouse | Add a new Bluetooth device |
| 8 | Update Drivers | Replace existing drivers with updated ones. |
| 9 | Update Windows | Download and install all the latest updates. |
| 10 | Check For Malware | Run an antimalware scan |
| Category 2 | Specific Troubleshooting Steps | These troubleshooting steps are related specifically to the Wireless mouse not working. |
| 1 | Deactivate The Realtek HD Audio Manager | Disable Realtek HD Audio Manager |
| 2 | Turn Off The Disappearing Cursor Feature | Disable The Disappearing Cursor Feature |
| 3 | Turn Off Fast Start-Up | Disable Fast Start-Up |
| Category 3 | Advanced Troubleshooting Steps | These advanced steps help resolve multiple issues on your PC |
| 1 | Fix System Files. | Run a SFC Scan |
| 2 | Perform A System Restore | Restore your system to an earlier date. |
The first step is to check for hardware damage. Wireless mice are delicate pieces of hardware compared to their wired counterparts. Check the outer body of the mouse to verify any physical damage and try to shake it. If you hear any noise of parts moving about, this mouse may be broken.
In case of minor physical damage, try connecting this mouse to a different PC to check if it works. If it does not, the chances of replacing the mouse increase.
Also, if you have a different wireless mouse, try using it on your PC. This will help identify if there is an internal problem within your PC. Move to the third step if the mouse works fine with another PC.
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The wireless mouse may not have a physical defect, but the batteries may have worn out. We recommend replacing the mouse batteries with fresh, new ones and then trying to connect the device to your PC. If your mouse works on a charge, we suggest you plug it in to charge for 30 minutes and then try again.
Interference may arise from nearby metal devices, so relocate them or the system if they are too close to any TVs, phones, or speakers. Additionally, position the mouse within adequate range of the USB receiver and check if it works fine when near the receiver.
Let us assume there is no physical defect, and the batteries are okay; the next step is to use a different USB port on your PC to resolve the mouse that is not detected or working in Windows.
The wireless mouse comes with a USB receiver that is generally plugged into one of your PC’s USB ports. The USB port may develop issues over time and stop working. It may also not detect any external drive you wish to plug in. In such cases, just remove the USB receiver from the current port and plug it into another port. Then, check if the wireless mouse has started working.
Another fix we have tried to resolve the windows 10 PC does not recognize wireless mouse or is disabling the USB Power Management. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box type “devmgmt. msc” and press the OK button.
Step 2: The Device Manager window will now open. Locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click on it to expand the list.
Step 3: Look for USB Root Hub and double-click on it to open the Properties box.
Step 4: Click on the “Power Management” tab and uncheck “Allow the Computer to Turn Off This Device to Save Power.”
Step 6: Repeat the steps for all the USB Root Hub entities in the Device Manager and restart the PC.
Step 7: Remove and reconnect the USB receiver, and check if the wireless mouse is working properly.
Read Also: Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device on Windows – [Solved]
If changing the USB ports does not fix the issue, you could try resetting them. Here are the steps to reset your USB Ports:
Step 1: Press Win + X to open the Power menu and select Device Manager.
Step 2: Locate Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click on it to expand it.
Step 3: Next, find USB Root Hub and make a right-click to view the context menu.
Step 4: Select Uninstall and follow the onscreen instructions.
Step 5: Repeat the steps for all the entries that state USB Root Hub.
Step 6: Reboot your PC, and all the USB Root Hub entities will be reinstalled automatically.
All wireless devices must be connected to the PC via Bluetooth. The connection between the mouse and your PC may have developed an issue. Here are the steps to add a new Bluetooth device and connect your wireless mouse to your PC again.
Step 1: Press Win + I to open the Settings.
Step 2: Click on Bluetooth and Devices in the left panel.
Step 3: Click the Add Device button with the “+” symbol.
Step 4: Click “Bluetooth Audio devices, Mice…” next.
Step 5: Windows will search for the nearby devices, select your wireless mouse, and proceed with the online instructions.
After the new wireless mouse connection has been set, the device should work properly. But if you still face issues, the drivers could be held responsible. Drivers are small programs that help establish communication between the software (OS) and the Hardware (Mouse). If these driver files are outdated, missing, or corrupted, you can face the mouse not working issue. Here are three methods to update wireless mouse drivers:
All the hardware manufacturers maintain an official website for their products. You can download the updated drivers from the OEM website and install them on your PC.
Microsoft has provided its Windows users with an inbuilt tool known as the Device Manager. This tool helps users choose the driver they wish to update and search for the latest drivers available on Microsoft Servers.
The final option to update drivers is using a third-party tool called Advanced Driver Updater. This amazing tool can scan your PC, identify outdated, missing, and corrupt drivers, and replace them with newer ones. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Download and Install Advanced Driver Updater from the Download button below.
Step 2: Launch the app and click the Start Scan Now button.
Step 3: A list of driver anomalies will appear on the screen after the scan.
Step 4: Locate the Wireless Mouse driver and click the Update button next to it.
Step 5: After the driver update process completes, reboot your PC.
After you have successfully updated the drivers, it is recommended that you update the Windows OS. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + I to open the Windows Settings.
Step 2: Click on Windows Update in the left section.
Step 3: Next, click the Check For Updates button on the side.
Step 4: Click Download and Install under each update to begin the updation process.
Step 5: Reboot the system.
Read Also: 9+ Ways To Fix Windows Stuck on “Checking for Updates”
If your PC is infected with malware, you may encounter any issue or error on your system. If the above methods have not worked, we suggest you run a malware scan on your PC. You can use Windows Defender or any third-party antivirus like T9 antivirus to scan your PC and get rid of all malware.
The Realtek HD Audio Manager is designed to start whenever the PC boots. Some experts have suggested that disabling this app can help to troubleshoot the issue of the computer’s wireless mouse. Here are the steps to try this method:
Step 1: Press Win + X to open the Power menu and choose Device Manager.
Step 2: Locate Sound, video, and game controllers and click on it to expand it.
Step 3: Locate Realtek High Definition Audio, right-click on it, and select Disable.
Step 4: Click on Yes on any prompt that appears.
The user-friendly disappearing cursor feature enhances typing convenience by design. If your cursor vanishes while typing, you can verify if the feature is activated and resolve the issue by disabling it.
Step 1: Press Win + S to open the Search box and type Control Panel.
Step 2: Click on the relevant best-match result, and the Control Panel box will open.
Step 3: Click on Mouse and then select the Pointer Options tab in the Mouse Properties box.
Step 5: Click on Apply and then on OK.
Step 6: Reboot your PC and check if the issue has been resolved.
Read Also: How to Fix Mouse Highlighting/Selecting Everything on Windows
The Fast Start-up feature in Windows expedites computer boot times, yet it comes with drawbacks, such as potential USB device connection issues. Consequently, it’s advisable to deactivate this feature. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Press Win + S to open the search box and type Control Panel.
Step 2: Click on Power Options and “Choose What the Power Buttons Do” in the left panel.
Step 3: Click “Change Settings That Are Currently Unavailable.”
Step 4: Locate “Turn On Fast Start-up” and click the Save Changes button.
Step 5: Power off your computer, disconnect and then reconnect the USB mouse receiver, and finally, restart your computer.
System files also play a vital role in the functioning of your PC. You can scan and fix these files using an inbuilt utility known as System File Checker.
Step 1: Press Win + R to open the RUN box and type “cmd.”
Step 2: Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to open the Command Prompt in Administrator mode.
Step 3: Type the below-mentioned command and press Enter.
sfc/scannow
Step 4: Wait for the process to complete, restart your computer, and check if the mouse works properly.
The final method you need to follow to fix the wireless mouse not detected or working in Windows is to restore the system. But remember, this should only be done if all the above methods cannot resolve this issue and the Wireless mouse works properly on another PC. A system restore will help restore your system to an earlier state when the mouse works properly. This is possible only if a restore point was created in the past.
We hope after following the troubleshooting steps, your wireless mouse will be working properly. If not, it might be the time to get yourself a new mouse with those RGB lights you have wanted for a long time. Do tell us how you fixed this issue in the comments section below. If you finally decide to buy a new mouse, we would love to hear all about it in the comments below.
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