Do you have trouble getting your mouse to work correctly on your Mac? Whether you use Apple’s Magic Mouse or a third-party Bluetooth, wireless, or wired mouse, you can follow these tips to get it to work again.
Before Your Start: Enable Mouse Keys
Mouse Keys is an accessibility feature that lets you use your keyboard to navigate around macOS. If you don't have another input device (such as a trackpad), you may want to activate it before working your way through some of the fixes below.
Start by pressing Cmd + Option + F5 to bring up the Accessibility Shortcuts menu. Then, press the Tab key repeatedly to highlight the Mouse Keys option. Press Space to select it, followed by Esc to save your changes.
With Mouse Keys enabled, use the 7, 8, 9, U, O, J, K, and L keys (or the 7, 8, 9, 4, 6, 1, 2, and 3 keys on a numpad) to move the cursor around. You can use the I key (or the 5 key on the numpad) to replicate a mouse click.
1. Turn Your Mac's Bluetooth Off and On
If you use a Magic Mouse, minor glitches with Bluetooth can cause it to stop functioning as intended. The same may occur with third-party mice that work over Bluetooth. In that case, disabling and re-enabling Bluetooth on your Mac can help. To do this:
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar and expand the Bluetooth control.
- Turn off the switch next to Bluetooth.
- Wait for a few seconds and turn it back on again.
If your mouse doesn't connect automatically, select it from the Devices section of the Bluetooth menu in the Control Center.
2. Remove and Reconnect the USB Receiver
If you use a standard wireless mouse, try disconnecting the USB receiver, rebooting your Mac, and reconnecting the receiver. That could end up resolving unexpected issues with the device.
If you use a USB hub, you should also try connecting the receiver directly to a USB port on the Mac itself. That should ensure the USB receiver has sufficient power to function correctly.
This also tends to fix issues with your cursor disappearing or moving choppily. Try shaking your mouse rapidly if you still can't see it despite troubleshooting.
3. Recharge or Replace the Mouse Battery
Did you recharge or replace the battery on your mouse recently? A near-depleted battery can prevent your mouse from connecting to your computer. Even if it does connect, you may experience unpredictable cursor behavior, like a disappearing cursor.
Try recharging your Magic Mouse via its Lightning port for at least 15 minutes. If you use a wireless mouse with replaceable batteries, remove the battery compartment cover and replace the AA battery (or batteries) inside.
4. Turn the Mouse's Power Switch Off and On
Turning your mouse off and then back on is another way to fix a malfunctioning device. Look for an On/Off switch—you can usually find it on the mouse's underside.
For Bluetooth mice (such as the Magic Mouse), you may need to manually connect it via the Bluetooth status menu after turning it back on (as mentioned above).
5. Pair the Bluetooth Mouse With Your Mac Again
If you use a Magic Mouse or another third-party Bluetooth mouse, remove it from your Mac and try pairing it again:
- Click the Apple logo in the menu bar and choose System Settings.
- Select Bluetooth from the left sidebar.
- Control-click your Bluetooth mouse and select Forget.
- Select Forget Device from the pop-up that appears.
- Now, turn your mouse off, wait a moment, and then turn it back on.
- Choose the Connect button in the Nearby Devices section to pair your mouse with your Mac again.
Hopefully, your mouse works properly now. If not, you're likely dealing with a defective unit. To ensure that's the case, connect the mouse to another Mac. If you continue to experience the same issues, you should repair or replace your mouse. Opting for a Magic Trackpad instead is also a good idea.