Fix Windows 11 Mouse Not Working (2026 Guide)

A mouse that stops responding brings almost every task to a halt, because the keyboard alone cannot replace fast pointing and dragging. When Windows 11 mouse stops working—the cursor freezes, the pointer disappears, or the device is not detected at all—you need a fix that works without clicking.

This guide covers 9 proven solutions to fix mouse problems in Windows 11.

PAGE CONTENT

• Common Windows 11 Mouse Problems
• Fix 1: Check the Cable, Battery, and Port
• Fix 2: Restart Windows Explorer with the Keyboard
• Fix 3: Re-enable the Mouse in Device Manager
• Fix 4: Update or Reinstall the Mouse Driver
• Fix 5: Turn Off USB Selective Suspend
• Fix 6: Test Another Port, Hub, or PC
• Fix 7: Check Mouse Settings and Touchpad Conflicts
• Fix 8: Run the Troubleshooter and Check Updates
• Fix 9: Test in Safe Mode and Repair System Files
• FAQs About Windows 11 Mouse Issues
• Back Up and Restore Windows with Qiling Disk Master

Common Windows 11 Mouse Problems

Users report different mouse issues in Windows 11:

• The cursor freezes and does not move at all
• The cursor moves but clicks do not register
• The pointer disappears from the screen
• The mouse is not detected in Device Manager
• A wireless mouse keeps disconnecting and reconnecting
• The cursor jumps or drifts on its own
• The mouse works in BIOS but not in Windows
• Scrolling and side buttons stop working after an update

Fix 1: Check the Cable, Battery, and Port

Rule out simple hardware causes before changing anything in Windows.

Step 1. Unplug the mouse and plug it back in, or switch a wireless mouse off and on again.

Step 2. For wireless mice, replace the batteries or charge the device, and reseat the USB receiver in a different port.

Step 3. Check the power switch on the underside of the mouse.

Step 4. Test the mouse on a different surface, because optical sensors struggle on glass or glossy desks.

Step 5. For Bluetooth mice, remove the device under Settings > "Bluetooth & devices" and pair it again.

Fix 2: Restart Windows Explorer with the Keyboard

If the cursor vanished but the keyboard still responds, the Windows shell may have frozen rather than the mouse failing.

Step 1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del, then use the arrow keys to highlight "Task Manager" and press Enter.

Step 2. Press Tab until the process list is focused, then type explorer to jump to Windows Explorer.

Step 3. Press Tab until "Restart task" is selected, then press Enter.

Step 4. Wait a few seconds and move the mouse to test whether the cursor has returned.

Step 5. If it works now, the shell had frozen; restart the PC normally to clear the cause.

Fix 3: Re-enable the Mouse in Device Manager

A disabled or hidden mouse entry will not respond no matter how many times you reconnect it.

Step 1. Press Win + X and select "Device Manager", using the arrow keys if the mouse is dead.

Step 2. Expand "Mice and other pointing devices".

Step 3. Look for your mouse or entries named "HID-compliant mouse".

Step 4. If an entry has a down arrow icon, select it and choose "Enable device".

Step 5. If an entry has a yellow exclamation mark, select "Update driver" and then "Search automatically for drivers".

Step 6. Choose "View" > "Show hidden devices" to reveal a hidden mouse entry and enable it.

Fix 4: Update or Reinstall the Mouse Driver

Corrupted or outdated drivers are the most common software cause of an unresponsive mouse in Windows 11.

Update the Driver

Step 1. Open Device Manager and expand "Mice and other pointing devices".

Step 2. Right-click your mouse entry and select "Update driver".

Step 3. Choose "Search automatically for drivers" and follow the prompts.

Step 4. Also expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers" and update any USB host controller with a warning icon.

Step 5. Restart your PC and test the mouse.

Reinstall the Driver

Step 1. Right-click the mouse entry and select "Uninstall device".

Step 2. Check "Attempt to remove the driver for this device" if the option appears.

Step 3. Click "Uninstall", then restart your PC.

Step 4. Windows reinstalls the mouse driver automatically on startup.

Step 5. For advanced features, install the official driver from Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries, or your mouse manufacturer.

Fix 5: Turn Off USB Selective Suspend

Windows can cut power to USB devices to save energy, which sometimes leaves the mouse permanently asleep.

Step 1. Press Win + R, type powercfg.cpl, and press Enter.

Step 2. Click "Change plan settings" next to your active plan, then "Change advanced power settings".

Step 3. Expand "USB settings" > "USB selective suspend setting" and set both "On battery" and "Plugged in" to "Disabled".

Step 4. Apply the changes and click "OK".

Step 5. Open Device Manager, expand "Universal Serial Bus controllers", right-click each "USB Root Hub", open "Properties" > "Power Management", and clear "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power".

Step 6. Restart your PC and test the mouse.

Fix 6: Test Another Port, Hub, or PC

Isolating the fault tells you whether the problem is the mouse, the port, or Windows itself.

Step 1. Plug the mouse into a different USB port, preferably one directly on the motherboard or laptop chassis.

Step 2. Remove any USB hub, dock, KVM switch, or extension cable and connect the mouse directly.

Step 3. Avoid USB 3.0 ports near wireless receivers, because they can cause 2.4 GHz interference.

Step 4. Connect the mouse to another computer and test it there.

Step 5. If it fails on the second PC too, the mouse hardware has failed and should be replaced.

Fix 7: Check Mouse Settings and Touchpad Conflicts

Wrong pointer settings or a conflicting input device can make a working mouse feel broken.

Step 1. Press Win + I and go to "Bluetooth & devices" > "Mouse".

Step 2. Check the primary mouse button setting and the pointer speed, then restore them to defaults.

Step 3. On a laptop, make sure the touchpad is not blocking input or holding a stuck click.

Step 4. Go to "Accessibility" > "Mouse" and confirm "Mouse Keys" is turned off, since it hijacks the pointer.

Step 5. Disable "Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them" if scrolling behaves erratically.

Fix 8: Run the Troubleshooter and Check Updates

Windows 11 includes automated repair tools that can reset a broken input device.

Step 1. Press Win + I and go to "System" > "Troubleshoot" > "Other troubleshooters".

Step 2. Click "Run" next to "Keyboard" and "Other hardware" if listed.

Step 3. Wait for the scan to finish and apply any recommended fixes.

Step 4. Go to "Windows Update" > "Check for updates" and install all available updates.

Step 5. Open "Advanced options" > "Optional updates" and install any driver updates for your mouse or chipset.

Fix 9: Test in Safe Mode and Repair System Files

If the mouse fails only in Windows, a clean boot and a system file repair will usually identify the cause.

Step 1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.

Step 2. Open the "Boot" tab, check "Safe boot", and click "OK", then restart to boot into Safe Mode.

Step 3. Test the mouse in Safe Mode. If it works, a background app or third-party driver is the cause.

Step 4. Boot normally, then run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth in an administrator terminal.

Step 5. Restart your PC and test the mouse once more.

FAQs About Windows 11 Mouse Issues

Why is my mouse not working in Windows 11?

The most common causes are a frozen Windows Explorer shell, a disabled or corrupted mouse driver, or USB power-saving settings. Restart Windows Explorer first, then re-enable the device and update its driver in Device Manager.

How do I fix a frozen cursor?

Press Ctrl + Alt + Del and open Task Manager using the keyboard, then restart Windows Explorer. If the cursor stays frozen, unplug and replug the mouse or restart the PC with Alt + F4 on the desktop.

Why does my wireless mouse keep disconnecting?

Weak batteries, USB 3.0 interference, and USB selective suspend are the usual causes. Replace the battery, move the receiver to a USB 2.0 port with a short extension cable, and disable USB selective suspend in the advanced power settings.

How do I use my PC without a mouse?

Press Win to open the Start menu and use the arrow keys, Tab, and Enter to navigate. Alt + Tab switches apps, and Win + X opens the power menu. You can also enable "Mouse Keys" under Accessibility > Mouse to control the pointer with the numeric keypad.

Is my mouse broken or is it a Windows problem?

Test the mouse on another computer. If it fails there as well, the hardware is faulty. If it works elsewhere, the problem is in Windows, so focus on drivers, USB power settings, and the Safe Mode test.

Back Up and Restore Windows with Qiling Disk Master

Before you uninstall the mouse driver, change USB power settings, or run system repairs, create a full system backup. Driver and system changes are the usual fix for an unresponsive mouse, and if a change leaves Windows unstable you can restore the whole system in minutes instead of reinstalling it. Qiling Disk Master handles both the backup and the restore.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Part 1: Create a Full System Backup

Step 1. Install and open Qiling Disk Master. On the home screen, open "Backup and Recovery" and choose "System Backup". This option automatically includes Windows and the hidden boot partitions, so you do not have to select them one by one.

Step 2. Check the source. The disk where Windows is installed and its system partitions are already ticked for you. If you only need your personal documents, run a separate "File Backup" task instead.

Step 3. Click the destination box and choose where the image should be saved. Use an external HDD or SSD, a NAS, or any drive other than the one you are about to repair, and make sure it has enough free space.

Step 4. Review the task summary and click "Proceed". Wait until the progress bar reaches 100%. Do not unplug the drive or turn off the PC while the backup is running.

Part 2: Restore Windows from the Backup

Step 1. Open Qiling Disk Master again, go to "Backup and Recovery", and select the recovery option. Your backup images are listed, so pick the one you created before the repair.

Step 2. Choose the target disk or partition. Normally you restore to the original system disk. If the drive was replaced, select the new disk instead, and the restore rebuilds Windows together with its boot partitions.

Step 3. Preview the restore plan, click "Proceed", and confirm the warning. The PC restarts to finish the job, and Windows comes back exactly as it was on the day the image was created.

Conclusion

Windows 11 mouse not working is usually solved by restarting Windows Explorer, re-enabling the device in Device Manager, and disabling USB selective suspend. Check the cable, battery, and port first, then update the driver from the manufacturer. If the mouse fails only in Windows, boot into Safe Mode and repair system files with SFC and DISM.

For more Windows 11 troubleshooting, see our guides on Touchpad Not Working, Bluetooth Not Working, and Camera Not Working.

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