My wireless Microsoft mouse just stopped working

Question

I've replaced the battery. Bluetooth does not recognize it. Tried to hold the pairing button on the bottom for 5-7 seconds.

Answer 1

Hello Craig Stack, thanks for posting this in the community.

If the mouse still appears in your Bluetooth list, try removing it first and then restart your computer to refresh the Bluetooth service. After your PC restarts, turn the mouse off and on, then hold the pairing button until the LED starts blinking, which means it is in pairing mode. If the LED does not blink, the mouse may not be entering pairing mode properly. If it does blink but your computer still cannot find it, try connecting the mouse to another device to see if it is still detectable. If it cannot pair with any device, the mouse might need to be replaced. Kind regards,

Kind regards,

John Oli

Answer 2

Try these steps in order, using the keyboard to navigate where needed:

1. Confirm the mouse is powered and in pairing mode
   • Press and hold the pairing button on the bottom of the mouse for 5–7 seconds, then release.
   • Check the LED:
     • If it blinks, the mouse has power and is in discovery/pairing mode.
     • If no light appears, replace the battery again and ensure it is inserted correctly, then repeat the 5–7 second press.
2. Make sure Bluetooth is on and the device is in range
   • On Windows 11: Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
   • Verify Bluetooth is turned on.
   • Keep the mouse close to the PC while pairing.
3. Remove the old mouse entry and re‑add it
   • In Bluetooth & devices / Bluetooth & other devices, look for the existing entry for the Microsoft mouse under Mouse, keyboard, & pen or Other devices.
   • Select the mouse and choose Remove device.
   • Then select Add device (or Add Bluetooth or other device > Bluetooth), and when Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse (or your model name) appears, select it and complete pairing.
4. Power‑cycle Bluetooth on the PC
   • In Bluetooth & devices / Bluetooth & other devices, turn Bluetooth off.
   • Wait at least 10 seconds.
   • Turn Bluetooth on again.
   • Put the mouse back into pairing mode (hold pairing button 5–7 seconds until LED blinks) and try pairing again.
5. Toggle Airplane mode and other Bluetooth devices
   • Turn Airplane mode on for 10–15 seconds, then turn it off again.
   • Temporarily turn off or disconnect other Bluetooth devices connected to the PC, then try the mouse again. Too many active Bluetooth devices can interfere with the connection.
6. Re‑enumerate the Bluetooth stack if the mouse was working before
   • Open Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
   • Select Add Device and let Windows search; if the mouse appears, select it to re‑add.
   • If that fails, restart the PC and try pairing again.
7. Check Windows updates and restart
   • Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update (or Update & Security > Windows Update on Windows 10).
   • Select Check for updates and install any available updates.
   • Restart the PC and repeat the pairing process (hold mouse pairing button until LED blinks, then add via Bluetooth & devices).

If the mouse still does not appear on this PC but does work and pair with another PC, the issue is likely with the Bluetooth configuration or hardware on the original PC. If it does not work on any PC and never shows a blinking LED even with a fresh battery, the mouse hardware may have failed.

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References:

• Use Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse
• Use Surface Mouse
• Troubleshoot problems with your Surface mouse or keyboard
• Bluetooth mouse stops responding
• Troubleshoot Bluetooth not connecting in Windows
• Enable Bluetooth Devices in Control Panel for your mouse or keyboard