Mouse stops working

Question

on my computer my mouse stops working and the only way I can get it to work again is to shut down and restart computer.

It will work for some time and then suddenly stop working what can I do to correct this? It just started happening.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

To help narrow down the issue:

1. Is this a USB, wireless, or Bluetooth mouse?
2. Does the keyboard continue working when the mouse stops?
3. Does the mouse stop completely, or does the pointer freeze on the screen?
4. Have there been any recent Windows updates, driver updates, or software installations before this started?

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In the meantime, if you haven’t already:

• Press Windows + X > Device Manager.
• Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
• Right-click your mouse and select Uninstall device.
• Restart the PC. Windows should automatically reinstall the driver.

Also check power management:

• In Device Manager, expand Universal Serial Bus controllers.
• Open each USB Root Hub entry.
• Go to the Power Management tab.
• Uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

If it is a wireless or Bluetooth mouse, let me know the make and model, and whether the issue occurs on a different USB port or with fresh batteries.

Answer 2

Try the following steps in order, testing the mouse after each step:

1. Check the mouse and port
   • Unplug the mouse and wait a few seconds so Windows can unload the driver, then plug it back in.
   • Try a different USB port on the PC.
   • If using a USB hub, remove the hub and plug the mouse directly into the PC.
   • If it is wireless, check/replace the batteries and make sure there is no dirt blocking the sensor.
2. Test the mouse on another PC
   • Connect the same mouse to a different computer.
   • If it also fails there, the mouse may need to be replaced.
   • If it works fine on another PC, continue with the next steps on the original PC.
3. Check wireless/Bluetooth connection (if applicable)
   • For a wireless USB receiver, unplug the receiver for about 10 seconds and plug it back in to re-establish the connection.
   • For a Bluetooth mouse that stops responding after some time or after sleep, remove and re-add it:
     • Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add Device and re-add the Bluetooth mouse so Windows re-detects it.
     • If that does not help, turn the Bluetooth receiver off and on, unplug and replug any Bluetooth dongle, or restart the computer.
4. Update Windows and drivers
   • Go to Start → Settings → Update & Security → Windows Update and check for updates to ensure the latest fixes and driver updates are installed.
   • If the problem keeps recurring, check with the PC or Bluetooth adapter manufacturer for updated firmware or Bluetooth/USB drivers.

If the mouse repeatedly stops working and only a full restart restores it, focus on updating USB/Bluetooth drivers and firmware, and consider replacing the mouse if it fails on multiple PCs.

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References:

• Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows
• Bluetooth mouse stops responding
• Troubleshoot problems with your Surface mouse or keyboard
• USB devices may stop working after installing the February 13, 2018 update (KB4074588)