Do you have trouble getting your mouse to work correctly on your Mac? Whether it's a Magic Mouse or a third-party Bluetooth, wireless, or wired mouse, you're bound to run into mouse issues at some point.

Below, you'll find several tips and fixes that should help your mouse function properly on your Mac again.

Before Your Start: Enable Mouse Keys

Mouse Keys is an accessibility feature that allows you to 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 that follow.

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 Back On

If you use a Bluetooth mouse, try disabling and re-enabling Bluetooth on your Mac. That usually helps resolve minor glitches preventing your mouse from connecting. To do this:

  1. Open the Bluetooth status menu from the menu bar. If you don't see it, open the Control Center and expand the Bluetooth control.
  2. Turn off the switch next to Bluetooth.
  3. 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 status menu.

2. Remove and Re-Connect the USB Receiver

If you use a standard wireless mouse, try disconnecting the USB receiver, rebooting your Mac, and re-connecting the receiver it. That could end up resolving any issues with the device.

If you use a USB hub, you should also try connecting the receiver directly into a USB port on the Mac itself. That should ensure the USB receiver has sufficient power to function correctly.

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.

If you use a Magic Mouse 2, try recharging it via its Lightning port for at least 15 minutes. If you don't see a charging port (which is the case with the original Magic Mouse), remove the battery compartment cover and replace the 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 patch up a malfunctioning device. Look for an On/Off switch—you can usually find it on the mouse's underside.

In the case of a Bluetooth mouse (such as the Magic Mouse), you may need to manually connect it via the Bluetooth status menu (as mentioned above) after turning it back on.

5. Pair the Bluetooth Mouse With Your Mac Again

If you use a Magic Mouse or another Bluetooth mouse, remove it from your Mac and try pairing it again:

  1. Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Select Bluetooth.
  3. Control-click your Bluetooth mouse and select Remove.
  4. Select Remove again.
  5. Turn your Bluetooth mouse of, wait a moment, and then turn it back on.
  6. Choose the Connect button to pair your mouse with your Mac again.

6. Check Your Mac's Mouse Preferences

Does the cursor move very slowly on your Mac? Do you find it impossible to perform a right-click on the Magic Mouse? Is your mouse scrolling in the wrong direction?

In these cases, you should head over to the preferences panel on your Mac and make sure everything is appropriately configured:

  1. Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Choose Mouse.
  3. Use the configuration options within the Mouse preferences to determine how your mouse works.

For example, if you use a Magic Mouse, check the box next to Secondary click to enable right-clicking, or drag the slider under Tracking speed to determine how fast the cursor moves on the screen.

You can also switch to the More Gestures tab to enable and disable Magic Mouse gestures.

7. Install Support Software for Third-Party Mice

If you use a third-party mouse, it may need software installed to function correctly. For example, the Logitech Options app provides additional settings to help you configure how Logitech mice work on your Mac.

Search the manufacturer's website (Logitech, Dell, HP, etc.) for driver or software downloads, and install any support software for your mouse that's available.

8. Debug the Bluetooth Module on Your Mac

If you keep experiencing connectivity or other issues with a Bluetooth mouse, you should debug the Bluetooth module on your Mac. Follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold both the Shift and the Option keys simultaneously and open the Bluetooth status menu. You'll see more details and options than usual.
  2. Select the Reset the Bluetooth module option.
  3. Select OK.

Your Mac will debug the Bluetooth module automatically. As it does, your mouse (as well as any other Bluetooth devices) will disconnect, then reconnect after a few seconds. If that doesn't happen correctly, try restarting your Mac.

9. Update the System Software on Your Mac

Check if your Mac has any pending system software updates and install them. That should fix any known bugs or other issues that prevent your mouse from working correctly.

Here's how to check for updates:

  1. Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  2. Select Software Update.
  3. Select Update Now to install available updates.

10. Delete Mouse Property List Files

Deleting the Property List (PLIST) files that contain your mouse preferences and configuration settings is another way to fix a malfunctioning mouse. While you shouldn't end up breaking anything, this is a more drastic step than the above.

As a result, it's best to create a Time Machine backup before you go ahead. Once you're ready to proceed:

  1. Open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Type ~/Library/Preferences and select Go.
  3. Select the following files and move them to the Trash:
  • com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist
  • com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
  • com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist

After this, restart your Mac. It will then automatically recreate the deleted PLIST files. Assuming your mouse starts to work properly afterward, head over to the preferences pane (System Preferences > Mouse) to reconfigure it again.

Next Steps for Defective Mice

Hopefully the mouse you're using with your Mac works properly now. If not, try resetting the NVRAM and SMC on your Mac. If that fails to patch anything up, you're likely dealing with a defective mouse.

To make sure, 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.