For example, a lot of users have found that their mouse isn’t clicking where the mouse pointer is located, but in an area next to the mouse pointer instead. How do you fix this issue?

First, try using the mouse in another USB port. If that does not work, make sure that you have the latest driver for your mouse. You can either download new drivers directly in Windows or look for new drivers on the manufacturer’s website. There are more things you can do to fix this mouse pointer issue, but these two are the most common fixes.

As you can tell, there isn’t a universal solution for this issue. Instead, there are multiple possible solutions. Keep reading to find out what those solutions are. Before we start, make sure that you try to restart your computer as this can reset certain processes and in some cases, entirely solve your issue.

1. Try Another USB Port

In most computers, there are a bunch of different USB ports. Desktop PCs usually have some behind the chassis and at the top of the chassis, and laptops have them on the sides.

These USB ports vary slightly in functionality. For example, some ports are better to connect charging devices while others are better to use peripherals such as mice. Plus, USB ports sometimes stop working for one reason or another.

In short, you should try using a different USB port for your mouse to see if that solves your issue. Before doing this, however, connect your mouse to another computer to see if there’s something wrong with the mouse itself.

2. Uninstall the Mouse Drivers

Drivers are essential to any device on a computer. If your drivers are outdated or faulty, you need to uninstall your mouse drivers. This is quite easy to do, so just follow the simple steps below.

• First, press the Windows key + R to bring up the Run window

• After this, type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter

• In the new Device manager menu, look for Mice and Other Pointing Devices and double-click it

• Right-click the option under Mice and Other Pointing Devices and select Uninstall device

• Restart your computer to automatically install new drivers

As I mentioned, your Windows will automatically install drivers after you’ve restarted your system. Don’t worry about uninstalling the drivers.

3. Look For Mouse Software On Manufacturer’s Website

If updating your drivers through the previously described process does not work, you should look for new updates on your mouse manufacturer’s website.

It’s great that driver updates are integrated into Windows, but at the same time, these updates are oftentimes not the best. However, drivers directly from manufacturers’ websites are usually a lot better.

It’s hard to say exactly how you have to download these drivers since it depends a lot on what brand of mouse you have, but usually, you can simply google your product paired with “driver” and get the right result.

4. Align the Mouse Cursor Through Pointer Options

You can quite easily make the mouse cursor “snap” to the closest icon, and if you think that this can help you with your issue, you should try it.

Simply start by pressing the Windows key + I at the same time. After opening the settings menu this way, look for an option called Devices. When you have selected devices, look for Mouse options.

In Mouse options, click on More mouse options. Select Pointer options and then check the box next to Automatically move pointer to the default button in a dialog box.

You’re done! Try clicking an icon on your desktop and see if your issue is fixed. If it isn’t simply disable the option in the same way you enabled it before.

5. Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer is a process that is in charge of showing you almost all of the UI in Windows. The desktop, search bar, file explorer, and more are all controlled by Windows Explorer.

If there is an error, fault, or bug in any of these user interfaces causing your mouse to become imprecise, you can simply restart the Windows Explorer process to see if that solves your issue.

You can do this quickly and easily through the task manager. Follow the steps below.

• Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and click the Task Manager option

• Click the Processes tab

• Find the Windows Explorer process

• Right-click it and select Restart

After this, try using your computer and see if your issue is fixed. Restarting the Windows Explorer process is completely safe, so you’re not risking anything by trying this fix.

6. Turn Off MiniSearchHost.exe

MiniSearchHost.exe is the little pane that shows up when you hover over the search icon in Windows, and it’s infamously prone to bugs. Since it arguably doesn’t provide any value to your experience anyway, you should try disabling it.

To turn off the MiniSearchHost, go into the Task Manager in the way described before and look for the MiniSearchHost.exe process. One thing to note is that the MiniSearchHost is located under Search, so you’ll have to double-click that to find it. Right-click it and select End task.

The MiniSearchHost will start whenever you boot Windows, however, so if the fix works, you’ll have to disable the process permanently. I could describe the process here, but there are quite a few steps to it. Instead, check out this video.

The video describes in detail what you can do to permanently disable the MiniSearchHost. It’s not complicated, really, but there are a number of steps to it as I mentioned before.

7. Disable the Search Icon Function

For a lot of people, this issue occurs mainly when they want to click the search icon in Windows. If this is the case for you, you can try disabling it. If this isn’t the case for you, disregard this solution.

This solution, like most of the fixes presented in this article, is very easily accessible. If you want to disable the search icon function, follow the simple steps below.

• Press the Windows key + I at the same time to bring up the Settings menu

• In the menu to the left, click Personalization

• Click Taskbar to head over to the Taskbar settings

• Uncheck the Search option from On to Off

If the issue persists despite toggling the Search icon, simply toggle it on again using the same method as before.

8. Update Your Graphics Driver

Outdated drivers are the cause of many issues for computer users. If your mouse pointer isn’t clicking on the position where you have it pointed, you should absolutely update your graphics driver to see if that solves the issue.

However, I don’t recommend updating your GPU drivers through Windows. Instead, update your GPU drivers through your GPU manufacturer’s website.

Most people have either AMD or Nvidia drivers, so those are the two options I’ll go through. The process works in a similar manner for all GPU drivers, however, so you should be fine if you have a GPU from another manufacturer.

• If you have an Nvidia GPU, go here. If you have an AMD GPU, go here

If you want to update your GPU drivers for an Nvidia GPU, follow the steps below.

• In the dropdown menu, select both your Product series and Product then click Search

• When you’ve found drivers for your GPU, click Download

• Run the downloaded file and follow the installation guide

If you want to update your GPU drivers for an AMD GPU, follow the steps below.

• Search for your specific GPU in the search field

• Select your operating system and then click Download next to the latest driver

• Run the downloaded file and follow the installation guide

9. Match Screens’ Resolutions

For users with multiple screens, it’s important that you match their resolution. Not doing this can, in some cases, cause bugs and errors which can cause mouse pointer errors.

Change the resolution so that they match. For example, if you have 1920 x 1080 on one screen, set that resolution on your other screen as well.

Furthermore, if you already have the same resolution on both your screens, or if simply using one screen, change the resolution, and then reset it to its original resolution. This has been shown to solve the issue for some users, so it’s worth a try.

While that’s an unfortunate situation, there exists a lot of solutions that aren’t particularly hard to apply. So, how can you fix the mouse lag on a second monitor?

First of all, make sure that both of your monitors have the same refresh rate. If one monitor is 140Hz and the other one is 60Hz, your mouse cursor on the second screen might lag. Secondly, make sure that you have updated GPU drivers. There are a lot of different things you can do to stop the mouse from lagging on your second monitor, but these two steps are the most important.

These two solutions work for a lot of people, but there are other things you can do as well. Keep reading to find out what you need to do to stop your mouse from lagging.

1. Have the Same Refresh Rate Across Monitors

A lot of people have an old screen as their second monitor, a screen that might not be capable of refresh rates higher than 60Hz. If your second monitor is set at 60Hz, but your primary monitor is set at something like 120 or 144Hz, your mouse cursor might feel laggy on your second monitor.

Windows isn’t great at handling dual monitor setups, and when you move your mouse from the primary monitor to the second one, Windows might not be able to identify the different refresh rates, resulting in what feels like lag.

Some people use a TV as a second monitor for their computers. A lot of TVs run at something like 59Hz and not 60Hz. If you have a computer monitor that runs at 60Hz, you might as well set it to 59Hz instead.

To set your refresh rate in Windows, follow the steps below.

• Right-click your desktop background and click on Display settings

• Scroll down and click on Advanced display settings

• Select the screen that you want to change the refresh rate for in the dropdown menu

• Under Display information, click Display properties for Display X

• Click the Monitor tab, then select a refresh rate in the dropdown menu

2. Make Sure that Your Discrete GPU is Active

It might sound a bit ridiculous, but if your integrated graphics card is the only active GPU, you might see problems regarding mouse lag. Just to be sure, check that your discrete GPU is actually enabled.

A discrete GPU is a GPU that’s separate from the CPU. To check if this primary GPU is enabled, type task manager in the Windows search bar, then click it. After this, find a device called Display adapter and double-click it. After this, right-click the listed device and click enable.

If it is enabled, good. We have ruled out one of the possible culprits for your issue. If it wasn’t enabled, you should try moving around your mouse on the second monitor and see if you’re still experiencing lag.

3. Update Your GPU Drivers

I mentioned earlier that you should have updated GPU drivers. This is integral to a computer in general because drivers that are too outdated or faulty can cause a bunch of issues to your computer.

Make sure that you have new drivers installed. I wouldn’t recommend updating your drivers from Windows. Instead, download them directly from the manufacturer’s website. For AMD GPUs, go here. For Nvidia GPUs, go here.

To download and install drivers for Nvidia GPUs, follow the steps below.

• From the Product Series list, select the GPU series of your GPU

• After this, select your specific GPU from the Product list

• Click Search

• Download and install the file

To download and install drivers for AMD GPUs, follow the steps below.

• Search for your GPU in the dropdown list

• Click Submit

• Select a driver for your operative system, then select Download

• Run the downloaded file and follow the steps

4. Update Windows

It’s always a good idea to have Windows updated to its latest version. Outdated Windows versions can, similarly to outdated GPU drivers, cause issues to your computer, and you should therefore update them.

Furthermore, certain Windows updates have faults and errors, and you don’t really want to be stuck with one of them. Updating Windows is thankfully very easy to do.

If you want to update Windows, follow the simple steps below.

• Press the Windows key + I at the same time

• Select Update & Security

• At the top of the new menu, see if your Windows is up to date

• If it is, click on Check for updates

You’re done! Restart your computer, then try moving your mouse around on the second monitor.

5. Try a Different USB Port

USB ports in your computer have various different power outputs, hardware configurations, and more. Furthermore, USB ports stop working properly fairly often.

That’s why you should try switching up the USB port you’re using for your mouse. If you’re using a wireless mouse, put the wireless receiver in another USB port.

6. Try Using Only the Second Monitor

When your computer is using two screens it puts a heavier load on your computer, especially if you play games on the primary monitor while playing media on the second screen.

If you have an old GPU, your computer might not be able to render to screens at once in a steady fashion, and that might in turn cause lag on your second monitor.

To test this theory, try using only your second monitor. By doing this, you can also see if there’s anything wrong with your second monitor itself.

If your mouse is still lagging, and the cursor is still resisting, you should consider trying a different monitor entirely, because the fault might lie with the monitor itself.

7. Use a Mousemat

As a last resort, make sure that you’re using a mouse mat that’s compatible with the mouse you’re using. If not, the mouse cursor on your screen can stutter and behave laggy.

Make sure of this even if the lag only occurs on your second monitor, because if the monitor is running at a low refresh rate, the problem just might be more noticeable than on your main monitor.

I hope that one of these tips has solved your issues, and if you found a different solution, shoot me a message so that I can add it to the list.

Other solutions to the issue will have to do with specific mouse problems. So, how does one fix in-game lag when moving the mouse cursor?

There are various possibilities to consider if your mouse movements cause your games to lag, but the first thing you should try is updating your mouse drivers, as faulty drivers can cause your mouse to act erratically. The second thing you should do is lower the mouse detection refresh rate in your mouse software, as too high refresh rates can cause your mouse movements to be laggy.

As you can tell by the paragraph above, lag-inducing mouse movements are a somewhat complicated issue due to the number of possibilities. If you want to delve deeper into the topic, keep reading.

Turn off Scaling in Windows

You’re probably familiar with the scaling feature that Windows has. It lets you adjust the size of apps and text which can be helpful if you think the objects on your screen are too big or too small.

However, this setting has been found to sometimes be disruptive and cause lag when moving your mouse in-game. That’s why you should disable the feature for the purpose of the issue at hand.

So, how do you do this? Well, it’s quite easy to do. First, go into the Windows settings menu by pressing the Windows key + I at the same time.

After this, select System. When you’ve entered this menu, disable any non-default scaling by choosing 100% under Change the size of text, apps, and other items.

After you’ve done this, try starting a game that has previously lagged when moving your mouse to see if the fix worked. If it did not solve your issue, I recommend turning the scaling up again to its previous setting.

If you don’t want to change this setting for some reason or another, there’s an alternative way to do it. This involves going into the place on your computer where you have installed the game and finding the .exe-file.

After you’ve done this, right-click it and select Properties. In the Compatibility tab of this new window, click on Change high DPI settings. In the drop-down menu under Override high DPI scaling behavior, set the behavior to Application.

Turn Down the Graphics Settings

This might seem like an obvious solution, but it’s a possible solution nonetheless. Modern games demand a lot out of your computer, and if your PC can’t handle a particular game at higher quality settings, it’s wise to turn them down.

Some users, however, only have lag issues when moving their mouse and not when moving an in-game camera with the keyboard keys, and this is indicative of issues that aren’t related to your game’s settings.

If this also applies to you, then you probably don’t have to turn down the in-game settings, although I would still recommend it just to be thorough in troubleshooting your issue.

Turn Off or On Mouse Acceleration

Some users have reported that their issue was resolved when they switched on/off mouse acceleration settings on their computer. This can be done either through brand-specific mouse software installed on the computer or through the Windows mouse settings menu.

Mouse acceleration is a setting that is meant to enhance your mouse precision, but honestly, it does the opposite for the most part anyway. It changes where your mouse pointer goes depending on the speed of your mouse movements.

I can’t tell you how to disable mouse acceleration by going into your mouse software since I don’t know what specific software you have on your computer, however, if you want to do it through Windows, follow the steps below.

• Type “mouse” into the Windows search bar

• Select Mouse options

• In the new menu, select Pointer options

• Uncheck Enhance pointer precision

Lower Mouse Detection Refresh Rate

I previously mentioned that many computer users have some sort of custom software for their mouse. If you do, you can check what your mouse detection refresh rate is. If the refresh rate is high, say a thousand or more, try lowering it.

It seems like this option can cause games to lag when moving your mouse around. Lower it to around 200 instead and see if that fixes your issue. It’s hard to properly illustrate how to do this since it depends on your software, but examples of such software are Logitech G-Hub or Razor Synapse.

Most modern gaming mouses have some sort of software like this so if you don’t know the specific program for your mouse, I would recommend Googling it to find out.

Update the Mouse Drivers

Gaming mouses have drivers that make them operate in a correct manner. If you have faulty or otherwise outdated drivers, this can cause all sorts of issues for you.

That’s why you should update or reinstall the drivers if you haven’t done so in a while. Some gaming mouses allow you to do this through their software, but if you don’t have any mouse-specific software on your computer, you can also do this through the device manager.

• Type device manager into the Windows search bar and click Device Manager

• After entering the device manager, you will be shown a list of devices. Double-click Mice and other pointing devices

• Right-click the top alternative and select Update driver

• Select Automatically search for drivers

If Windows finds any update, that’s good. This means that your mouse drivers were outdated and needed an update. If Windows lets you know that you already have the latest drivers, Google your mouse and find drivers through the mouse manufacturer instead. Windows isn’t always up to speed.

Lower the DPI of Your Mouse

Users have reported that lowering their DPI on the mouse has fixed the lagging issue for them. I can’t attest to why this is, but you should certainly try it as it’s a potentially easy fix that can be reverted quickly if it doesn’t work.

If your mouse has a bunch of DPI settings, there’s probably a switch somewhere on the mouse that you can click on that toggles DPI profiles.

If you can’t find such a button, check your mouse software for DPI options. If you can’t find either of the two things, your mouse probably doesn’t have different DPI profiles and you can ignore this solution.

Check Your Computer For Malware

Malware can infect your computer and make your mouse induce lag in games. For example, some gamers have had problems with a program called stij.exe which was running in the background and causing programs to lag.

Malware like this can be installed with bloatware and add-ons to programs you install, and it’s not easy noticing that they’re there in the first place.

Go into the task manager by pressing Ctrl + Alt + Delete and then selecting Task manager. After that, click the Users tab and see if you can spot any suspicious that are run using another user profile. Also, make sure to scan the active processes list for any programs that you don’t recognize.

If you have any antivirus software installed on your computer, run a scan to make sure that there aren’t any malware programs active on your computer.

Get LatencyMon

LatencyMon is a very useful software, as it checks kernel timer latencies and then spots ISR and DPC execution times. That was a bit wordy, I know, but basically, it can help you see if there are certain system faults that make your mouse cause games to lag.

For example, one user downloaded the program and saw that there was an error with a .dll-file called Sysport.dll. From here, he managed to download a working version of the file and the issue was thereby fixed.

LatencyMon is not a program for casual users, so I would advise you to check a YouTube tutorial, such as this one, on how to use it before going ahead and downloading the program.

Turn off In-game Overlays

In-game overlays such as the Discord overlay, Nvidia overlay, and Steam overlay are good utilities for the most part, but they can cause an array of problems including lag. You should try disabling these.

Most users don’t know that they have some sort of overlay running, but both AMD and Nvidia have overlays that are enabled by default if you have their gaming software installed on your computer.

It’s completely possible that these overlays can cause your mouse to act erratic, and in my opinion, in-game overlays are an expendable resource anyway.

Some will be able to move their mouse pointer but not as smoothly as they were able to before, while others won’t be able to get their mouse pointer to move the slightest. So what’s causing this issue and how can it be fixed?

What’s causing your mouse to not work on your mousepad can differ depending on if it’s a mechanical or an optical computer mouse. Today, optical mice are much more popular when compared to the, almost extinct, wheeled mice from the past.

An optical mouse can have problems moving if the lens underneath the mouse is dirty, damaged, or has condensation on it. It can also be caused by the mousepad’s surface being too featureless, reflective, or dirty, making it hard for the mouse to register differences in the pattern and movement. Wireless mice can be less reliable on any surface when the batteries start to deplete.

But it could be caused by other reasons too. Let’s dig a bit deeper and look at each cause and how it can be fixed.

Oh, and for their counterpart: Mechanical mice should function on any mousepad, regardless of the pad’s surface. As long as the ball can be rolled smoothly, the mouse should register movement.

How to Fix Mouse That Doesn’t Work on Mousepad

I think it’s important to just lay down the basics of how an optical mouse works before we start to look at the problems. This will aid you in troubleshooting, and preventing it from happening in the future. You will also know what to look for to find the right mousepad for your mouse.

An optical mouse has a camera placed underneath it pointing down towards the mousepad. The camera takes pictures of the surface the mouse moves over and then matches the patterns to figure out which way the mouse has moved.

Because the camera is placed underneath the mouse, it is somewhat eclipsed and must use its own method of illumination to light up the surface to register movement.

You can probably see now why a featureless, dirty, or reflective surface could cause problems for the camera when it tries to identify patterns that indicate where the mouse has moved.

The first optical mice required a specially designed mousepad in order to function, while the modern mice of our day and age come with very adaptive features.

They can, however, still run into problems. Down below is a list of things you should try doing if your mouse has stopped working on your mousepad.

1. Try the mouse on different surfaces

It’s important that we filter out the possibility of the mouse being damaged or out of order. This can be done by trying the mouse on another surface to see if it responds differently to movement and if it registers it as it should, with no delay.

If that’s the case, then it’s most likely your mousepad that’s preventing the mouse from moving. Even if another mouse works well on your mousepad, it could cause problems specifically for the camera installed in your mouse.

Before you replace your mousepad, continue reading the article.

2. Clean your mousepad

If your mouse has stopped working on your mousepad out of nowhere, then we know that the mousepad and the mouse have been compatible. This means that something has changed, either with the mouse or the pad.

Start by cleaning your cloth or fabric mousepad with a damp cloth and a bit of dish soap but be careful with strong cleaning agents. Scrub the mat using a soft brush or sponge.

Then wipe the mat down with paper towels or a regular towel then let the mousepad ventilate until it has dried up – it shouldn’t be moist when the mouse is used on it.

3. Clean the camera lens

If your camera lens happens to be occluded by a thin layer of

• Dust
• Gunk
• Condensation
• Cigarette smoke
• …or any other thing that might end up covering the camera.

Then the mouse will have a hard time working on any surface. Combining this with a suboptimal mousepad will render your mouse useless. Now, cleaning the mouse camera lens isn’t hard and it should make a difference – the magnitude will depend on how much dirt you’ve collected.

Take a paper towel or cloth and wipe the camera lens until there’s nothing left covering it. Make sure you can reach every nook and cranny in there and get it all out. Now that there’s nothing inhibiting the optics from registering the surface, I hope everything is back to normal.

But if it isn’t, don’t fret. We’ve got more solutions in store.

4. Reconnect the mouse

Something as simple as disconnecting and then reconnecting the mouse has proven to work countless times. You can even try connecting it through another USB port.

If your device is connected through Bluetooth, forget the device from the computer, turn off Bluetooth on the device, then start it back up and pair it with the computer.

5. Inspect cables and ports to see if they’re damaged

Check if the cable connecting the mouse to the computer is damaged. Look carefully at both ends to make sure the cable sits firmly within the device, and that the USB plug is connected properly to the computer.

Using your senses, inspect the entire cable to see if there’s any visible damage to it. If you happen to find signs of damage, then chances are that’s what’s causing the mouse to malfunction.

But it doesn’t have to be, therefore, I recommend connecting the mouse to another computer (if possible) to see if you can spot any irregularities in motion or function.

6. Reinstall or update your mouse drivers

If there’s a more recent version of device drivers available for the device, then I strongly recommend downloading and installing those drivers as they tend to fix things.

You can either uninstall the drivers through the Device Manager then restart your computer to see if they’re installed automatically upon startup or download them manually from the manufacturer’s website.

To uninstall drivers:

• Right-click the Windows button in the lower left corner
• Select Device Manager
• Expand Mice and other pointing devices
• Right-click the device in the list and select Uninstall
• In the Window that pops up, press Uninstall and check the box if you can see one.

More advanced mice have their own specific drivers (and sometimes software) while generic office mice install the drivers when they’re connected to the computer. You can try both methods. Google your product, go to the manufacturer’s website and look for Drivers or Support -> Drivers.

7. Update BIOS

Historically, updating the computer’s firmware has turned out to fix a lot of troubles related to peripherals, so while you’re visiting the manufacturer’s website, make sure to grab a copy of the most recent version of BIOS.

You won’t be able to find them by looking at mouse drivers though. Instead, you’ll have to visit the motherboard manufacturer’s website and look for your motherboard there.

Once you’ve arrived at the motherboard’s product page you’ll find BIOS by going to either Drivers or Support, usually. Download the firmware and run the .exe file, then follow the instructions until the computer has gone through the entire update.

If you’re unsure about the model and make of your motherboard, search for System Information using Windows’ search bar in the lower left corner.

The item Baseboard Product in the list will tell you the name of your motherboard. Make sure the computer doesn’t lose power while updating BIOS, as this could lead to corrupt BIOS which will stop your computer from booting.

8. Change batteries

If you have a wireless mouse you might need to either dock it into the loading station or change the batteries. Even if the mouse was charged recently or if the batteries were changed recently, I suggest charging it again to see if it starts working.

9. Change DPI

Many modern computer mice come with a button that adjusts DPI, which is short for Dots Per Inch. Oftentimes, a mouse will have 3 or 4 pre-programmed DPI values that you can swap between with the push of a button.

If you’ve accidentally pressed the button and swapped to the lowest DPI value, your mouse will barely move across the screen when you move it across your mousepad.

Find out if your mouse has a button that changes DPI settings then press it multiple times to see if any of the different values solve your problem.

10. Replace Your Mousepad

If none of the above work, I recommend purchasing a new mousepad or using a spare one if you’ve got one at home. Before purchasing, make sure the mouse works as intended on other surfaces. Otherwise, it might be the mouse that’s malfunctioning and not the surface it is used upon.

How Do I Know If My Mouse Sensor Is Broken?

If the sensor’s light is blocked by even the smallest object or particle, make sure to remove it and clean the lens thoroughly to ensure nothing is blocking the lens, as this could cause discrepancies. You’ll notice these when using your mouse as the cursor will jump around randomly, freeze mid-movement, or stutter.

If the mouse still moves the cursor there’s a good chance that the sensor isn’t broken. Instead, it could be any of the things we mentioned in the list above.

However, if you’ve gone through each of the steps above and still experience the same lag when moving the mouse, it could be because the sensor or any other of the mouse’s components are damaged.

While mouse sensors aren’t mechanical (but optical) they can still wear out over time. This can, however, take a long time if the mouse is cared for.

Can You Replace a Mouse Sensor?

You can replace a mouse sensor but it requires a little bit of technical skill and research to perform correctly. Remember, if your mouse is still covered by warranty, disassembling the device to replace parts will void the warranty.

This is especially true for gamers who benefit from every aspect of increased performance. If you’ve been around for a long time, you’ve seen the evolution of mousepads go from boring gray mats to colored, sleek pads with different shapes and features.

This raises questions for buyers who’re left with too many alternatives. Today we’re focusing on the stiffness of the pad – should a mousepad be soft or hard?

Mousepads with a hard surface are swifter and more precise than soft mousepads because there’s very little friction.

Hard mousepads are often made of plastic or metal and offer more rapid movements because there’s less friction on them. Metal surfaces can scratch your mouse, removing its feet over time. Soft pads are more comfortable and provide support for your wrist but there’s more friction, which makes movement slower but easier to control. Both are good options, and in the end, it comes down to personal preference.

In order to understand the differences between the two pads, and which one you may benefit most from purchasing, we must go more in-depth. Hopefully, this will outline the pros and cons of both pads so clearly that you’ll have no doubts regarding your purchase.

What’s the Difference Between Hard and Soft Mousepads?

Mousepads come in many variations, from many different brands, and they’re also designed for different purposes. While we’ve taken a look at the differences between the two, there’s still a bit of information left to unearth.

Soft Mousepads

Soft mousepads are often made of cloth and are very gentle on mice, but they produce much more static friction than their metal counterparts. The surface of soft mousepads is affected by the humidity levels in the surrounding environment, which can impact the glide negatively.

Not all soft mousepads are affected by humidity levels, though. Reports from users in tropical areas have shown that there are soft mousepads that can be used in highly humid areas without having their glide affected by the climate.

Because of the cloth surface’s friction, most soft mousepad users set their mouse to relatively high sensitivity when compared to hard mousepads. The cloth surface also means that the mousepad needs to be cleaned and maintained on a more frequent basis.

They’re known for having a shorter lifespan than other mousepads made of sturdier materials. There’s simply more wear and tear when it comes to a soft mousepad. With that said, you can expect to use a soft mousepad for a couple of years before it has degraded enough for you to notice.

The material also provides a slight cushioning effect for your wrist, which can prove useful after hours in the same position. The pad is usually supported by foam or any other soft padding to make it more comfortable.

And while the material provides comfort, it can also lead to a bit of discomfort in warm temperatures. Moving your wrist in the same area for a long period of time will generate a good amount of heat, and cloth mousepads tend to hold on to that heat longer.

Soft mousepads come in a wide range of sizes, ranging from small 8-inch squares to behemoth-like mats covering your entire desktop. While soft mousepads were designed to cause enough friction to move the roller-ball contained within mice back in the 90s, they’re still fully functional with today’s optical devices.

Generally speaking, a soft mousepad will provide a good surface for your mouse when gaming. It will not be as fast as a hard mousepad, but it will offer more controlled movements because the friction will aid you in stopping at the precise moment you wish to.

Top rated soft mousepad: HyperX Fury S

Hard Mousepads

Hard mousepads are often made of plastic, aluminum, or glass. Their surface is often completely flat and quite frictionless. The lack of friction on a hard mousepad’s surface will cause mice to move much more rapidly than they would on a soft mousepad.

The rapid movement can be hard to adapt to at first, but with slight adjustments to mouse sensitivity and control, users tend to get the hang of it and benefit from the swiftness provided by the hard surface.

People who play first-person shooter games will probably find themselves adjusting mechanics to fit the new mousepad, but if it’s better or worse for your aim will come down to personal preference and ability to adapt in the end.

Because of the extra speed, most hard mousepads are much smaller than their cloth counterparts. This can prove useful for those who have limited desk space and, therefore, can’t make room for a large cloth mousepad. Instead, they would only need a small mousepad.

With that said, hard mousepads are available in XXL for those who prefer large mousepads and have no problem housing a larger pad. So, if you’re keen on larger mousepads and considering going with a hard mousepad, you’ll find a suitable candidate.

Some hard mousepads have two usable sides, meaning you can turn the mousepad over when one side has been worn out and continue using the other side until that too has been worn out. This could, however, take some time considering they’re quite durable.

The one thing that could spoil both the appearance and control provided by a hard mousepad is scratches to the pad’s even surface. Scratches can interfere with the mousepad’s ability to register movement and cause sudden friction.

If you take good care of your mousepad and don’t put sharp objects on it you should be fine. It’s also worth mentioning that some metal mousepads “eat” mice’s feet. To clarify; computer mice have several (2+) rubber feet located underneath the mouse that act as pillars for the mouse to stand on.

When these are dragged across the metal surface back and forth, they will start to wear out more and more, until there’s nothing left for the mouse to stand on. There are plenty of hard mousepads that don’t do this, but I believe it’s worth mentioning so you can keep an eye out.

Hard mousepads provide little (or less) support for your wrist other than the support provided by your desk and chair.

For me, this hasn’t been a problem though, but I consider it worth mentioning as some people feel strain in their wrists quite easily. Of course, you can purchase additional cushions to support your wrist if needed.

Lastly, they’re colder than soft mousepads and not as convenient to transport because of their rigid structure. Metal, plastic, or glass mousepads are incredibly easy to maintain. Cleaning them is as easy as wiping them down with a damp cloth.

Top rated hard mousepad: Logitech G440

The Main Differences Between Hard and Soft Mousepads (Takeaway)

• Speed: Hard mousepads are faster than soft mousepads but provide less friction which can make it difficult to be precise.

• Durability: While both will last you quite some time, cloth mousepads are more prone to wear and tear than hard mousepads are.

• Size: Soft mousepads are available in a wide range of sizes while hard mousepads tend to be smaller.

• Comfort: Soft mousepads are more comfortable because of their rubber or foam padding but hard mousepads don’t harbor as much heat. Both can be equally comfortable by setting up your desk and chair properly.

• Purpose: Soft mousepads are designed for everyday work, gaming, and overall usage while hard mousepads are designed for fast-paced gaming but they can be used interchangeably.

Is a Soft or Hard Mousepad Best For Gaming?

What’s best for your gaming endeavors will absolutely come down to personal preference. You have options that provide different possibilities. The option that you can adapt to and learn how to maneuver the easiest is the best option for you.

You can most likely adapt to both, but they’re different from one another, and understanding what it is they do is a surefire way to increase the chances of making the right purchase. With that said, I’ll share what I’ve learned and what I think about the two.

Hard mousepads are good for gaming, but their main benefit is truly showcased when playing FPS games and games that require swift reactions while soft mousepads are viable options for all games. If you find yourself playing all types of games, the right choice might be a hybrid mousepad.

This will give you the best of both worlds. While the Artisan Hayate isn’t a 50/50 mixture of both, I think it’s one of the best mousepads I have tried, and many others seem to agree with me.

Does a Good Mousepad Make a Difference?

The quality of mousepads is often forgotten by those who don’t seek to improve the margins, but there’s actually more to a good mousepad than just being able to move your mouse more rapidly and precisely.

You can, however, expect a good mousepad to make a bit of difference when it comes to gaming. The mouse is often the primary controller in most computer games, for instance. Optimizing the surface on which the mouse is used upon will have an impact on the outcome.

When fractions of a second matter, a good mousepad will make a difference in gaming. It will also make a difference if you’re looking for something comfortable that reduces the load on your wrist.

I think the main areas of difference between a decent and a good mousepad are performance, durability, and comfort.

There’s a price difference, which I think is worth mentioning. Good, high-quality mousepads will cost a bit more than your regular office mousepads found at your general store but you can assume that a high-quality mousepad will last longer than your regular mousepad will.

Is a Thick or Thin Mousepad Better?

The way a mousepad is designed can vary in a lot of different ways, as you’ve probably understood by now. Aside from size and material, they can also differ when it comes to the actual thickness of the mousepad.

Some mousepads are thin enough to be rolled like a parchment scroll, while other, thick mousepads, are hard to bend because of how rigid they are. What’s the benefit of a thick or a thin mousepad?

Thick mousepads will nullify uneven surfaces, giving you a flat surface to control your mouse on, regardless of what’s beneath the pad. The added thickness will prevent anything underneath the pad to push through to the top, and provide a bit of comfort for your arm.

Everyone doesn’t like the cushioned support provided by thick mousepads, though. In that case, a thin mousepad is a better option. Thin mousepads will, contrary to thick ones, make uneven surfaces noticeable to the user.

There’s a debate regarding sinking, which I haven’t had any problems with yet, but I think it’s worth mentioning as some people seem to have issues with thick mousepads causing mice with small feet to sink into the thick padding.

Other than that, I think it comes down to personal preference here too.

The other click sound is the mechanical noise made by the computer mice when their switches are clicked, but those can’t be silenced with settings. The sounds produced by the software can be changed from within Windows though.

Let’s say you’ve grown tired of the clicking noise your mouse makes and you would like to either change it or silence it.

How would one do that?

You can access the sound settings in Windows 10, where you can mute or change the clicking sound your mouse makes by left-clicking on the speaker icon in the lower-right corner and going to Sounds. Other options include importing your own third-party sounds to replace the standard click sound or reducing the mechanical click by adjusting the switches inside the device.

Continue reading for a detailed step-by-step guide.

Another alternative is to buy a silent mouse. I use the Logitech M650, which showed a 90% reduction in noise levels when tested. This is because of Logitech’s silent switches, which make next to no click sound when pressed.

If you want to mute or reduce the sound the physical product makes when it’s clicked, then there are ways of doing that too. Stay tuned as we’ll go through that later in the article.

The sounds menu has a bunch of different settings that can be adjusted. I’ll provide images to guide you through the process of changing or muting the sound your computer mouse makes. Continue reading below to find out how to do it.

How to Stop Mouse From Making Click Sounds In Windows 10

You can mute the sound your mouse makes by changing the Sound Scheme in Windows 10 to No Sound. This will, however, mute all sounds in Windows 10. Therefore, we must change the sound for a specific program event.

This easy step-by-step guide will show you how it’s done. Bare with me, as you’re about to hear the last click sounds in a while.

Changing/Removing the Click Sound in Windows

We’re going to access the sound events in Windows 10, which means we’re going to configure the sounds that are triggered when a certain event takes place. There is a multitude of different events to choose from but we’re primarily going to focus on those associated with the mouse.

Before we look at the guide – let’s look at which sounds you may want to mute or change. You’ll be able to find all of them using the guide that’s coming up after this section.

• Start Navigation – Plays a sound when you open files or folders in Windows
• Open Program – Plays a sound when you open applications in Windows
• Close Program – Plays a sound when you close applications in Windows
• Maximize – Plays a sound when you maximize a window
• Minimize – Plays a sound when you minimize a window

Now that we’ve outlined the different events that can trigger a click sound from the mouse. Follow the steps below to access the Sound settings, where you can turn off the triggering of the sound.

• Click the Start button located in the lower-left corner
• Search for Control Panel in the search bar
• In the upper-right corner, make sure the view by option is set to Category
• Locate the section Hardware and Sound
• Click on Change System Settings
• In the newly-opened window, scroll the list until you find the item Start Navigation
• With Start Navigation selected, go to the dropdown menu just below and make sure None is selected.
• If Start Navigation has a sound connected to it, change it to None.

Then repeat the process with the rest of the events, which can be found in the same dropdown menu. You can also turn off all Windows sounds by changing the sound scheme to No Sound. This will disable all the sounds emitted by any event triggered within Windows.

Reducing The Mouse Click Sound

You can, as we’ve mentioned, make adjustments to the mouse’s interior to dampen the sound produced when the switch is clicked.

Before I start raising your interest, I must mention that I have never done this with a high-quality mouse myself and I don’t think I would consider it an option for a mouse that I’ve paid more than 20$ for, as I could end up damaging it instead of fixing it.

However, it is possible and it has been done by a plethora of people on the web who had grown tired of the click sound produced by the switches on their computer mice.

The procedure is quite simple, and shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes when done correctly. The video below shows you one of the possible methods of silencing a computer mouse’s mechanical click.

Computer Mouse That Makes No Clicking Sounds

If you’re bothered by the mechanical clicking sound your computer mouse makes, then you’ll have to either open up the mouse and make adjustments, which I don’t recommend as you will void the warranty, or purchase a silent mouse.

One of our silent favorites is the Logitech Signature M650 with silenced clicks. Logitech’s studies have shown that the M650 has reduced the clicking sound by 90%.

It comes with nearly inaudible switches that you’ll have a really hard time hearing unless you focus your entire mind on it. It’s also a high-quality mouse that’s durable and comfortable to use. I strongly recommend it.

Another viable option for this purpose is the Logitech M330, which also comes with the silent click feature (90% click sound reduction).

Both of these alternatives are what I would go for if I wanted a silent mouse, rather than muting the entire sound scheme. You could dissect a cheaper mouse to silence it, but you’d risk damaging it. Having the manufacturer do it will ensure the warranty remains valid.

Change Type of Mouse Click Sound On Computer

If you don’t have a problem with the fact that your computer mouse makes digital sounds, but you don’t like the specific sound that it makes, then you can change to any of the sounds Windows provides or use third-party solutions to access additional mouse click sounds.

Right out of the box, you’ll have access to a bunch of different digital sounds that can be used when an event is triggered. These sounds can replace the default click sound for the events you desire.

To access and change the default click sound:

• Click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of your screen
• Select Sounds
• The lower part of the window contains a list. Look there to find the specific program events you want to change the sound for (We listed all the events that trigger mouse clicks above)
• Select a specific program event
• Go to the dropdown menu Sounds in the lower-left corner
• Pick any sound you like
• That sound will be played when that program event is triggered

If the sounds provided by Windows don’t do the job for you, then you’re given the option to import your own sound files.

• Make sure you have the desired sound file on your computer
• Click Browse in the lower-right corner of the aforementioned window
• Find the file and select it
• The file should now be the selected sound for that program event (Look for the sound file’s name in the list if it wasn’t selected automatically)

Why Does My Computer Mouse Make a Clicking Noise?

Most of us have grown accustomed to the clicking sound that computer mice emit when they’re clicked, and have, therefore, stopped questioning the meaning of the click sound. What’s the purpose of it? Why is it produced?

The clicking sound is produced by the mechanic apparatus within the device itself. When the mouse button is pushed down, the inside of the button is pushed against a momentary contact switch. Inside the switch is a spring that’s designed to return the switch to its open position.

When the mouse button is released, the spring releases the switch back into its initial position and that’s when the sound is produced. So, the sound is produced by a snap-spring underneath the mouse button.

Some argue that the sound is totally unnecessary and that it could be removed without degrading the overall experience of using a mouse, while others enjoy the feedback the clicking sound provides.

I believe there’s some use for the sound. It’s a response to your manual input – a kind of positive feedback indicating that the mouse button was pressed.

If, for instance, you click the button and nothing happens on the computer, you’ll know that the button was pressed. This way you can tell that there’s something wrong with the software, or at least know that the button was pressed.

If you’re bothered by the sound, remember that there are ways around it.

I’ve been bothered by the sound before, and I have a hard time focusing when my surroundings aren’t very calm and quiet. Therefore, I can understand those who go to lengths (minor lengths) to silence it.

There are a number of reasons why your mouse might be freezing during games:

• Your computer could be freezing up
• Your mouse might be defective
• The battery in your mouse might be dying or dead (if it’s a cordless mouse)
• There could be dust particles or debris stuck on the laser of your mouse
• Your PC/laptop specs are too slow to run the game you’re playing
• Your mouse drivers aren’t updated or corrupt
• Your mousepad would be worn out or not ideal for the mouse you’re using
• Your BIOS drivers are outdated
• …and more!

While dealing with a mouse freezing can be more than annoying, fortunately, there are a number of things you can do in order to resolve the issue. If none of these options work, you’ll want to consider upgrading your equipment.

How to Stop Your Mouse From Freezing In-Game

1. Ensure Your Computer Isn’t Overheating

If you’ve got a laptop or desktop computer, you need to know how to keep it from overheating.

The first step is to make sure your computer is in a place with good ventilation—not in a tight corner with all the windows closed, or on top of your bed. If you can’t move your computer, use fans and other cooling devices to help circulate air around it.

Second, find out how hot your computer gets. You can check the temperature by opening up the case and using a laser thermometer; or if you have a MacBook model, go into System Preferences > Energy Saver, and click “Show…>” under the “Temperature” section.

Third, if your computer gets too hot, it might shut down automatically. That’s why it’s important to check the temperature every now and then.

If your computer isn’t shutting down by itself after an extended period of time (like while you’re at work or school), then open up its case and let some air circulate through it for a while before putting it back together.

2. Disable the Cortana Assistant

Cortana is a virtual assistant developed by Microsoft. While it seems strange that a virtual assistant would interfere with the mouse, it should be noted that it isn’t the strangest feature to cause problems within Windows.

Disabling Cortana could solve your problems. If you don’t use the assistant on a frequent basis, disabling it could improve performance by freeing up a bit of system memory.

1. Press Ctrl + R to open the Run command.
2. Type Regedit and click Ok to open the Registry Editor
3. Browse the menu to the left until you find the following path (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search) or copy and paste it into the address bar at the top. Remove the parentheses.
4. If an AllowCortana value has been set already, double-click the value to access its properties and set the value to 0.
5. If the AllowCortana value hasn’t been set, right-click and select New -> Dword (32-Bit) Value and set the Value data to 0.
6. Cortana has now been disabled. Restart your computer.

3. Update/Reinstall the Mouse Drivers

Always make sure that your computer or laptop is running the most up-to-date operating system. If it’s not, you may be missing some important updates that could affect how well your computer performs.

Without applicable updates, it could affect the way your mouse performs, causing it to potentially freeze during gaming sessions.

This goes the same for mouse drivers.

Depending on the type of mouse you have, you’ll want to uninstall the drivers for it and reinstall it again. You can download it from the official website of whatever manufacturer you purchased your mouse from. Make sure that all drivers are updated before gaming again.

If there are no specific drivers for your mouse, simply uninstalling the current drivers and restarting the computer should reinstall the drivers. Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide.

1. Search for Device Manager in Windows search
2. In the list of Devices, look for the Mice and other pointing devices option.
3. Right-click the device and select Uninstall Device
4. Restart the computer

4. Update the Graphics Card Drivers

Outdated graphics card drivers can cause the mouse to freeze in game. Updating them on a regular basis a good way to minimize bugs and maximize performance. Where you’ll be able to find the drivers varies depending on the model and make of your graphics card.

Owners of custom-built computers often know what GPU the computer has. If that’s the case for you, search for the card on the manufacturer’s website and look the drivers there.

If you’re on a laptop, simply search for the laptop model on the manufacturer’s website and look for drivers. The model name should be stated on the label underneath the laptop. You can also find information regarding the model by going to System Information in Windows.

5. Make Sure Your Computer Can Run the Game

If your mouse freezes during video games and you’re sure that the culprit isn’t the mouse, there is a good chance that your computer is too slow to keep up with the demands of the game. You can solve this problem by upgrading your computer or installing more RAM.

First, you’ll want to find a list of computers that are compatible with the video game you’re playing. Check out the specs online for each one and see which one best fits your needs.

In most cases, you’ll be able to upgrade your current computer by installing more RAM—and if you can’t do that yourself (or don’t want to), you can always take it to a technician to do the job for you.

6. Get A New Mouse Pad

If you’ve ever seen someone playing on an old-fashioned wooden desk with no mouse pad at all—and even though it looks like they might be using magic because their mouse is still perfectly responsive while they’re playing.

Then you know what we mean: A good gaming mouse pad can make all the difference in whether or not your mouse freezes up during gameplay.

7. Dead Battery In the Mouse

Sometimes your mouse freezing can be caused by a dead mouse battery.

If you think your mouse might be experiencing freezing because of a dead battery, try this:

• Unplug the mouse from your computer and open up the battery compartment. You should see two or three AA batteries inside. If there are three, remove all but one (if there are two, remove both).

• Plug the mouse back in and wait for it to start working again. If it doesn’t work after five minutes or so, unplug it again and replace the missing batteries—the ones you removed earlier—back into their slots. Then try plugging it back in again.

• If your mouse still doesn’t work after doing this twice in a row, then unfortunately there’s something else going on with it that needs to be addressed before you can use it again

8. Dust/Debris In the Mouse

One of the most common causes of mouse freezing is dust. You may have noticed that your mouse works better when you clean it. That’s because dust gets between the rollers and causes them to stick, causing your mouse to freeze up.

If you have a laptop, then there’s not much you can do about this problem unless you take apart your computer and clean it out yourself (not recommended). But if you have a desktop computer, then all you need to do is unplug your keyboard and mouse and use compressed air to blow out all the dust.

9. Close Applications

One common cause of a mouse freezing is having too many programs open at once. When you have a lot of applications running in the background, it can make it hard for your computer to keep up, especially an outdated one.

If you’re having trouble with this, try closing some programs or just restarting your computer to free up some memory.

10. Update BIOS

Your basic input/output system helps the computer communicate with the connected hardware. Sometimes, outdated BIOS can cause peripherals, such as the mouse, to stop working as intended.

Installing the most recent BIOS version could prevent your mouse from freezing when playing games.

Now, if the term BIOS is new to you, you’re probably wondering how to find which version you’ve got and where you should look for the most recent version. That’s totally understandable.

You can do this in two different ways. If you’re using a laptop with a model name (e.g HP Elitebook 840 G5), then you would go to the manufacturer’s website and search for the product. Once on the product page, look for a tab called Drivers or Support. Alternatively, google the model name + the word drivers.

If you’ve got a custom-built computer without a model name, search for System Information in Windows. Then look for Baseboard Version, Manufacturer, and Product. Using that information, search for the most recent BIOS version for your motherboard on the manufacturer’s website.

11. Check USB Ports

Faulty USB ports can cause the conncetion to fail at times. This could cause your mouse to suddenly freeze when you’re gaming.

The problem could be with the computer’s ports or the mouse’s USB-plug. Troubleshoot the device by trying multiple USB-ports, and try unplugging everything except for the mouse.

If you have the possiblity, run the mouse on a different computer and see if the same problems arise. If your mouse is connected to a Bluetooth connector, try doing the same with the Bluetooth connector to see if it functions as intended in another port or with another computer.

12. Make Sure the Laser Isn’t Blocked

Most mice registers movement through a laser located on the bottom of the mouse. If the laser is blocked off by something, the mouse won’t be able to register movement.

13. Run a Virus Scan

If your computer is infected with a virus, the virus could be causing your equipment to go haywire. It’s rare for malware to only affect peripherals, as there’s little economic gain in disabling keyboards and mice compared to gaining access to personal information.

Some people don’t care about getting your personal information though. They simply want to send bothersome viruses out into cyberspace for the kick. Running a virus scan or re-installing the computer completely should ensure the removal of any malicious software.

If you’re running Windows 10 you’ve got access to Windows Defender, which is Windows built-in defense system, including a virus scan feature.

1. Right-click the Windows symbol in the lower-left corner
2. Go to Settings
3. Go to Update & Security
4. Click Windows Security in the right-side menu
5. Click on Virus & Threat Protection
6. Run a Full scan. You can choose the type of scan you want to run by clicking Scan Options.

14. Stop Realtek Audio

That audio devices can interfere with computer mice has been brought up a lot on forums all over the world. Using on-board sound is not optimal for gaming, and the drivers often install other lag-inducing updates, which can cause the mouse to stutter or freeze in game.

Thankfully, simply terminating the audio seems to reverse the problem.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete and go to the Task Manager
2. Click More Details and go to the Processes tab
3. Select the Realtek HD Audio Manager Process and click End Task

See if the mouse starts working as intended now that the process has been terminated. If not, disable the audio device.

1. Search for Device Manager using the Windows search bar
2. Expand the Sound, video and game contollers option
3. Right-click on the Realtek Device and click Disable Device

15. Try A Gaming Mouse

There is a good chance that your mouse freezes during video games because it’s not optimized for gaming.

What you need is a mouse that has been designed specifically to give you the edge when it comes to gaming.

Our mice are built with high-performance sensors that are optimized for gaming. With an optimized mouse, that means you’ll get the highest possible performance during your game.

Optimized mice have customizable buttons that let you program them exactly how YOU want them, so there’s no need to learn complicated button combinations or memorize button sequences—just press the buttons on your mouse and let them do all the work!

16. Start Over With New Products

If you’re a gamer, you know that your mouse is one of the most important parts of your setup. It’s not just about having the right mouse because of how well it performs, but also using the right mouse to prevent it from running into issues.

When you’re looking for a new mouse that won’t cause you any issues, look for a couple of these key factors:

• Length of cable
• Sensor response
• Weight of the mouse

Sometimes when you’ve exhausted all of the options available to you, it’s best to just bite the bullet and purchase a brand new product.

Has the mouse wheel function started to change the system’s volume instead? Regardless of what’s causing your scroll to act out of the ordinary, you’re not the first one to experience it and you’re not going to be the last one either.

Thankfully, you’re in capable hands as I’ve seen a bunch of users who have struggled with this issue before, and we’ve been able to resolve it the majority of the time. So, what’s causing it, and what can be done about it?

There could be several different things causing your mouse wheel to adjust the volume in place of scrolling.

Your scroll is adjusting the volume because the mouse is in media mode or the drivers are outdated or corrupt. Disabling media mode and updating or uninstalling the drivers could fix the issue. Replacing the device’s batteries, changing the device’s settings in the control panel, and uninstalling conflicting software are also common fixes.

This issue is quite frustrating and it really highlights the importance and convenience of a working scroll wheel. Not being able to use the wheel as it was intended to will have you looking for a fix as quickly as possible.

How Do I Stop My Mouse Scroll From Changing the Volume?

Follow the steps below, one by one, and your mouse should (hopefully) start working normally again.

Disable Media Mode

Depending on the type of mouse you’re using, it may or may not come with an array of convenient features. Regular mice don’t come with anything else than the standard set of buttons and the scroll wheel, while more advanced mice come with the ability to switch between user profiles, plenty of customization options, media mode, and more.

The feature known as media mode can turn out to be the reason you’re experiencing interference. Mice with media mode enabled will, by default, have a button that lets the user turn the feature on and off.

When media mode is activated, the mouse can be used to control media, just like the media buttons on a keyboard. It’s not unusual for the mouse wheel to be bound to the system volume while in media mode – and that’s probably what you’re experiencing if you’re the owner of a more advanced device.

Turning media mode off should reverse the effect. The mouse should go back to normal and all buttons, keys, and wheels should once again be bound to their initial function.

• Inspect your device to locate the Media Mode Button or DPI switch
• Click or hold the DPI button for 3 seconds to disable Media Mode
• Test if the scroll wheel works as intended
• If the issue should persist – hold the DPI button for five seconds to ensure that Media Mode actually is disabled.

Uninstall / Update Drivers

Updating or uninstalling the device’s drivers is a common fix for a bunch of different issues. This is not only true for mice, but for all of the computer’s components.

Uninstalling the drivers will force the computer to reinstall them as you turn on the computer. The newly installed version of the drivers isn’t necessarily the most recent one – but it’s a fresh installation.

Sometimes it’s much better to update the device’s drivers rather than uninstalling them. The most recent version of the drivers will include fixes for the previous version’s bugs along with optimizing features.

Ok. Let’s take a look at how it’s done.

1. Right-click the Windows-menu in the bottom-left corner.
2. Select Device Manager
3. Look for x in the list of item and expand it
4. Right-click the device that’s causing the issue
5. Select Uninstall device
6. Select Uninstall (If the window has a box that can be checked – check it)

Change the Mouse’s Settings

The issue could be caused by a glitch in the settings within Windows 10. Changing the settings can resolve the issue. The mouse wheel’s settings can be found by going to the mouse settings then going to additional settings. I’ll walk you through it.

1. Click Windows + I to open Window Settings. You can also right-click the bottom-left menu button and select Settings
2. Select Devices
3. Pick Mouse from the list to the left
4. Select Additional mouse options on the right-hand side
5. Click the Wheel tab in the Mouse Properties window
6. In the Vertical Scrolling section, check the box for One screen at a time.
7. If the box was already checked, change the number of lines at a time to 3.
8. Apply the changes and see if the issue persist.

Remove Conflicting Applications

Have you installed any new applications recently? Backtracking and keeping note of any software you may have installed on your computer around the time the issue started is smart because there are applications out there that tend to interfere with the mouse’s functions.

The easiest way to tell if you have conflicting applications installed on your computer is to clean boot your computer. What clean boot does is that it allows you to start Windows without any additional applications, only the default programs.

If the mouse scroll adjusts the display, and not the volume, when clean booted, then it’s leaning towards one of the applications being the cause of the problem.

Enable the applications one by one until you’ve found the culprit. Now that you’ve found the specific app that’s interfering with the mouse, either disable or uninstall the application.

It’s also wise to use Google to gather information regarding the application and to see if others have experienced the same problem.

Applications that I know of that might have an impact on the scroll wheel are the following:

• KatMouse
• AltDrag
• DesktopOK
• WizMouse
• Taekwindow
• Logitech’s SetPoint software

To uninstall an application:

• Right-click the Windows menu and select Settings or use the command Windows-key + I to access Settings.
• Go to Apps
• Select the application you wish to uninstall
• Click uninstall

Re-insert the Batteries

Disconnecting the mouse from the computer or removing the batteries can fix glitches in the mouse driver. It’s possible that your mouse starts working as intended once it’s reconnected. Small temporary glitches like this one can often be fixed out of the blue – by restarting the computer or the device in question.

Wireless

• Open up the hatch containing the device’s batteries
• Remove the batteries
• Re-insert the batteries after 3-5 minutes and turn on the device
• Place the hatch back on

Does it work? If not – try the same thing using a pair of fresh batteries.

Wired

• Disconnect the device from the computer
• Reconnect the mouse after 3-5 minutes

Connect your mouse to another computer

Connecting your mouse to another computer is an easy way to tell if the issue is hardware or software-related. If the mouse functions properly on another system, then you can conclude hardware being the problem. Knowing that the issue doesn’t appear on a second system makes it easier to troubleshoot the device.

Remap the mouse buttons using 3rd party applications

You can remap the mouse buttons to specific functions using third-party applications. Remapping the wheel should bind the wheel to its initial function once again. I recommend using X-Mouse Button Control for this.

Reinstall Windows

If nothing else works and the problem doesn’t seem to be the device itself, but rather the settings within Windows, then you could go as far as reinstalling the computer’s operative system. While this is quite a stretch, it could be a solution if all else fails.

Today we’re looking at the different things that can cause your keyboard and mouse to freeze and what you can do about it. Hopefully, once you’ve finished reading this article and applied the steps, you won’t have the same problems anymore.

Your mouse and keyboard can be freezing because of corrupt or outdated drivers, viruses and malware, physical damage to the device that causes connectivity problems, technical problems, issues within the Windows registry, faulty ports on the motherboard, and Windows freezing. Demanding CPU work can also cause the peripherals to freeze, but only for mere seconds.

Depending on how your computer and peripherals behave, you can exclude some of the things in the list above. For instance: You would have to be an incredibly unfortunate being if both the ports that your devices are connected to are faulty without you knowing it. There’s also a low risk that both of your devices have damaged cords unless you’ve got a horde of cord-eating cats living in your office.

How Do You Fix a Frozen Mouse and Keyboard?

Start troubleshooting the devices and the computer to filter out the possibilities.

Connect the devices to another computer and other devices to your computer.

The first and easiest way to tell if something is wrong with the actual device is to connect the keyboard and/or mouse to another computer to see if the issue persists or if it’s functioning properly on another computer. Physical damage or technical issues can most likely be discounted if the device works as intended when connected to another computer. So, then it must be some type of interference caused by the computer, rather than the hardware.

If possible, connect another keyboard and/or mouse to your computer to see if the same type of interference affects the new set of peripherals too. With this out of the way, you will most likely have gathered enough information to determine if the problem is software-related or hardware-related.

Update Drivers

Running your peripherals on outdated or corrupt drivers can cause discrepancies, like your mouse or keyboard frequently freezing stuck. You can either choose to uninstall the current drivers and restart the computer or download the latest drivers and update your current ones. The computer will reinstall the old drivers upon startup, and if they’re corrupt, the problem should be fixed by it.

Uninstall Device:

• Search for “Device Manager” and run it as administrator.
• Find the keyboard and mouse in the list of devices and expand those items.
• Right-click them one at a time and select Uninstall Device.
• Windows will display a warning, telling you that you’re about to uninstall the device from your system. Make sure to check the box in this window if it appears, then click Uninstall. If no box appears, simply click Uninstall.
• Do the same with the other device then restart the computer.

Does the issue persist? Continue reading.

Update Drivers:

• Search for “System Information” and look for System Model or Baseboard Product. This is the name of your computer’s motherboard. Laptop users don’t need to do this step, as most laptops have model names, such as EliteBook 840 G1, etc.
• Search for the motherboard’s name + drivers or the laptop’s model name + drivers on google.
• Find the appropriate drivers for your mouse and keyboard and download them.
• Run the .exe file when it has finished downloading and follow the instructions.
• Restart the computer if the installation doesn’t prompt you to do it.

Update/Reinstall USB drivers:

• Go to Device Manager
• Look for Universal Serial Bus controllers in the list and expand the item
• Locate the device driver and right-click it (There can be a ton of different items in this list – either pick the one called “Standard” if you’ve got one or go for the ones with the brand name).
• Go to Properties
• Select Uninstall Device
• Restart the computer

This step also includes updating the computer’s BIOS drivers. Bios is short for “basic input/output system”, and can be described as the motherboard’s way of communicating with the connected hardware during start-up. You should be able to find the right BIOS drivers by using the method described above. Knowing the name of the motherboard, or the computer’s model name is enough.

Check the cord and USB-plug for physical damage

This step is redundant for those who have successfully connected their devices to another computer, but not for those who don’t have another computer at home to try with or those who didn’t get their peripherals to work with another computer either. Perform a quick visual inspection of the cable and the USB connector to see if they’re damaged, or worn out.

While I highly doubt that both of your devices have damaged cords or USB plugs, checking them is part of the procedure so I will always recommend it. Working in this industry has taught me that you should expect the unexpected when it comes to helping others with computers, and even more so when it comes to helping yourself.

Run a virus scan

If your keyboard and mouse still keep freezing, I would recommend checking your computer for malware. While most viruses have more lucrative goals in mind, some viruses interfere with the computer’s peripherals, causing them to function differently. This can absolutely include freezing, but also a plethora of other strange things. You can run a virus scan within Windows 10, but I think you should consider paying for a premium security application that keeps you protected at all times. If you are on a low budget, opt for the free version of an anti-virus program, such as Avast.

Don’t install multiple security applications as they can interfere with one another easily.

To run a scan Within windows 10:

• Click the Windows button + i to open settings.
• Scroll down and select Update & Security.
• Select Windows Security from the list on the left-hand side.
• Select Virus & Threat protection.
• Select Quick Scan to scan the computer.

Check your CPU usage

Running demanding applications, or having them lurking in the background can easily cause your peripherals (and your entire system) to freeze for seconds now and then. When your CPU is under heavy usage the computer will become less seamless, this applies to the peripherals, but also loading times, and graphics. Overall, if the computer is slow and cumbersome, there’s most likely some high-performance software running on it.

Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete then select “Task Manager) to see what processes are running and how they’re affecting the CPU. Try closing any program that’s running in the background, or the ones that you’re not using to see if your problems disappear.

You can also stop unnecessary applications from starting when you power on the computer by disabling them in the Startup Tab in the Task Manager. That way you can keep track of the applications that are active on your computer more easily.

Install Windows Updates

Installing the most recent Windows updates released by Microsoft can help you get rid of your old problems, and instead, welcome new ones. No, but seriously – updating Windows can definitely make a big difference, and it has proven to solve this issue before. Even if your computer is set to automatically deliver the newest updates to you, it can be wise to check the updates manually to ensure that they’ve gone through.

If you don’t have the Automatic Updates Feature activated, do the following to update Windows:

• Search for Windows Update Settings in the search bar
• Click Check for updates
• If any updates are available Windows will install them automatically.

You should also consider installing the newest version of Windows. This can be done in the section directly under the “Check for updates” button. I’m talking about this one:

Click Download and install or See what’s in this update if you’re curious. Once the installation has started, let the computer run the installation until you’re back to the login screen.

This has seemed to work to fix keyboard and mouse issues in Windows, and I’ve come to that conclusion because of how many forums I’ve visited to find a fix to this problem.

Check technical problems

Seeing as we’re dealing with two devices at the same time, chances are slim that there’s something wrong with both devices, as I’ve mentioned above. However, I recommend checking the batteries on both devices and replacing them to ensure they’re both equipped with a fresh pair of batteries. Oh, and if they’ve got a built-in battery, then recharge that battery and use any accompanying software or battery indicators to make sure the devices actually charge up.

Try plugging the USB receiver into a different USB port.

The Wifi Adapter Can Interfere With Your Bluetooth Devices

Your WiFi and Bluetooth can interfere with each other. This is because they are both designed to operate on the same 2.4 GHz frequency. The more devices you have connected to the same channel, the more disturbance there may be. You can think of the channels as traffic lanes: If there’s much traffic in one lane, there’s also going to be a long wait when you arrive at a red light.

Bluetooth and WiFi will try their hand at available channels using two different techniques – when they find channels that can be used to send data, they will send it. However, the longer they have to search for available channels, the slower they will be. You can manually change your WiFi to transmit on a 5GHz frequency instead. This can reduce the amount of interruption caused by their attempts to coexist.

I also recommend moving your router away from your computer. Try about 40′ away.

Check Power Settings

How are your power-saving options set? Make sure to disable power saving options as they can force the computer, along with the peripherals, into hibernation. Sleep and hibernation settings can fool you and cause a lot of trouble. Make sure they’re turned off if you’re having problems with your peripherals freezing.

Check Power Management settings too:

• Go to Device Manager
• Find the device in the list of devices
• Expand the list and right-click the item
• Select Properties
• Go to the Power Management tab and uncheck “Allow this computer to turn off this device to save power”

Make Sure the USB Ports Work

Connect other devices (it doesn’t have to be peripherals) to see if the ports work. Keep the Device Manager open to see if it ever flickers with the new device connected. A flickering Device Manager means that a device has either been disconnected or connected to the computer. If the connected device disconnects and reconnects frequently, something may be wrong with the ports. Inspect them to see if they’ve been damaged or bent then do the same with the USB receiver or the USB plug on the mouse and keyboard.

Run the in-built troubleshooter

Windows 10 has an integrated troubleshooter that can be used to identify problems with your devices. The troubleshooter can be accessed in Settings. Run the troubleshooter on the devices to see if Windows has identified any issues with them.

Take note: It seems like my mouse doesn’t appear as an option in the troubleshooter.

• Search for Troubleshooting settings
• Scroll down and select Additional troubleshooters
• Look for and select Keyboard under Find and fix other problems.

Check the computer’s temperature

Raising temperatures may go hand-in-hand with high CPU usage, but it doesn’t have to be high CPU usage that’s causing it – it could be overheating caused by insufficient cooling. The results of an overheating computer can be sudden and frequent freezes. These freezes may affect your peripherals or the entire operative system. They are, regardless, harmful to your computer and should be fixed as quickly as possible.

You can see the computer’s temperature by using third-party applications. If your computer is uncomfortable to touch because of how hot it is, then it’s probably overheating. Changing the fans, the fan’s settings in bios, cleaning the computer, or having someone with experience open up the computer to inspect it is something you should consider.

Reinstall Windows

During all of my years working with IT support, I can’t tell you how many problems I’ve been able to solve by simply reinstalling Windows. Doing this will offer you a clean slate, remove any third-party software that may interfere with your devices, and reinstall the computer’s drivers. Reinstalling Windows takes 1-2 hours depending on your approach. Any files that are saved locally will be removed from your computer when you install Windows. Make sure to save everything that you value.

Check Windows Registry

If Window’s registry is corrupt, that could be what’s causing your devices to freeze. You can use a third-party application called Advanced System Repair Pro to scan your registry for errors and fix them. However, because we’re dealing with both peripherals freezing at the same time, it’s so much more difficult to say if both their issues are bound to the registry or not. It’s not unusual for a mouse to get stuck because of a broken registry, but both? Rare.

Mouse and keyboard still keep freezing? Try this.

Aside from the things we’ve talked about, there’s a few things you can try to get them up and running properly again. Here’s a less detailed list.

• Rollback mouse & keyboard drivers to earlier configs.
• Rollback Windows updates to earlier versions (before the problem started).
• Update graphics card driver.
• Disable Cortana.
• Disable Hybrid Shutdown/Fast Startup
• Disable Sticky Keys

I connected the computer to the docking station to get access to the peripherals and the screen. Everything seemed to be working just fine at this point. However, as soon as I started being less active, I started to notice one thing.

Within just a few minutes of being idle, my mouse would enter sleep mode. Watching youtube, reading, writing, using the restroom, and taking a break was more than enough to throw the mouse into sleep mode, from which it then had to be woken up.

So why does my Bluetooth keep turning off?

Your Bluetooth mouse could be entering sleep mode because the Bluetooth service isn’t set to automatic, because the power management settings have been set to allow the computer to turn off Bluetooth devices to save power, because the Bluetooth drivers are outdated, or because the mouse is malfunctioning. The power-saving function could also be hard-wired into the device itself, which makes it difficult to make adjustments.

Can this be fixed? Yes, you can prevent your Bluetooth equipment from entering sleep mode. Continue reading as we’ll go through the different techniques that can be used to achieve it!

How To Stop Wireless Mouse From Going To Sleep

As long as the function isn’t hard-wired into the device itself or caused by a malfunctioning or broken device, then I’m sure there’s something we should be able to do to fix it.

Because a few different things could be causing this issue, we’ll have to take a look at a few different approaches to the problem. The first being:

Set the Bluetooth support service to automatic

If the computer’s Bluetooth service has turned off, or if the start-up type isn’t automatic, then that may be what’s causing your Bluetooth device to enter sleep mode after seconds of inactivity.

When a service has an automatic start-up type it will trigger and start as soon as Windows is initiated. The service may also start or stop as a result of an even within the operating system.

1. Type services.msc in the Windows search bar and choose Services in the Program list. Provide the information needed to get administrator rights if needed, otherwise, click Continue
2. Click on the Bluetooth-support service. If the service is stopped, turn it on by clicking Start.
3. Pick Automatic on the Start-up type list.
4. Click the Log On tab.
5. Click Local System Account.
6. Click Ok.
7. Restart your computer

Change the Power Management Settings

If your mouse disconnects shortly after you stop using it – or even while you’re using it, chances are your PC is shutting off the device’s communication to save power. This can be changed in the Power Management settings.

1. Search for Mouse settings in the search bar located in the lower-left corner and click on Mouse settings in the Program list.
2. Scroll down and click on Additional mouse options.
3. Under the Hardware tab, click on the mouse device and go to Properties.
4. Under the General tab, click on Change settings.
5. Click on the Power Management tab and uncheck the box Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.
6. Click Ok and restart the computer.

Your device drivers can be found under the Hardware tab. If your device doesn’t come with a specific set of drivers, it will look like your device isn’t listed. However, you should still be able to find the device in the list under the name “HID-compliant mouse”.

Uninstall Device Drivers

Outdated drivers could be causing the problem as well. Before we try installing new drivers, let’s just uninstall the old ones and restart the computer. As the computer boots, it will reinstall the drivers, which can solve the problem in some cases.

Before you proceed, remember that your device most likely won’t be listed as the product’s name. This is because few mice have their own individual drivers installed, instead, they use Windows default drivers.

So, when you’re looking for your device in the Device Manager you may have a hard time finding it. Instead, look for HID-compliant mouse.

1. Go to Device Manager.
2. Expand the list item called Mice and other pointing devices.
3. Right-click on the device then click Uninstall device. If you receive a warning: Check the box Delete the driver software for this device then click Uninstall.
4. When the driver has finished uninstalling, restart the computer.

The computer should have reinstalled the device drivers for the mouse during boot. Try to see if the issue still persists.

Update Device Drivers

Since most Bluetooth mice don’t come with specific drivers, we may need to focus our attention on the Bluetooth radio. The Bluetooth radio is a big part of the communication between the computer and its devices and it could be causing problems.

With that said, let’s take a look at how you can find and update your Bluetooth drivers.

First of all, we need to find out which Bluetooth drivers we should download. In order to do so, we must first find out more about your system. Do the following to find out which processor and system type you’re running:

1. Search for System Information in the search box and click on System Information.
2. Look for System Type in the list. You want to know if you’re running a 64 or 32 bit system. Take note.
3. Then look for Processor in the list. We’re looking for the brand, the most common brands are Intel / AMD.
4. With all this information gathered, open up your favorite web browser and go to Google. Type in (your processor type) Bluetooth driver download. This should take you to the manufacturer’s website where you can collect the downloadable drivers – make sure they’re suited to your system.
5. Find the .exe file in the Downloads folder and run it.
6. Restart the computer

You can also try to uninstall the Bluetooth drivers from the computer and then let the computer reinstall them as you reboot the device.

1. Search for Device Manager in the search box and click on Device Manager in the Program list.
2. Locate the Bluetooth adapter in the list and right-click on it.
3. Click Uninstall Device
4. Restart your computer. Upon start-up, the computer will reinstall the Bluetooth drivers.

Update BIOS

The basic input/output system (BIOS) is almost like the computer’s nervous system. It helps the computer communicate with all connected hardware, external and internal.

Updating the BIOS can turn out to be quite useful regardless of what you’re encountering. It’s always worth throwing it in the mix. Updating BIOS requires a little bit of information regarding the computer’s motherboard.

This information can be retrieved from the System Information window, where we gathered information in the earlier step.

1. Search for System Information and click on System Information in the Program list.
2. Look for Baseboard Manufacturer and Baseboard Product to find out the brand and model of your motherboard.
3. Open up your favorite browser and go to a search engine, preferably Google.
4. Search for the motherboard’s name + BIOS drivers. This should take you to the manufacturer’s website.
5. Download the drivers
6. Run the installation and follow the guide
7. Give it some time and see if the issue persists.

Why Does My Wireless Mouse Suddenly Stop Working?

Sometimes it’s easy to track where the problem is coming from, and sometimes it’s slightly more difficult. When the mouse enters sleep mode as soon as you stop using it, you can quite easily tell that there’s a strong correlation between inactivity and deactivation.

However, if the mouse stops working while it’s being used, then it’s a bit more difficult to pinpoint.

Wireless mice can stop moving all of a sudden because the power management settings are set to turn the device off to save power or because the Bluetooth receiver and the device run out of sync, which can be fixed by pairing the mouse and computer again.

It’s also worth removing the batteries from the mouse, then re-inserting them after a few seconds. This has proved to work for a lot of users.

I would still run the mouse through the steps mentioned above, even though the symptoms aren’t identical. Oh, and furthermore, I suggest you reset your Bluetooth mouse while you’re at it.

Read: Mouse Suddenly Stops Working On Mousepad

How Do You Reset a Bluetooth Mouse?

1. Type in Control Panel in the search box in the lower-left corner
2. Click Hardware and Sound
3. Click Bluetooth Devices
4. Click on your Mouse, then click Remove
5. Restart your mouse then click Add
6. Click My device is set up and ready to be found then click Next
7. Select your Bluetooth mouse then click Next
8. Complete the installation

Now you have removed and repaired the computer and the mouse. Make sure the device is turned on when you’re trying to add it, otherwise you won’t be able to find the device, which can be quite frustrating.