How to Fix Mouse Not Working in Windows 11

Sadique Hassan•Updated Apr 13, 2022

In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the issue of the mouse not working in Windows 11. The eleventh iteration of the OS has bought in a plethora of goodies for the end-users. Along the same lines, there has been some major UI revamp throughout the OS. Be it the Taskbar, Settings menu, Start menu, or the icon packs, each one of them has been blessed with a re-design. However, keeping these goodies aside, there has been a major influx of user concerns regarding their mouse not working along the expected lines.

While some are facing density issues, others are complaining of lags and stutters. However, for some, the issue is even more concerning as the mouse isn’t working in the first place. Be it the wireless Bluetooth mouse or the wired one, both of them seem to be getting bugged with this issue. If you are also on the same page, then fret not, this guide is here to help you out. Given here are numerous methods to fix the mouse not working issue in Windows 11. Follow along.

Table of Contents

How to Fix Mouse Not Working in Windows 11

Do note that there’s no universal fix as such. You will have to try out each of the below-mentioned workarounds and then see which one gives out the best results. So with that in mind, let’s get started.

FIX 1: The Basic Troubleshooting Steps

Before moving to the slightly advanced tweaks, let’s first try out some of the basic methods.

So start off by unplugging and replugging your wireless’ mouse connector to your PC. Likewise, it is recommended that you connect it to a USB 2.0 Port.
Apart from that, also check that the mouse battery hasn’t completely drained out you could put in a battery from another device into your mouse and then check the results).
On the other hand, if you have a wired USB mouse, then disconnect and reconnect to the USB 2.0 Port slot.

Try out these tweaks and then check if they are able to fix the mouse not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 2: Re-Enable Mouse

You could also consider disabling and re-enabling the mouse via Device Manager. Doing so will give it a fresh environment to work upon which in turn could rectify the underlying issue as well. So proceed ahead with the below steps:

To begin with, use the Windows+R shortcut keys to open the Run dialog box.
Then type in the below command and hit Enter. It shall open the Device Manager.
```
devmgmt.msc
```
Now expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
Then right-click on your mouse and select Disable Device.
After that, click Yes in the confirmation dialog box that appears.
Wait for a few seconds, right-click on your mouse, and select Enable Device.

Once the device has been re-enabled, verify whether the mouse not working issue on your Windows 11 PC has been fixed or not.

FIX 3: Update Mouse Drivers

If you are using old or outdated drivers, then it could spell out trouble for the associated device, which in this case is your mouse. Therefore, you should consider updating the mouse drivers to the latest build right away. Here’s how:

Use the Windows+X shortcut keys and select Device Manager from the menu.
Then expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
Now right-click on your mouse and select Update Driver.
Click on Search automatically for drivers.
Windows will now search online for the latest drivers for your mouse, and will subsequently download and install them.
Once done, restart your PC and then check if it fixes the mouse not working issue on your Windows 11 PC.

FIX 4: Use Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

Windows comes with various built-in troubleshooter apps for various device components. And one of them focuses on hardware devices. So will be using that troubleshooter which will scan for underlying issues related to the mouse and will then bring up the associated fixes as well. But as opposed to other troubleshooter apps that could easily be accessed via the Settings menu, Windows has hidden the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter from that section.

So please refer to our guide to Enable and Use Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter in Windows 11. Once enabled, connect your mouse to the PC and run the test. It shall then perform a scan on the mouse and bring in the associated fixes as well. Just click on the appropriate fix from the list to apply it and then restart your PC. Once it boots up, check if the mouse not working issue on your Windows 11 PC has been fixed or not.

FIX 5: Restart File Explorer

Recently a bug in the File Explorer resulted in the mouse not working along the expected lines. While some users reported that the cursor was lagging, freezing, or stuttering, others had a more severe issue wherein the mouse wasn’t functioning in the first place.

To resolve this, they had to restart the File Explorer [though a permanent fix was rolled out by Microsoft later on]. So let’s put this fix to the test this time around as well and check out the results.

Bring up the Task Manager via Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut keys.
Then scroll to Windows Processes section and select Windows Explorer.
Now hit the Restart button and wait for a few seconds.
Check if it fixes the mouse not working issue in Windows 11.

FIX 6: Using SFC and DISM Command

System File Checker and Deployment Image Servicing and Management are two command-line utility tools that scan for the corrupt Windows files and then replace them with their working counterpart. The major difference between the two is whereas the SFC replaces the corrupt files with the working ones from the cached directory on your PC, DISM does so by downloading the working files from the online Microsoft servers. And as of now, we would be making use of both these tools to fix the underlying mouse issue. Follow along.

To begin with, right-click on the Start Menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin).
Then click on the down arrow present next to the new tab icon and select Command Prompt from the list.
Once the CMD window is opened, copy-paste the below command to open the SFC Tool:
```
sfc /scannow
```
Once the SFC Scanning is complete, it’s time to use the DISM Tool. So copy-paste the below command:
```
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
```

Once DISM finishes the scanning, it is recommended to reboot your PC. Once it boots up, check if the mouse not working issue in Windows 11 has been fixed or not.

FIX 7: Disable Enhance Pointer Precision

If your mouse is lagging, freezing, or behaving in a rather abrupt manner, then you should consider disabling the ‘Enhance Pointer Precision’ feature. Here’s how it could be done:

Bring up the Settings menu and go to Bluetooth and Devices.
After that, go to Mouse and scroll to Additional mouse settings“.
Then head over to the ”Pointer Options” tab and disable “Enhance pointer precision”.
Check if it fixes the mouse not working issue in Windows 11.

FIX 8: Disable Adaptive-Sync

If you are using a high-end display monitor, preferable 4K with a 144Hz refresh rate, and having Nvidia’s GPU, then the latter’s Adaptive Sync functionality might cause a conflict or two with your mouse. Therefore, you should consider disabling this feature, using the instructions given below:

Open Nvidia Control Panel from the Start Menu.
Then select Display > Set up G-Sync from the left menu bar.
Now uncheck Enable G-Sync, G-Sync Compatible.
Check if it fixes the mouse not working issue in Windows 11.

FIX 9: Install Nvidia Studio Drivers

If the mouse is mostly causing issues in graphics-intensive tasks, then you could consider uninstalling the default Game Ready drivers and then installing the Studio Drivers which are specifically designed for processes that consume high graphic resources. here’s how it could be done:

Open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, and uninstall the existing Nvidia drivers.
After that. head over to the Nvidia Driver Download page.
Select the Product Type, Series, and Product corresponding to the values under the Device Manager > Display Adapters.
Choose Windows 11 under Operating System and Studio Driver (SD) under Download type and click Search.
Now download the resulting driver that comes up.
Once downloaded, launch it and proceed with the on-screen instructions to install it.
Once installed, restart your Windows 11 PC and then check if the mouse not working issue has been fixed or not.

FIX 10: Re-Install Mouse Drivers

If none of the aforementioned methods managed to spell out success for you, then the last course of action should be to uninstall the mouse drivers and then install their latest version. This reinstallation of the mouse drivers should end up fixing most of the mouse-related issues, including the one that we are currently dealing with.

So open the Device Manager from the Start Menu.
Then expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
Now right-click on your mouse and select Uninstall Device.
After that, click Uninstall in the confirmation dialog box.
Now restart your PC and the mouse drivers shall be installed automatically.
If that doesn’t happen, then go to Device Manager, right-click on the PC name situated at the top, and select Scan for hardware changes.
Windows will now search for the missing drivers and will subsequently install them as well. Once done, the mouse-related issue should be fixed.

So with this, we round off the guide on how you could fix the mouse not working issue on your Windows 11 PC. We have listed five different methods for the same. Do let us know in the comments section which one spelled out success for you. Likewise, all your queries are welcomed in the comments.

Tags: