When your Windows mouse stops working, the issue often stems from driver conflicts, power management settings, or system glitches rather than hardware failure. Users across Windows 10 and 11 report sudden cursor freezes, unresponsive clicks, or complete peripheral disconnections—problems that frequently recur even after temporary fixes like restarting or replugging the device. The most effective solutions involve systematic troubleshooting: starting with basic checks (USB ports, batteries, cables), progressing to driver management, and addressing deeper system conflicts through safe mode or power settings adjustments.

Key immediate actions to try:

• Use Ctrl+Alt+Del to reset mouse functionality temporarily, as this often restores basic operation ^[1]
• Replug the mouse into a different USB port or check wireless connections (batteries, receiver placement) ^[5][10]
• Disable USB selective suspend in Power Options, a common culprit for intermittent peripheral failures ^[4]
• Uninstall/reinstall mouse drivers via Device Manager, forcing Windows to refresh the device configuration ^[6]

Systematic Solutions for Windows Mouse Failures

Hardware and Connection Checks

Begin with physical inspections before diving into software fixes. Many "broken" mice are actually suffering from connection issues or power management conflicts. Wireless mice introduce additional variables like battery life and signal interference, while wired mice may face USB port power limitations or cable damage.

For wired mice:

• Test the mouse on another computer to rule out hardware failure. "If it works elsewhere, the issue is with your Windows configuration" ^[8]
• Try all available USB ports, including USB 2.0 ports if using USB 3.0, as some mice have compatibility issues with newer ports ^[5]
• Inspect the cable for fraying or bent connectors, which can cause intermittent connectivity. Users report that "even slight cable damage can trigger random disconnections" ^[3]

For wireless mice:

• Replace batteries immediately—low power can cause erratic behavior before complete failure ^[9]
• Reconnect the USB receiver to a different port, ideally one closer to the mouse for stronger signal ^[9]
• Remove potential sources of wireless interference (other 2.4GHz devices, metal objects near the receiver) ^[7]

• Open Device Manager > Universal Serial Bus controllers > Right-click each USB Root Hub > Properties > Power Management tab > Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power" ^[4]
• Disable USB selective suspend via: 1. Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings 2. Expand USB settings > USB selective suspend setting > Set both On battery and Plugged in to Disabled ^[4]

Driver and Software Conflicts

Corrupted or outdated drivers are the leading software-related cause of mouse failures in Windows 10/11. The system may fail to recognize the mouse, apply incorrect drivers, or conflict with background processes. Driver issues often manifest as:

• Cursor disappearing but keyboard still working
• Right-click functioning while left-click fails
• Mouse working in BIOS/UEFI but not in Windows

Step-by-step driver troubleshooting:

1. Uninstall current drivers to force a clean reinstall: - Press Win+X > Device Manager > Expand Mice and other pointing devices - Right-click your mouse > Uninstall device > Check "Delete the driver software for this device" > Uninstall ^[6] - Repeat for any HID-compliant mouse entries or unknown devices under Universal Serial Bus controllers

1. Reinstall drivers manually: - Download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website (Logitech, Microsoft, Razer, etc.). "Generic Windows drivers often lack full functionality for advanced mice" ^[2] - In Device Manager, click Action > Scan for hardware changes to trigger reinstallation - For wireless mice, ensure you install both the mouse driver and the receiver/unifying software ^[9]

1. Perform a clean boot to identify software conflicts: - Press Win+R, type msconfig, go to Services tab > Check "Hide all Microsoft services" > Disable all - Restart and test the mouse. If it works, enable services one by one to isolate the conflicting program ^[1]

Advanced system fixes:

• Run System File Checker to repair corrupted Windows files:
• Open Command Prompt as Administrator > Type sfc /scannow > Wait for completion ^[3]
• Reset Windows Explorer (for click-specific failures):
• Open Task Manager > Find Windows Explorer > Restart ^[1]
• Check for stuck keys that may trigger accessibility features:
• Press Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock to disable Mouse Keys if accidentally enabled ^[3]