Why Does My Mouse Keep Freezing? 15 Easy Fixes [2024]

Few things are more frustrating than a mouse that keeps freezing, especially when you are in the middle of work, gaming, or any other activity. An unresponsive mouse can be a major issue as without one it’s quite difficult to navigate around your computer or laptop.

To help you with that, this article will explore a few common reasons behind your mouse freezing and provide you with practical troubleshooting tips. So, without further ado, let’s try and stop your mouse from freezing.

Why Does My Mouse Keep Freezing?

When it comes to solving issues like a freezing cursor, it’s important not to overlook even the most unlikely causes. Hardware problems like faulty or loose cables, battery issues, or wireless connectivity problems often cause such issues. Similarly, a few common software causes include outdated drivers, malware infections, or Windows update problems.

With that said, we have gathered up a range of solutions that can help you deal with the problem from every angle, so that you can fix it for good.

1. Enable Touchpad — For Laptop Users Only

Before we dive into the general methods to fix a freezing mouse, our first step is only for laptop users to try as it involves checking their touchpad’s settings. If you normally use the built-in touchpad to navigate around but it randomly starts freezing or stops working, chances are you might have disabled it by accident.

Generally, the key combinations to disable/enable the touchpad are; Fn + F8 (F5, F7, or F9) and it’s pretty common to accidentally hit one of those. If the keyboard shortcuts aren’t working, you can also manually enable the touchpad by heading to the Touchpad Settings from the Windows search menu. Here, all you need to do is enable the toggle button and your touchpad should start working back again.

READ MORE: How to Turn Off Touchpad Windows 10 ➜

2. Restart Your PC

With the touchpad-specific solution addressed, it’s time to explore the troubleshooting steps for fixing freezing issues with an external mouse. First and foremost, give your computer a quick restart. While restarting might not seem related to a mouse issue, it can often resolve such problems. Therefore, restarting is a highly recommended first step when troubleshooting any issues.

3. Check Cable Connections

The second most basic step that you should check off your list is making sure that your USB cable or USB dongle is properly seated into the USB port on your computer. Try unplugging the cable or the dongle and plugging them back again to ensure a secure and firm connection. Be sure to do this gently and avoid forcing them into the port, as that could cause additional problems.

Another thing that you can do in case the cable connections aren’t loose is to try a different USB port. This ensures that the port you are using isn’t broken or acting up as that could cause connection issues.

READ MORE: USB Port Not Detecting Mouse? Try these fixes ➜

4. Look For Physical Damage

While you are diagnosing the connections, see if you come across any wear and tear on your mouse cable. If you see any damage, especially near the ends of the mouse, it can be a big reason behind your mouse freezing. If that’s the case, consider replacing your current mouse as that would solve the problem right away.

5. Check Wireless Mouse Battery

If you own a Bluetooth mouse and are experiencing cursor freezes, low battery levels might be the cause. A wireless mouse with a low battery level can malfunction and cause such issues, so ensure that your mouse isn’t low on charge. Similarly, if your mouse uses batteries, try replacing them with fresh ones, as they can deplete over time to see if that solves the issue.

6. Make Sure Your Mouse is Within Range

Another thing wireless mouse users should ensure is that their mouse is at an optimal distance from their computer. Wireless mice rely on Bluetooth signals so it’s best to keep them as close to the source as possible to avoid any performance issues. So, try moving a little closer to your computer, or in some cases, ensure that no physical obstructions or electronic signals are interfering with the Bluetooth signals.

READ MORE: Bluetooth Classic vs Bluetooth LE (5) ➜

7. Clean the Mouse and the Mouse Pad

Keeping your peripherals clean is the best way to ensure that they stick around long. When it comes to cleaning a mouse, the most important part is the sensor as that’s what guides the cursor around. Get yourself compressed air and a clean cotton swab to gently clean the bottom surface of your mouse for any dirt and debris.

While you are at it, consider properly cleaning your mousepad by throwing it into the washing machine. A dirty mousepad can accumulate dust around your mouse skates and sensor, which can ultimately lead to issues like a freezing cursor and more.

8. Incompatible Mouse Drivers

Since drivers are what allow your devices to communicate properly, any small issues surrounding them can cause problems with how your mouse operates. Although Windows automatically takes care of driver updates, sometimes it may not install the most optimal drivers or find suitable updates. However, the good news is that you can manually handle driver-related problems.

READ MORE: External USB Mouse Doesn’t Work on Laptop? Here Are 4 Fixes! ➜

↪ Update Mouse Drivers

The first thing to do is check for any pending driver updates that can be installed as outdated drivers are one of the most common causes behind freezing issues. Here’s how to update mouse drivers:

1. Open up Device Manager through the Windows Search bar or by pressing the “Windows button + X” and selecting Device Manager.
   

   

2. From here, double-click on “Mice and other pointing devices” to open up a drop-down list of all your mouse drivers.
   

   

3. Simply, select “HID-complaint mouse” and right-click on it. Click on Update driver from the menu.
   

   

4. This will open up another menu. Here select the “Search automatically for drivers” option. If there are any updates available, simply follow the on-screen instructions to install them.
   

   

↪ Reinstall Mouse Drivers

Uninstalling drivers can sometimes prompt Windows to automatically reinstall them, potentially getting newer versions from online sources during the process. For this, all you need to do is follow the same steps as above but this time select “Uninstall device” once you right-click on your mouse driver. Next, restart your computer and Windows should reinstall the uninstalled drivers back again.

↪ Roll Back Mouse Drivers

To troubleshoot mouse issues, you can also roll back your drivers to a previous version to test if the problem persists. If your mouse recently started freezing despite no prior issues, an update might be the culprit. In such cases, reverting to a previous driver version that was stable for you could help diagnose and potentially resolve the issue. Here’s how to roll back mouse drivers:

1. Open up the Device Manager and right-click on your mouse drivers. From the menu, click on Properties. 
   

   

2. Next, head to the Driver tab and select the “Roll Back Driver” option. Hit the OK button and your mouse drivers should go down to a previous version.
   

   

One thing to remember here is that the roll back driver option will only be available if you have previously updated the driver. This means that if Windows indicates during the update process that your drivers are already up-to-date, the rollback option will be greyed out for you.

READ MORE: How to update graphics driver in Windows? (AMD, Nvidia, Intel) ➜

9. Run Hardware and Device Troubleshooter

The Hardware and Device Troubleshooter, exclusive to Windows 10, is a utility designed to identify and address potential issues with the hardware components installed on your computer. With this method, if there is an issue with your mouse, the troubleshooter should be able to point it out and help you fix it. To run the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter, follow these steps:

1. Start by pressing “Win + R” to open up a small dialogue box. 
   

   

2. Here, type in “msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic” and hit Enter. 
   

   

3. This will open up the Hardware and Device Troubleshooter. Simply click on the Next button to see if there are any issues with your installed hardware or your mouse.
   

   

10. Scan For Virus and Malware

While it’s not common for small malware and viruses to directly affect hardware issues, it’s best to run a quick scan just to make sure everything is good to go. To run a virus and malware scan, follow these steps:

1. Open up the Windows Search bar and type in Windows Security. 
   

   

2. Once that opens up, select the “Virus and Threat Protection” option.
   

   

3. Next, click on the Quick Scan button under “Current Threats“. 
   

   

4. As and when you press it, Windows will start checking your files for any malware or virus. If it comes across something that needs action make sure to remove it. 

READ MORE: How to Fix Mouse Lagging and Stuttering on Windows 11 ➜

11. Turn off Power Saving For USB Ports

Power-saving settings are typically linked with laptops to extend battery life, but they’re also beneficial for computers as they help in energy reduction, heat management, and increase component lifespan. However, power-saving settings can cause USB ports to turn off when not in use to save power. To fix that, you can disable power saving settings for USB ports by following these steps:

1. Open up Device Manager and look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option usually located at the bottom. 
   

   

2. Double-click on it to reveal a list of all USB hub devices. From here right click on “USB Root Hub” and select Properties.
   

   

3. Once you are in the properties menu, navigate to the “Power Management” tab. Here, uncheck the box next to “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” and hit OK to finalize.
   

   

12. Disable Enhance Pointer Precision

Enhance Pointer Precision adjusts your mouse sensitivity based on the speed of your mouse movements. As strange as this might sound, disabling enhance pointer precision can be a good solution to fix a freezing mouse. Here’s a quick rundown to disabling Enhance Pointer Precision:

1. Search for the Control Panel in the Windows Search bar. 
   

   

2. Once that opens up, head to the search option and just type in “Mouse“.
   

   

3. From here, click on Mouse settings to open up a menu box.
   

   

4. Next, head to the “Pointer Options” tab and uncheck the box next to “Enhance pointer precision“. Lastly, press the OK button and you are good to go.
   

   

READ MORE: PC Mouse Getting Stuck on Corners in Windows? Try this Fix! ➜

13. Disable Inactive Windows Scrolling

Inactive Windows Scrolling is a feature that allows you to scroll on an inactive window as long as your mouse pointer hovers over it. However, inactive windows scrolling can be a potential cause behind your mouse freezing. Hence, to disable inactive windows scrolling all you need to do is, open up Windows Mouse settings and toggle off the button under “Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them“.

14. Disable Fast Startup

Fast Startup is a built-in feature that’s designed to help your PC boot quicker. While the option can help you save time, it can sometimes prevent Windows not to boot up properly, causing hardware and compatibility issues.

As Fast Startup is a combination of cold shutdown and hibernation, it can cause devices that don’t support sleep or hibernation mode to take a while to wake up and start functioning normally. Here’s a quick rundown to disabling Fast Startup:

1. Open up the Control Panel and search for Power Options.
   

   

2. Click on the first result to open up a detailed view. 
   

   

3. From here, select the “Choose what the power button does” button from the sidebar.
   

   

4. Next, click on “Change settings that are currently unavailable“. Scroll down and uncheck the Turn on fast startup option. Finally, hit the Save Changes button and that’s pretty much it.
   

   

READ MORE: How to Fix “Windows Failed Fast Startup Error 0xC00000D4” ➜

15. Check For Windows Updates

Updating your Windows can be a good way to get rid of any underlying bugs and issues. Additionally, sometimes, older versions of Windows might not work well with your mouse drivers, leading to freezing issues with the mouse.

To update your Windows; Go to Settings, then click on Windows Update and select Check for Updates. If any updates are available, choose Download & Install to update your computer.

Solve All Your Mouse Problems

Without a properly functioning mouse, your productivity can significantly decrease. Dealing with random issues like your mouse freezing can be frustrating, but we hope one of the solutions mentioned above has resolved the issue for you.