Has your mouse stopped working on your mousepad? Many users see this as an indication that their computer mouse is starting to degrade and needs to be replaced. While this is true for some, it’s not always the case and there are plenty of other things that could be causing your mouse to not function as intended when used on a mousepad.
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.