Mouse Not Working, Cursor Stuck or Jumping

Start by separating movement problems from click problems. A cursor that will not move is a tracking or connection fault; a cursor that moves fine but will not click is usually a switch, driver or a stuck modifier key.

Step 1 — The 30-second triage

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete once. If the cursor wakes up, Windows had hung and the mouse was never broken.
2. Try the mouse in a different USB port, directly on the machine.
3. Try a different mouse on the same machine. Swapping one variable at a time is what makes a diagnosis real.

Step 2 — Cursor will not move

Wired or USB receiver: replug into another port. Avoid USB hubs and monitor USB ports for this test; they are a common source of intermittent dropouts.

Bluetooth: Settings → Bluetooth & devices. Remove the device and pair it again. Replace the battery first — a dying battery gives you a cursor that stutters before it stops.

Optical sensor (all mice): the sensor needs a surface with visible texture. Glass, glossy black desks, dark wood and shiny mousepads all cause cursor jumps and dead spots. Put a plain sheet of paper under the mouse. If the cursor behaves, you found it.

Step 3 — Cursor moves but clicks do nothing

1. Check for a stuck modifier key — hold and release Ctrl, Alt, Shift and the Windows key one at a time.
2. Open Device Manager → Mice and other pointing devices. Uninstall the device and restart.
3. Test the mouse on another PC. If the clicks fail there too, the switch inside the mouse has worn out. That is a real failure mode on mice used for thousands of clicks a day.

Step 4 — Wireless mouse keeps dropping

1. Move the receiver to a front port with a clear line of sight to the mouse. USB 3.0 devices and external SSDs radiate interference at 2.4 GHz.
2. Keep the mouse within about a metre of the receiver.
3. Check the mouse's battery contacts for corrosion. A wipe with a dry cloth is usually enough.
4. If a laptop is on battery-saver mode, Windows may be suspending the USB port. Device Manager → USB Root Hub → Power Management → untick Allow the computer to turn off this device.

Step 5 — Cursor acceleration and speed feel wrong

Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse. Turn off Enhance pointer precision — it is what makes a cursor feel like it is overshooting. Set the pointer speed to the middle notch, then adjust.

Repair or replace

Mice are consumables. A worn click switch is a fifteen-minute soldering job if you enjoy that sort of thing, but a replacement costs less than the switch kit. The one exception is a premium mouse where a new battery, a new cable or a clean sensor fixes it — worth ten minutes of checking before you throw it out.