Computer mouse is unstable: causes and solutions

If your computer mouse is unstable and working intermittently, and the cursor is moving completely incorrectly, this problem may be caused by one of the reasons listed below. They may vary depending on the condition of the mouse connected to the computer or laptop.

  • The computer mouse is dirty.
  • The surface on which the mouse slides is bad.
  • Moisture and other external interference on the fingers (for Touchpad).
  • Other input devices interfere.
  • Problems with drivers.
  • The optical part is blocked.
  • The mouse has mechanical malfunctions.

What solutions will help in each particular case?

The computer mouse is dirty. Check that the mouse and the surface on which it works are clean, dust and other materials can interfere with the operation of the LED (laser) in the optical mouse and the ball in the opto-mechanical one.

Bad surface. Although most computer mice will work with any surface, if you have any suspicions, we suggest trying various other surfaces: a mouse pad, a book, paper, or something else to make sure that it is not the surface that is causing the problems.

Moisture and other external interference on the fingers. Users who use the touch pad may observe strange mouse cursor behavior due to moisture or other materials on their fingers. For example, a computer mouse works unstably due to hand cream.

Turn off other external input devices. If you have other input devices, such as another external mouse, graphics tablet, keyboard, etc., try turning off these devices to make sure that they are not the cause of your problem.

Updating drivers and removing old ones. Since drivers control how the mouse interacts with the operating system, if there are problems with the drivers, then there may also be problems with the movement of the mouse cursor. Make sure you have the latest drivers from the device manufacturers.

If you have changed your old mouse to a mouse from another manufacturer, we recommend that you also remove the old drivers.

The optical part is blocked. Users who use an optical mouse sometimes observe strange behavior of the mouse cursor because part of the optical device is blocked. Most often this is due to small debris or hair.

The computer mouse is broken. If you have checked all the above reasons for mouse malfunctions and nothing has helped, then most likely it has mechanical malfunctions. Another test to determine if the problem is in the mouse or not is to connect it to another computer. If mechanical damage is detected, you may have to replace the mouse with another one, because sometimes repairing a broken device can cost more than buying a new one.