It can be surprisingly frustrating when your laptop’s mouse suddenly stops responding. One moment you’re scrolling through a webpage, and the next, your cursor is frozen in place. Before you worry about a serious hardware issue, it’s helpful to know that there are several simple ways to get things moving again.
Laptops have two main types of pointing devices: a physical touchpad and the option to connect an external USB or wireless mouse. The process for turning each one on is a little different, but both are usually quick to fix.
Re-enabling Your Laptop’s Touchpad
The most common reason a touchpad stops working is that it was accidentally disabled. Many laptops have a special Function (Fn) key combination to toggle the touchpad on and off. Look at the top row of your keyboard for a key with an icon that looks like a touchpad, often with a line through it. Pressing the Fn key and that function key simultaneously is like a light switch for your touchpad.
If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work, you can check your system settings. In Windows, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. Make sure the toggle switch for the touchpad is set to “On.” This is also where you can adjust your cursor speed and other sensitivity preferences.
Getting an External Mouse to Work
Using an external mouse is a popular alternative. For a wired USB mouse, simply plug it into an available USB port on your laptop. Your computer should automatically recognize it and install any necessary drivers, usually within a few seconds.
For a wireless Bluetooth mouse, the process involves pairing it first. Go to your laptop’s Settings > Bluetooth & devices and turn on Bluetooth. Then, put your mouse into pairing mode—this often involves holding down a small button on the bottom of the mouse. Your mouse should appear in the list of available devices; select it to connect.
When Your Mouse Still Won’t Respond
If you’ve tried these steps and your cursor is still stuck, a quick restart of your laptop can often resolve temporary software glitches. It’s also a good idea to check for any pending Windows updates, as these can include important driver fixes for your touchpad or mouse.
With these tips, you should be able to quickly diagnose and solve most common mouse issues. A non-responsive cursor is usually a simple setting or connection problem, not a sign of a broken laptop. A quick check of the function keys or settings menu is often all it takes to get you back on track.
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