Mouse Keeps Freezing or Glitching: 13 Ways to Fix It

Are you tired of your mouse freezing or glitching while you’re trying to work or play games on your Windows 10 or 11 computer? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many users experience mouse cursor issues, and they can be frustrating to deal with. But fear not, because we have compiled a comprehensive guide to help you troubleshoot and fix these problems.

Understanding the Causes of Mouse Freezing

Mouse freezing can occur due to various reasons, including connectivity issues, misconfigured settings, slow computer performance, corrupt system files, and malware infections. Identifying the root cause of the problem is crucial for finding an effective solution.

Preliminary Troubleshooting Measures

Before diving into advanced fixes, it’s essential to perform some preliminary troubleshooting measures to rule out common issues.

Check the Connectivity and Batteries

The first step is to ensure that your mouse is properly connected to your computer. If you’re using a wired mouse, check the USB cable for any damage and make sure it is securely plugged into a USB port. For wireless mice, verify that the USB dongle is properly inserted, and the batteries are not dead.

Use a Smooth Surface and Clean the Mouse

Using a mouse pad or a smooth surface can significantly improve the performance of your mouse. Additionally, dust and debris can interfere with the mouse’s optical sensor, leading to freezing or glitching. Clean the surface of the mouse pad and the mouse itself using a cloth to remove any dirt or dust particles.

Restart Your Computer

Performing a simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches and restore normal functionality. Restart your computer and check if the mouse freezing issue persists.

Disconnect and Reconnect Your Mouse

If the previous steps didn’t solve the problem, try disconnecting and reconnecting your mouse. For wired mice, unplug the USB cable from the computer and plug it back in. For wireless mice, remove the USB dongle and reinsert it. Sometimes, a simple reconnection can establish a stable connection and fix the freezing issue.

Now that we have covered the preliminary troubleshooting measures let’s move on to the more advanced fixes for mouse freezing issues.

Fixes for Mouse Freezing Issues

In this section, we will explore various fixes for mouse freezing and glitching problems on Windows 10/11. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.

End Resource Consuming Processes

Resource-intensive processes running in the background can cause system slowdowns and affect the performance of your mouse. To address this, you need to identify and terminate such processes. Here’s how:

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
2. In the Processes tab, look for processes or applications with high CPU usage.
3. Right-click on the process and select “End Task” to terminate it.
4. Repeat this step for other processes causing high resource consumption.

Ending these resource-consuming processes should free up system resources and improve the performance of your mouse.

Disable Precision Pointer Feature

The Precision Pointer feature, which adjusts the mouse’s DPI (dots per inch), can sometimes cause the mouse cursor to slow down or freeze. Disabling this feature can help resolve the issue. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings.
3. In the Pointer Options tab, uncheck the “Enhance pointer precision” option.
4. Click Apply to save the changes.

Disabling the Precision Pointer feature should prevent the mouse cursor from freezing or slowing down unexpectedly.

Reset Mouse Control Software

If you have installed mouse control software to customize your mouse settings, resetting the software to default can help resolve freezing issues. Follow these steps to reset Logitech Options software as an example:

1. Open the Logitech Options software.
2. Go to the Mouse section.
3. Click on the “Restore Defaults” button.
4. Confirm the reset and close the software.

Resetting the mouse control software can eliminate any misconfigurations that may be causing the freezing problem.

Update Mouse Drivers

Outdated or incompatible mouse drivers can lead to various issues, including freezing and glitching. Updating the mouse drivers can often fix these problems. Follow these steps to update the mouse drivers:

1. Press the Windows key + R, type devmgmt.msc, and hit Enter to open the Device Manager.
2. Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category.
3. Right-click on your mouse device and select “Update Driver.”
4. Choose the option to search automatically for updated drivers.

Windows will search for the latest drivers and install them if available. Updating the mouse drivers can improve compatibility and resolve freezing issues.

Uninstall and Reinstall Mouse Drivers

If updating the drivers didn’t solve the problem, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the mouse drivers. This process can fix any corrupted driver files. Here’s how:

1. Open the Device Manager as explained in the previous step.
2. Expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category.
3. Right-click on your mouse device and select “Uninstall device.”
4. Restart your computer to automatically reinstall the mouse drivers.

After the restart, Windows will reinstall the generic mouse drivers. Check if the mouse freezing issue is resolved. If you have a mouse that requires third-party OEM drivers, download them from the manufacturer’s website and install them manually.

Perform System Scans

System file corruption can also cause mouse freezing issues. Performing system scans can help identify and repair any corrupted files. Here are the steps to perform system scans:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select “Windows PowerShell (Admin)” to open an elevated PowerShell console.
2. Run the following command to perform a System File Checker (SFC) scan:sfc /scannow
3. Wait for the scan to complete and follow any on-screen instructions if prompted.
4. After the SFC scan, run the following command to perform a Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) scan:DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
5. Let the scan finish and restart your computer.

Performing system scans can detect and repair any issues with system files, potentially resolving mouse freezing problems.

Run Virus and Malware Scan

Viruses and malware can cause a range of problems, including mouse freezing. Running a thorough scan of your computer can help detect and remove any malicious software. Follow these steps to scan for viruses and malware using Windows Defender:

1. Press the Windows key + R, typewindowsdefender://threat/, and hit Enter.
2. In the Windows Security app, go to Scan options.
3. Choose the Full Scan option and click on “Scan now.”

Windows Defender will scan your computer for viruses and malware. If any threats are detected, follow the recommended actions to remove them.

Adjust the Pointer Speed

Sometimes, a low pointer speed setting can make the mouse cursor appear stuck or frozen. Adjusting the pointer speed can help alleviate this problem. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
3. Check the slider for the Mouse pointer speed setting.
4. If it is set to low, increase it to a medium or comfortable speed.

Adjusting the pointer speed should make the mouse cursor movement smoother and prevent freezing issues.

Uninstall the Latest Windows Update

In some cases, a recently installed Windows update may conflict with the mouse drivers, causing freezing problems. Uninstalling the latest update can help resolve the issue. Here’s how:

1. Press the Windows key + I to open the Windows Settings.
2. Go to Windows Update > Update History.
3. Under the related settings, click on “Uninstall updates.”
4. Find the recently installed update and click on “Uninstall.”

After uninstalling the update, check if the mouse freezing issue is resolved. If so, you may want to temporarily disable Windows updates until a fix is available.

Conclusion

Dealing with a freezing or glitching mouse can be frustrating, but with the troubleshooting measures and fixes outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue on your Windows 10/11 computer. Remember to check the connectivity, update drivers, perform system scans, and adjust settings to ensure smooth mouse operation. By following these steps, you can enjoy a hassle-free computing experience without the annoyance of a frozen mouse cursor.