Though uncommon, you may occasionally notice mouse control issues. The cursor might jump unexpectedly, feel misaligned with your movements, or lag between your input and what appears on screen.
Below are various steps you can take to resolve your mouse performance issue.
Clean Your Optics
Most computer mice use an optical or laser sensor underneath that must stay clean to function properly. Dust, debris, pet hair, or small particles can cause the cursor to jump or move inaccurately.
Check and clean the sensor area, and make sure your mouse pad is smooth and free of debris. You can also use compressed air to clear dust from the sensor—available at most retail or online stores.
*This spray is safe for both optical and laser sensor mouse care.
Replace the Mouse Battery
Wireless mice rely on batteries (usually AA or AAA). As batteries weaken, the mouse may behave erratically. Replace or recharge them if you notice performance issues.
Turn Off the Trackpad (Laptops)
On laptops, the trackpad can sometimes interfere with mouse performance. Try disabling it to see if the issue resolves. Most trackpads have a dedicated on/off button located on or just above the pad and can typically be toggled with a single tap.
If you don't see a button for that, your track-pad can be toggled ON or OFF by pressing one of the following combinations of keys on your keyboard:
a) Function Key + F9 Key (Fn + F9) at the same time
b) Function Key + F8 Key (Fn + F8) at the same time
c) Function Key + F7 Key (Fn + F7) at the same time
d) Function Key + F6 Key (Fn + F6) at the same time
e) Function Key + F5 Key (Fn + F5) at the same time
f) Function Key + F3 Key (Fn + F3) at the same time
Check Your Mouse Settings
A) Click the Start button and select Settings.
B) Now, select Devices and then Mouse.
C) Next, select Additional Mouse Options on the right hand side.
D)Then, select the Pointer Options tab and uncheck the box next to Enhance pointer precision. Click APPLY.
E) Test your mouse for a little while and see if things improve. If you don't like the results, you can always switch that setting back on.
If none of those resolve the issue to your satisfaction, click this link and read through a more detailed list of possible mouse solutions including updating your mouse driver.
If You Use the Touch-pad Instead of a Mouse (Laptops)
*Note- if your entire computer's performance has been different than normal, the issue might be reflective of a system malfunction that can often be resolved by turning your device off for a short period of time.