Mouse not working on macOS
A mouse that won't click, scroll, or move on macOS is usually a connection, battery, or button-switch issue. Run through these, then test every button live.
Step-by-step fix
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Replug the USB receiver (try another port) or re-pair Bluetooth; replace the battery on a wireless mouse.
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Run the CheckMyMic mouse test — check left, right, middle, scroll and a double-click.
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Clean the optical sensor and try a different surface or mousepad.
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Adjust pointer speed and double-click settings in macOS mouse settings.
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Update the mouse/USB driver and restart macOS.
Frequently asked questions
My double-click registers as one click on macOS.
That's usually a worn button switch. Run the mouse test's double-click check a few times — if it's inconsistent, the switch is failing. As a stopgap, lengthening the double-click speed/window in macOS's mouse settings can buy the switch some time.
The scroll wheel doesn't work on macOS.
Open the mouse test at its scroll pad and look at the recent browser wheel events. If no event registers there, check macOS's scroll settings, browser settings or extensions, and another browser or computer before concluding the encoder is faulty; an event proves the browser received input, but it cannot prove the physical wheel is healthy.
The mouse still misbehaves on macOS after every step — now what?
Test the same mouse on another computer with the CheckMyMic mouse test. Compare the recent browser wheel-event pattern as a clue, remembering that OS/browser settings and event batching can change what the page receives. A fault that follows the mouse across systems is stronger hardware evidence; behavior that disappears elsewhere points back to this machine's port, driver or settings.
Scrolling feels backwards with a mouse on my Mac.
macOS ships with "natural" scrolling, designed for trackpads. Turn it off under System Settings → Mouse → Natural scrolling. Note that on older macOS versions this setting is shared with the trackpad, so fixing the mouse flips the trackpad — third-party utilities can split them if you need both.