How to troubleshoot and fix a wireless mouse or keyboard that is unresponsive or has a dead battery

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to troubleshoot and fix a wireless mouse or keyboard that is unresponsive or has a dead battery. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Wireless mice and keyboards are reliable day-to-day tools, but when they stop responding it's usually down to one of three things: a flat or failing battery, a lost connection between the dongle or Bluetooth receiver and your computer, or a software/driver issue. This guide walks you through the most common causes in order, starting with the quickest checks before moving on to more detailed troubleshooting for both Windows and macOS.

Quick Fix Steps

Try these steps first — they resolve the majority of wireless peripheral issues:

1. Check the power switch on the mouse or keyboard and make sure it is turned On.
2. Replace or recharge the batteries, even if the device has been working recently.
3. Move the wireless dongle to a different USB port, preferably one directly on the computer rather than a hub.
4. Re-seat the dongle by unplugging it, waiting five seconds, and plugging it back in.
5. Restart the computer.

Battery and Power Checks

Batteries are the single most common cause of an unresponsive wireless peripheral. Even devices that worked the day before can drain a battery quickly if left switched on.

Replaceable Batteries

• Open the battery compartment (usually on the underside of the mouse or top edge of the keyboard).
• Replace the batteries with fresh AA or AAA cells as specified by the manufacturer.
• Avoid mixing old and new batteries, or different brands.

Rechargeable Devices

• Connect the device to a powered USB port using its charging cable.
• Leave it connected for at least 15 minutes, then test while still plugged in.
• Check the LED indicator — most devices will pulse amber while charging and show solid green or white when full.

Reconnection Steps

If power is not the issue, the next step is to re-establish the wireless link between your device and the computer.

USB Dongle (RF) Devices

1. Unplug the USB dongle from the computer.
2. Turn the mouse or keyboard off, then back on.
3. Plug the dongle into a different USB port, ideally directly on the motherboard (rear ports on a desktop).
4. Wait 10 seconds for the drivers to reinstall automatically.
5. Test the device.

Bluetooth Devices

1. Open Settings on your computer.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices (Windows) or Bluetooth (macOS).
3. Find your mouse or keyboard in the list of paired devices.
4. Select Remove device or Forget this device.
5. Put the mouse or keyboard into pairing mode — usually by holding a small Connect button on the underside until an LED flashes rapidly.
6. Select Add device or Pair new device and choose your peripheral from the list.

For a more detailed walkthrough, see our guide on How to connect Bluetooth devices.

Driver and Software Troubleshooting (Windows)

If the device is powered on and paired but still does not respond, the issue may be with the driver Windows is using.

Reinstall the Device Driver

1. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices or Keyboards section.
3. Right-click your wireless device and choose Uninstall device.
4. Tick Attempt to remove the driver for this device if the option appears.
5. Click Uninstall, then unplug and replug the dongle (or re-pair via Bluetooth).
6. Restart the computer and let Windows reinstall the driver automatically.

Run the Hardware Troubleshooter

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
3. Find Bluetooth or Hardware and Devices and click Run.
4. Follow the on-screen prompts and apply any recommended fixes.

Check for Windows Updates

1. Open Settings > Windows Update.
2. Click Check for updates.
3. Install any available updates, including optional driver updates, then restart.

Driver and Software Troubleshooting (macOS)

Reset the Bluetooth Module

1. Hold Shift + Option and click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar.
2. Select Reset the Bluetooth module.
3. Click OK to confirm and allow the Mac to restart the Bluetooth service.
4. Re-pair your device once the menu bar icon returns.

Check for macOS Updates

1. Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
2. Click General > Software Update.
3. Install any available updates and restart when prompted.

Environmental and Interference Checks

Wireless peripherals operate on the 2.4 GHz band and can be affected by other devices nearby.

• Move the dongle away from USB 3.0 ports, which are known to cause interference with 2.4 GHz devices. Use the supplied extension cradle if one was provided.
• Keep the mouse or keyboard within 10 metres of the receiver, with a clear line of sight where possible.
• Move away from Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, and large metal objects.
• Replace the mouse pad if you are using a metallic or mirrored surface, which can interfere with optical sensors.

Testing on Another Computer

If the device still does not respond after all of the above, test it on a second computer. This will tell you whether the fault lies with the peripheral itself or with your original machine.

• If the device works on another computer, the issue is software-related on the original machine. Try creating a new user account or performing a system restore before considering a full operating system reinstall.
• If the device does not work on any computer, it is likely faulty and should be replaced or warranty-claimed through the manufacturer.

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