Mouse moves but won’t click: 7 fixes for Windows 11 and 10

Applies to: Windows 11 and Windows 10, with USB, wireless and Bluetooth mice and laptop touchpads. Menu names for Windows 10 are given where they differ.

First, find out what is stuck

A pointer that moves means Windows is getting signals from the mouse. When clicks are ignored, the cause is usually one of three things: Windows or an app has stopped responding to clicks, a setting or program has changed what the buttons do, or the button itself is failing. A quick test tells you which:

• Press the Windows key. If the Start menu opens, Windows is responding and the problem is with the mouse, its settings or one app.
• If nothing happens, or the screen looks frozen, start with Fix 1 and Fix 2.
• If clicks work in some places (for example on the desktop) but not in one program, that program is the problem; close it and open it again.

If the pointer itself vanishes or jumps around, see mouse cursor disappears in Windows instead.

Fix 1: Check for a frozen app or prompt

A program that has hung, or a window or prompt that is open but hidden behind others, can block clicks everywhere else.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then press Esc to go back to the desktop. Switching screens like this often clears a stuck click or a held-down button.
2. Press Alt + Tab and look for a dialog box or a User Account Control prompt waiting for an answer. Respond to it with the keyboard (Tab to move, Enter to choose).
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If an app shows Not responding, select it with the arrow keys and press Delete to end it. Any unsaved work in that app will be lost.

If Ctrl + Alt + Delete itself does nothing, see Ctrl+Alt+Del not working.

Fix 2: Restart Windows Explorer

Windows Explorer draws the desktop, taskbar and Start menu. When it gets stuck, the pointer still moves but clicks on the taskbar or desktop do nothing. Restarting it is safe and doesn’t close your other programs.

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager. If it opens in the small view, press Alt + D or select More details.
2. On the Processes tab, use the arrow keys to highlight Windows Explorer. Pressing W jumps to entries starting with W.
3. Press Shift + F10 to open the menu for that entry, then choose Restart.

The taskbar disappears for a moment and comes back. If you also can’t type in the Start menu search box afterwards, our guide to fixing a Windows search bar you can’t type in covers the next steps.

Fix 3: Rule out the mouse and port

Before changing settings, make sure the mouse and its connection are working:

• USB mouse: unplug it and plug it into a different USB port directly on the PC, not a hub or keyboard port.
• Wireless mouse: replace or charge the batteries, plug the receiver into a different port, and move it closer (a front port or a short USB extension cable helps).
• Bluetooth mouse: turn the mouse off and on. If that doesn’t help, remove it in Settings > Bluetooth & devices and pair it again.
• Laptop touchpad: check that the touchpad hasn’t been switched off with a function key or in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad. On Windows 10 it’s under Settings > Devices > Touchpad.

Then try a different mouse on this PC, or this mouse on another PC. If a different mouse works normally, the original mouse is faulty. If no mouse can click, keep going: the problem is in Windows.

Fix 4: Check the button settings

Two settings can make it look as though clicks have stopped working:

• Primary mouse button: if it was switched to Right, left-clicks act like right-clicks and a right-click selects. In Windows 11 go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse and set Primary mouse button to Left. In Windows 10 it’s Settings > Devices > Mouse, Select your primary button.
• ClickLock: when it’s on, holding the button briefly “locks” it down, so the next clicks seem to drag or do nothing. On the same Mouse settings page, open Additional mouse settings, go to the Buttons tab and clear Turn on ClickLock.

To reach Settings without clicking, press Windows + I, type mouse in the search box and press Enter. Use Tab and the arrow keys to move between options.

Fix 5: Reinstall the mouse driver

A damaged or stuck driver can pass on movement but drop button presses. Reinstalling it is quick:

1. Press Windows + X and then M to open Device Manager.
2. Press Tab to move into the list, then use the arrow keys to go to Mice and other pointing devices and press the right arrow key to expand it.
3. Highlight your mouse (often HID-compliant mouse), press Shift + F10 and choose Uninstall device. Confirm.
4. Restart the PC. Windows installs the driver again on startup.

If the mouse shows a yellow warning sign, its status message says what’s wrong; Code 28: the drivers for this device are not installed is a common one. For gaming or multi-button mice, also install the latest driver or app from the maker’s website.

Fix 6: Close software that takes over the mouse

Some programs capture or remap mouse input. If the problem started after installing one, close or update it:

• Mouse and keyboard utilities, such as the software for gaming mice, which can remap the left button.
• Remote-control tools and screen-sharing apps that may still be in control of the pointer.
• Screen recorders, overlays and accessibility or automation tools.

To find a culprit you don’t know about, do a clean boot: press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter. On the Services tab, tick Hide all Microsoft services, then Disable all; on the Startup tab, open Task Manager and disable startup apps. Restart. If clicks work, turn things back on in small groups to find the one responsible, then undo the clean boot the same way.

Fix 7: Test for a worn button

Mouse buttons wear out. A failing left button often double-clicks on its own, lets go during a drag, or only works if you press hard. To check, set the primary button to Right (Fix 4) for a moment: if the right button now clicks and selects normally, the left switch is worn and the mouse needs replacing. Set the primary button back to Left afterwards.

If the page also scrolls on its own, the scroll wheel may be worn too; see how to stop automatic scrolling.

Related guides

• Mouse cursor disappears in Windows 11/10: 7 fixes
• Ctrl+Alt+Del not working in Windows 11: how to fix it
• Can’t type in the Windows search bar: how to fix it
• Code 28: the drivers for this device are not installed
• How to stop automatic scrolling in Windows 10

Official sources: for more detail, see these Microsoft pages:

• Microsoft Support: Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows
• Microsoft Support: Change mouse settings

Frequently asked questions

Why can I move my mouse but not click anything?

Windows is receiving movement from the mouse but not acting on clicks. Most often a frozen app, a stuck Windows Explorer or a hidden prompt is blocking them; less often the primary button or ClickLock setting has changed, or the left button is worn.

How do I click without a working mouse?

Use the keyboard: Tab and the arrow keys move between items, Enter or Space selects, and Shift + F10 opens the right-click menu. You can also turn on Mouse Keys with Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock and click with 5 on the number pad.

Can a Windows update stop mouse clicks working?

Yes, occasionally, usually through a driver change. Reinstall the mouse driver (Fix 5) and check the mouse maker’s website for an update. If it started right after an update, you can also uninstall that update from Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.

How do I know if my mouse is broken?

Try it on another PC, or try another mouse on yours. If the mouse fails everywhere, or clicks work after swapping the primary button to the right one, the mouse is faulty.