Mac Mouse Not Responding? Fix It in Seconds

If your mouse stops responding on macOS — whether it’s wireless, wired, or a Magic Mouse — it can interrupt your workflow instantly. Here’s a step-by-step fix that starts with a powerful Terminal command to reset the system’s input services.

🔧 Step 1: Reset Input Services via Terminal

🖥️ Step 1: Open the Terminal App

1. Press Command (⌘) + Space to launch Spotlight Search.
2. Type Terminal, then press Enter to launch it.

2. Enter this command in Terminal

Copy the following command and paste it into Terminal, then press Return:

Click "Show Command" to reveal

This command restarts the mouse-related services on your Mac. It’s especially helpful when your Bluetooth mouse becomes unresponsive or laggy.

🔌 Step 2: Check Connections

For a wired mouse, try unplugging and plugging it into another USB port. For Bluetooth mice, toggle Bluetooth off and on via Control Center.

🔋 Step 3: Check Battery or Charge

If you’re using a wireless mouse, make sure it’s charged or has working batteries. Low power can cause lag, erratic behavior, or no response at all.

⚙️ Step 4: Reconnect Bluetooth Devices

Go to System Settings → Bluetooth, find your mouse in the device list, and remove it. Then reconnect it by turning the mouse off and back on.

🧪 Step 5: Test in Safe Mode

Restart your Mac in Safe Mode by holding Shift while booting. If the mouse works in Safe Mode, the issue may be caused by third-party software.

🔁 Step 6: Restart Your Mac

If everything looks fine but your mouse still doesn’t work, a full reboot often clears up lingering connection issues or stuck processes.

Note: If none of these steps help, try testing the mouse on another device. If it fails there too, the mouse itself might need service or replacement.