Mouse Scroll Wheel Not Working? Top Fixes & Preventative Measures

Download Article

Easy fixes for a non-responsive mouse wheel

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: January 17, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

Common Causes

|

Top Fixes

|

Prevention Tips

|

Video

Is the scroll wheel on your mouse not working? If your mouse suddenly stops scrolling, there is usually an easy fix. Read on to learn how to fix a scroll wheel that's not working, with safe mouse cleaning tips from computer specialist Jeremy Mercer.

Easily Fix a Scroll Wheel That Isn't Working

Dirt, dust, and debris can prevent your scroll wheel from working correctly. Wipe the outside of the scroll wheel with a high-percentage cleaning alcohol and use a can of compressed air to blow out any obstructions. Dead batteries, a faulty USB port, and incorrect settings are also common causes.

Section 1 of 3:

Common Causes

Download Article

Here are several reasons your mouse's scroll wheel may stop working:
- Dust and debris build-up
- Dead batteries
- Bad port
- Incorrect mouse settings
- Outdated drivers
- Corrupt Windows system files
- Incompatible software

Section 2 of 3:

Top Fixes

Download Article

1
Clean your mouse. Mercer suggests using 99% alcohol or more on a dry cloth to clean up most of the gunk on your mouse. He also recommends using a small tool, like a Q-tip, with a small amount of alcohol applied, to clean the sensor and around the edges of the scroll wheel to remove any visible dust and debris.^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Jeremy Mercer
Computer Repair Technician

Expert Interview} You can use something like a toothpick to get into tight cracks to dislodge anything blocking the scroll wheel from moving properly, then use a can of compressed air to clean more of your mouse.
- Mercer stresses never to use water when cleaning your mouse. Your mouse is very fragile, and you don't want liquid getting inside of it.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jeremy Mercer
  Computer Repair Technician
  
  Expert Interview}
Wireless mice with low battery power act funny, as in not scrolling properly. You can often fix the scroll wheel not working by switching the batteries to new ones.
3
Use a different USB port (USB mice). The current USB port that you're using may not be working properly and can misinterpret the signals from your mouse, like missing the scroll wheel movement.
- Unplug the dongle from the USB port and plug it into a different one.
4
Check your mouse settings. Each operating system (OS) has different ways to check the settings for your mouse. Follow the steps appropriate for your OS:
- Windows 10/11: Open Control Panel and go to the Mouse section (use the Large icons category). Make any changes necessary under the Wheel tab and click OK.^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  
  Microsoft Support
  Technical support and product information from Microsoft.
  
  Go to source}
- Mac: Open System Settings and click Mouse in the sidebar. Make sure the toggle next to "Natural scrolling" is selected.^{[4]
  X
  Research source}
5
Update the driver for your mouse. If your mouse comes with software, like Logi Options+, use it to update your mouse. You can also unplug and reinsert your mouse's USB cable or dongle to get a prompt to update.
- If you're using a modern Windows or Mac computer, driver updates are usually automatic, but you can manually check for updates within Settings (Windows)/System Settings (Mac) for updates.
- If you're using a Windows computer, you can also open device manager, right-click the mouse driver, and select Update.
6
Fix corrupt system files. It might sound daunting, but is actually pretty easy. A Windows or Mac update will automatically fix corrupted or damaged files. You can, however, fix this on your own for Windows computers.
- To try to fix corrupted files, open Command Prompt as an administrator, then enter "sfc /scannow". System File Checker will check all your system files and attempt to repair any that are corrupt or damaged, so this process will take a while.
- You can close the Command Prompt when you see "Verification Complete." You'll need to restart your computer once this is done.
7
Try a different mouse. You want to confirm that your mouse isn't working properly on more than your computer. If another mouse works and scrolls fine on your computer, you know there's an issue with the original mouse.
- In that case, you can continue troubleshooting with that mouse, adjust the software's settings, or buy a new mouse.
- Check if the original mouse is compatible with your OS. Some mice only work with Macs, while other mice are universal.
- If you have auto-clicker software installed, this might be the source of your scroll wheel trouble. Disable it to see if you can scroll normally again.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}

Section 3 of 3:

Prevention Tips

Download Article

To keep your scroll wheel working and avoid other mouse problems:
- Clean your mouse regularly
- Change the batteries regularly
- Keep your mouse drivers updated
- Disable auto-clickers when you aren't using it