The Apple Magic Mouse has a sleek yet simple design that appeals to most, if not everyone. And not only does it look good, but it’s also super easy to use and feels like magic in your hands. If you ever happen to face any issues with this mouse, you will find a plethora of fixes on the internet.
For example, if you noticed the Apple magic mouse not connecting, this article will help you better understand the cause of the problem and then provide some of the best fixes. It will also highlight some other troubleshooting tricks for the Apple magic mouse.
Reasons for Your Magic Mouse Not Connecting To Your Mac
Your Apple magic mouse not connecting to your Mac is either because of battery insufficiency, software conflicts, poor connections, interfering apps, or disabled USB accessories. These are some of the most common reasons behind the majority of issues faced with the Apple magic mouse, and they ultimately dictate the first troubleshooting steps to take;
- Replace the batteries with new ones or charge the mouse till it’s fully charged
- Check that the mouse isn’t connected to another computer
- Turn the mouse OFF and ON again after a few seconds
- Turn your Mac’s Bluetooth OFF and ON again after a few seconds
- Try turning off your Mac’s Wi-Fi
- Unpair the mouse from your Mac and re-pair them again after a few seconds
- Update your Mac
- Unplug and replug the USB receiver
- Check for interfering apps or delete recently installed apps
Working Fixes for Apple Magic Mouse Not Connecting to Mac
To fix the ‘Apple magic mouse not connecting to mac’ issue, you should first check for pairing or connectivity issues. Turn OFF your Mac’s Bluetooth, unpair the mouse, turn the mouse OFF and ON again, and then try to reconnect.
- First, you will need to use your trackpad, another mouse, or mouse keys (see * below)
- Navigate to Apple Menu >> System Preferences >> Bluetooth >> Turn Bluetooth OFF
- On the right side of the display, under Devices, tap the x icon next to the name of your magic mouse
- Then select Remove to confirm
- Turn off the mouse, wait a few seconds and turn it back on
- Turn your Mac’s Bluetooth back on as well
- Tap the arrow in the top left corner of the System Preferences >> Bluetooth page and select Mouse
- Make sure the mouse is turned on, select Set Up Bluetooth Mouse, and click Pair
* To enable mouse keys, open the Accessibility Shortcuts menu by simultaneously pressing and holding the Cmd, Option, and F5 keys. Next, tap the Tab key until it reaches the Mouse Keys option under Physical and Motor. Then, tap the Space key to select and Esc to save. You can now move the cursor using the 7, 8, 9, U, O, J, K, and L keys or 7, 8, 9, 4, 6, 1, 2, and 3 keys on a Numpad. Use the I or 5 keys for a mouse click.
Fix 2: Reset
You can also try resetting your Mac’s Bluetooth connection to eliminate or correct any connectivity issues. To do this;
- Tap the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar of your Mac
- Press and hold the Shift and Option keys and tap the Bluetooth icon again
- Click Debug to open a dropdown and select Remove all devices
- Follow steps 1-3 again but select Reset the Bluetooth module instead
- Restart your Mac and reconnect your devices
NOTE: You can perform this reset instead of steps 2-4 in the fix explained above.
Fix 3: Delete Mouse Plist Files
The PLIST files of the mouse contain your preferences and adjustments to the mouse’s settings. Deleting the files might correct the mouse’s problem. While doing this should not have a significant effect, we recommend creating a time machine backup just in case.
To delete the PLIST files;
- Go to Finder >> Go >> Go to Folder
- Type in or copy and paste ~/Library/Preferences
- Then, tap Go
- Locate and delete these files:
- com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist
- com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
- com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
- After deleting, restart your Mac
- As it comes on, it will recreate the PLIST files afresh. Hence, you will need to readjust your mouse’s settings according to your preference
- Go to Apple Menu >> System Preferences >> Mouse to readjust
Fix 4: USB Receiver
If you notice your Apple magic mouse not connecting, the culprit might be the USB receiver. If the mouse is connected to your Mac via a USB receiver, you can unplug it, wait a few seconds and replug it. You can also try plugging it into other USB ports on your Mac.
If the receiver is plugged into a USB hub, try plugging it directly into your Mac using any of the USB ports and if it is plugged in directly, try plugging it in with a USB hub.
Fix 5: Pair with Cable
If your magic mouse has a built-in battery, you can try connecting it to your Mac using a lightning to USB/USB-C cable. First, connect it and let it charge fully. Then, you can try pairing it with the cable.
- Turn the mouse on and connect it to any USB port on your Mac
- Go to Apple Menu >> System Preferences >> Bluetooth
- Select the mouse and click Connect
- You should be able to see the mouse’s charge percentage
- Leave the mouse plugged in for a few minutes allowing it to pair to your Mac
- Then, unplug it and see if the mouse retains the Bluetooth connection on its own
Fix 6: Interfering Apps
You should also check the third-party apps on your Mac that have any control over the mouse and its settings. One or some of them might be causing the movement issue. If you find them, you can choose to restrict them from the mouse or uninstall them. If you have recently downloaded some apps, you can try deleting them.
Fix 7: Weak Battery Compartment
If you use a first gen Apple magic mouse, the connection issue might result from the weak battery compartment. Its battery contacts are weak in a way that the tiniest jolt can disconnect the battery and battery terminal. If the battery is disconnected, it cannot connect to your Mac. To fix this;
- Turn OFF the mouse and remove the batteries
- Cut out two pieces of a half-inch square of aluminum foil
- Wrap each foil square around the flat end of each battery
- Replace the batteries in the mouse and reconnect it to your Mac
You can also;
- Cut out a piece of paper into 1 by 1.5 inches
- Put the paper over the center of the batteries after replacing them in the mouse
- Tuck away any excess around the battery edges
- Replace the back cover and reconnect the mouse
Apple Mouse Not Working After Battery Change? Tips To Fix
If your apple mouse is not working after a battery change, you can check the battery compartment to see if anything is loose or if any dirt or debris is stuck there. Next, you can gently clean the battery contacts with a q-tip and use the steps above to fortify the battery connection with pieces of aluminum foil and paper.
How To Reconnect My Magic Mouse?
To reconnect your magic mouse to your Mac, ensure it is turned ON, and your Mac’s Bluetooth is also ON. Then click and hold the mouse button for at least a second until you see it connected to your Mac.
To set up your magic mouse;
- Go to Apple Menu >> System Preferences >> Bluetooth >> Turn ON Bluetooth
- Tap the arrow in the top left corner of the display and select Mouse
- Make sure the mouse is turned on, select Set Up Bluetooth Mouse, and click Pair
What To Do If Your Magic Mouse Is Not Charging
If your magic mouse is not charging, you might want to look at the cable and charging port on the mouse for any dirt or lint and clean them out. You can gently clean the mouse’s charging port with a toothpick. Ensure not to use anything metallic and be careful so the port does not get damaged in the process. Use a clean cloth to clean the part of the cord that goes into the mouse.
Alternatively, you can;
- Connect the charger to the port properly
- Try plugging the mouse into another USB port on your Mac – if it is plugged into a USB hub, plug it directly to any port on the Mac instead
- Replace the cable
- Change the batteries in the mouse
Read also: AirPods Case Not Charging? Working Fixes
What To Do If Your Magic Mouse Is Not Moving Smoothly
If your magic mouse is not moving smoothly, try checking the sensor. If there is any dirt or foreign substance in the sensor, it can affect the mouse tracking, i.e. speed and accuracy of the cursor. To clean your Apple magic mouse;
- Remove the batteries or disconnect the mouse from your Mac
- Get a soft cloth and any suitable cleaning liquid, e.g. 99 percent isopropyl alcohol
- Dampen the cloth with the liquid
- Clean the mouse with a cloth – including the bottom of the mouse
- Try to check for any build-up of dirt that might be stuck somewhere
- If your mouse uses batteries, you can gently clean the battery contacts with a q-tip
- Also, clean the surface on which you place the mouse
- You can use a can of compressed air to clear out the sensor. You can also clean the sensor with the cloth or try to pick out whatever is stuck in there
- Wait for everything to dry, then replace the batteries or reconnect the mouse to your Mac
You can try;
- Getting a mouse pad if you don’t already have one
- Getting ‘fliders’ that will add a slider to the bottom of your mouse
- Removing other nearby wireless electronic devices
- Stopping apps from launching automatically
- Unplug other USB-connected devices
- Disable the handoff feature from Apple Menu >> System preferences >> Allow handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices
Tip 2: Reset Mac NVRAM
The NVRAM is similar to BIOS and stores some default settings used when a mac is booting. If the cause of the problem is here, resetting it will get rid of it. To do this;
- Restart your Mac
- Immediately it starts up; press and hold the Option, P, R, and Command keys
- Release them when you hear the boot sound
- Go to Apple Menu >> System Preferences and reconfigure your customized apps
- Then, restart your Mac again
What To Do If Your Magic Mouse 2 Is Not Discoverable
If your magic mouse 2 is not discoverable via Bluetooth, you can connect it to your Mac using a lightning cable;
- Turn the mouse on and connect it to any USB port on your Mac
- Go to Apple Menu >> System Preferences >> Bluetooth
- Select the mouse and click Connect
- You should be able to see the mouse’s charge percentage
- Leave the mouse plugged in for a few minutes allowing it to pair to your Mac
- Then, unplug it and see if the mouse retains the Bluetooth connection on its own
You can also try;
- Changing the batteries
- Toggling the Bluetooth off and on
- Turning the mouse on and off
- Unpair or remove the mouse from your Mac’s devices under System preferences >> Bluetooth and try to re-pair
Conclusion
Is your Apple magic mouse not connecting? Try out the fixes highlighted in this article; if none of them work for you, you might want to consider replacing the mouse. An apple magic mouse’s lifespan is about 100,000 clicks. If you have passed this number of clicks, you need a replacement – not a fix.
About The Author
