How to Unfreeze Your Mouse on Laptop

Jun. 19, 2025 / Updated by Seraphina to Windows 10

how-to-unfreeze-your-mouse-on-laptop

Some users may suddenly find that their mouse cursor won't move or becomes completely unresponsive while using their computer. This can affect normal operation and even lead to concerns about hardware failure.

This article outlines the common causes of a frozen mouse and offers simple, practical solutions to help you quickly restore normal functionality.

Common Causes of Mouse Freezing

1. Touchpad Disabled by Mistake

Many laptops allow users to enable or disable the touchpad using shortcut keys (e.g., Fn + F7). Accidental key presses may disable the touchpad, making the mouse unusable.

2. External Mouse Connection Issues

Loose USB ports, faulty cables, or drivers failing to load can cause the cursor to freeze.

3. Outdated or Corrupt Drivers

Old or corrupted drivers, especially after system updates can cause compatibility issues with the mouse or touchpad.

4. High System Resource Usage

If CPU or memory usage spikes, the system may slow down, causing the mouse to lag or freeze.

5. Malware or Virus Interference

Some malware may interfere with input devices, causing mouse malfunction.

Solutions to Fix a Frozen Mouse

Method 1: Check Touchpad Status

Press the touchpad shortcut on your laptop (e.g., Fn + F7 or Fn + F9, depending on the brand).
Go to Settings > Devices > Touchpad and ensure it's enabled.

Method 2: Update Device Drivers

Driver issues are a major cause of mouse problems. For users unfamiliar with manual driver installation, it's recommend to use the Driver Talent tool to automatically detect and update the correct drivers.

Download Driver Talent

Download and install the latest version of Driver Talent.
Open the tool and click "Scan".
Locate the mouse or touchpad driver in the scan results and click "Update".

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Restart the computer to apply changes.

Method 3: Check External Mouse Connection

Plug the mouse into a different USB port.

If using a wireless mouse, check the battery and reconnect the receiver.

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Try a different mouse to rule out hardware issues.

Method 4: Manage System Resources

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
End tasks with unusually high CPU or memory usage.
If the system remains slow, restart the computer.

Method 5: Run the Troubleshooter

Go to Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.

Select "Hardware and Devices" and run the troubleshooter.

run-the-troubleshooter

Follow the prompts to detect and fix any system configuration issues.

Method 6: Scan for Malware

Use Windows Defender or a trusted antivirus program to perform a full system scan.

Remove any detected threats and restart the PC.

Method 7: Update Windows

Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

Click "Check for updates" and install any available updates.

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Reboot the system after installation.

Tips to Prevent Mouse Freezing on Laptops

Keep drivers and Windows updated regularly.
Avoid running too many heavy applications at once.
Use reliable antivirus software for regular scans.
Disable the touchpad if you're using an external mouse frequently.