Your system might be unable to recognize the external USB mouse due to several reasons such as driver issues, USB port problems, incorrectly configured power settings, conflicts with other devices, and a hardware issue with the external device itself. Regardless of what might be causing the problem, the troubleshooting methods mentioned later in this guide are sure to help you with the issue. We suggest you go through the methods first to understand what might be causing the issue, and then proceed with the relevant troubleshooting method.
1. Rule Out Any Hardware Problems
The first thing that we recommend you do is check if there is an issue with the device you are using. The best way to check this is by plugging the USB mouse into another device and checking if it works fine there. If the mouse is functioning properly, then the next course of action should be to check the USB port of your computer. Some common USB port issues that can cause recognition problems include:
Physical damage: It is possible for a device not to be recognized by a USB port because of a bent or broken pin in the port.Power issues: A lack of power in the USB port can cause a device to not be recognized.
Try an alternate USB port and check if the mouse works fine there. If the issue persists, move to the next troubleshooting method below.
2. Update Drivers
Outdated or corrupt drivers can prevent the system from recognizing an external USB mouse in Windows. When the operating system doesn’t have the correct drivers for the mouse, it may not be able to communicate with the device properly, leading to recognition problems. To resolve the issue, we will first try updating the drivers for the mouse. Here is how: If this does not work, then you can try installing the updated driver version manually. For this, follow these steps: While you are at it, we also recommend updating your USB port drivers in case you suspect that the issue lies there.
3. Disable Power Management for USB Devices
Power management for USB devices can also prevent the system from recognizing a USB device. If power management is enabled, the computer may turn off power to USB ports to save energy, which may cause connected devices to stop working. When this happens, the device may not be recognized even when it is properly plugged in. Disabling power management for USB devices in the computer’s power settings in this case can help resolve the issue. Here is how you can do that: Alternatively, you can also change the power management settings for USB root hubs via Device Manager. Here is how you can do that: In this way, the computer will not shut down the USB ports and the USB mouse should be recognized by the system.
4. Uninstall Hidden Devices
Sometimes, hidden devices can cause conflicts with other devices and interfere with their functioning. It can be possible to resolve these conflicts by uninstalling hidden devices and helping the computer recognize the USB mouse. Here’s how to uninstall hidden devices in Windows:
