Quick Fixes For a Gaming Mouse That Is Disconnected
A gaming mouse is a key component of the gaming hardware setup. It pretty much defines how awful or enjoyable a gaming experience will be. In order to get the best gaming experience, a gaming mouse needs to be precise, accurate, and responsive. However, the gaming mouse may develop some hardware issues that can make gaming frustrating. In this article, we’ll discuss how to fix a gaming mouse that is disconnected.
When a gaming mouse randomly disconnects, first examine the mouse and the USB ports to see if they are faulty. Next, check if the installed mouse drivers are corrupt or outdated. The power supply unit should also be checked. A mouse will disconnect if the mouse or USB ports are faulty or if there are issues with the drivers or the power supply unit.
You may also be interested in learning what to look for when you're out looking for a gaming mouse, as well as finding some gaming mouse accessories. If so, be sure to read our related articles to find out what will work best.
Why Is My Gaming Mouse Disconnecting and Reconnecting?
There are several things that can cause a gaming mouse that is disconnected or to randomly disconnect and reconnect. While some issues that cause the erratic disconnecting of a mouse can be easily fixed, others may require the skillful touch of a technical expert. Nevertheless, it is still important to have a basic idea of some things that can cause a gaming mouse to suddenly disconnect and how to fix it.
A gaming mouse will disconnect and re-connect because of hardware issues with the mouse, automatic USB suspending, driver problems, power draw issues, and electromagnetic interference.
Your gaming mouse could be disconnecting and then reconnecting because of the following issues:
1. Issues With the Mouse Itself
According to this article from Asus, a mouse will randomly disconnect if it is faulty, that is why it is important that you check to see if the sudden disconnecting and reconnecting of the gaming mouse is because of damage to the mouse.
A good way to check if the mouse is faulty is by connecting the mouse to another computer to see if the mouse still disconnects. If the disconnection continues, then the mouse is faulty and you will need to buy a new one like this. Our gaming mouse costs guide explains what features to look for in a high-end mouse and what you can typically expect to pay.
2. Automatic USB suspending
According to Microsoft, the USB suspend is a power-saving USB feature in computers that can cause a mouse to randomly disconnect if activated. The USB suspend may be activated if the HID device is automatically configured to make use of the USB suspend. So, the user may not even be aware that the USB suspend feature has been activated. This issue can be resolved by disabling the USB suspend feature from the device manager.
3. Driver Issues
According to Microsoft Support, during a Windows update an outdated, corrupt, or incomplete mouse driver may be installed, which would cause a communication error between the mouse and computer resulting in mouse disconnection.
Since a driver tells a piece of hardware how to function, the installation of the wrong mouse driver can make a mouse malfunction, causing it to randomly disconnect and reconnect. To resolve this problem, simply download an updated version of the mouse drivers from the mouse manufacturer’s website. For example, Razer Support has a list of all their mouse drivers that users can install to ensure they have the most recent version.
4. Power Draw Issues
The power supply unit (PSU) is the component of the computer that supplies power to the various hardware devices that are connected to the computer. Without the PSU, your computer and the different computer peripherals connected to it will not be able to work. However, when the connected devices, like the mouse, draw more power than the power supply unit can deliver, issues like a randomly disconnecting mouse can occur. This power draw issue can be fixed by upgrading the PSU to a much higher power capacity like this 850 Watt PSU.
5. Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
According to this article by Ekahau, a wireless device manufacturer, portable devices such as laptops may experience random mouse disconnection if there is electromagnetic interference caused by the internal components of the devices or other electromagnetic devices in close proximity. To resolve this problem, simply disconnect the device that is causing the electromagnetic interference.
Troubleshooting Chart For a Disconnecting Mouse
| Reasons For Gaming Mouse That is Disconnected | How To Diagnose the Problem | How To Fix the Problem |
| Issues with the mouse itself | Connect the mouse to another computer to see if the disconnecting continues | Get a technician to repair the mouse or purchase a new mouse |
| Automatic USB suspending | Check the device manager to see if the USB suspend feature is activated | Deactivate the USB suspend feature |
| Driver issues | Check if the driver installed on the computer is corrupt, outdated, or incorrect | Uninstall the current mouse drivers on the computer and install the latest version of the mouse driver |
| Power draw issues | Disconnect other hardware devices that are connected to the computer apart from the mouse to see if the mouse still disconnects | Upgrade the power supply unit to a much higher power capacity or connect the mouse to an external power adapter |
| Electromagnetic interference | Identify the cause of the electromagnetic interference | Disconnect the component that is causing the electromagnetic interference |
You may also just simply clean your mouse. Take a look at our article explaining some simple tips to clean a gaming mouse to find out more. Furthermore, if you need to find the best gaming mouse for small hands, be sure to read our similar article for more information.
Why Does My Mouse Disconnect When I Move It Quickly?
Gaming mice are generally very responsive. This is one of the extra features that differentiate them from regular computer mice. A gaming mouse that is disconnected can be caused by moving it quickly if there’s some kind of fault with the USB driver or port.
A gaming mouse may disconnect when it is moved fast if the USB ports and mouse cables are faulty. A mouse that disconnects when it is moved fast may also be caused by battery problems, power draw issues, or the installation of incorrect drivers.
A gaming mouse that is plugged into a faulty USB port will occasionally disconnect and reconnect. It is necessary to check if the USB ports of a computer are working because they can get damaged from excessive inserting and removing of devices. According to this article by Tripplite.com, testing the gaming mouse in the different USB ports of a computer is a good way to see if the ports are okay.
Read our article comparing gaming mice versus normal computer mice to learn more about what features make gaming mice better suited to the gaming environment.
How To Fix a Faulty USB Port Problem
USB port problems can occur with either wired or wireless mice. To troubleshoot this problem, it is important to determine if the USB port is dirty or damaged.
To fix a faulty USB port problem, try restarting the computer to see if the issue will resolve itself. Next, plug the mouse USB into a different port to determine whether the fault lies with the mouse or the port. Finally, change the power management settings for the USB root hub.
If you discover that a USB port is faulty, you can follow the steps below to fix it.
Step 1. Restart Your Computer
Restarting the computer is a very easy and quick way of resolving USB port problems. This is a method that doesn’t demand any kind of technical expertise at all. If, however, this method doesn’t resolve the issue, move on to the next step.
Step 2. Plug the Mouse Into Different USB Ports
Unplug the mouse from that USB port and test it in different USB ports. If the mouse still disconnects, unplug it and try testing an entirely different mouse in those same USB ports to determine if it’s the ports or the mouse that are the problem. If, after doing this, the disconnection problems continue, then you’ll know that the USB ports are faulty. It is also important for you to examine the USB ports, remove any dirt or particles that could obstruct the mouse connection, and check that they haven’t been pushed into the computer housing.
Step 3. Change the Power Management Settings for the USB Root Hub
Another method of fixing USB port problems is to alternate the USB root hub.
Here are the steps involved in alternating a USB root hub:
1. Open the Device Manager
Press the “Windows + R” keys and type “devmgmt.msc” in the display run box that appears, and press OK. Alternatively, you can open the windows search box in the taskbar and type “device manager."
2. Locate the USB Root Hub
Once the “device manager” page is displayed, double-click on the “universal serial bus controllers” and then click on the first item of the USB root hub.
3. Select Power Management
A page titled “USB root hub properties” will be displayed. Click on the “Power Management” tab.
Click on the “Power Management” button. Source: fpsgadgets.
4. Activate Power Saving Setting
After selecting “Power Management,” check the box that says, “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” Click “OK” to confirm the changes.
5. Repeat for Each USB Root Hub
If there is more than one USB root hub, repeat this same process for each of them.
Similarly, you may find interest in our tips for choosing gaming mouse DPI for optimum gameplay. If so, be sure to read our related article for more information. Also, you may want to learn more about a wireless gaming mouse vs. a wired one to see which will be best for you.
How To Fix Damaged Cables
A gaming mouse that is disconnected may sometimes have broken or damaged cables. To determine whether the cables are broken or not, raise both the mouse and the mouse pad at the same time. If the mouse loses its connection, then the cables are damaged.
The only way to fix a mouse cable that is damaged is by replacing the mouse with a new one. However, if you do not want to let go of the mouse and you have some sort of technical experience repairing electronic devices, you can solder the broken parts of the wire.
How To Fix Battery Problems
Gaming mice that make use of batteries may experience connection problems if their batteries are old or their battery level is low. When the batteries inside a gaming mouse are running low, the mouse will display a red light beneath the base that will flicker continuously.
One way to eliminate low battery issues is to use a rechargeable mouse like this one. Several new gaming mice have USB cables that allow the mouse to recharge while being used like this one.
For gaming mice that require non-rechargeable batteries, simply dispose of the old batteries in the mouse and replace them with new ones. Gaming mice typically use AA batteries, and rechargeable batteries like these ones take 5-10 hours to charge and can last for up to 18 hours.
You may also be interested in learning these tips to optimize gaming mouse drag clicking. If so, be sure to read our related article.
How To Fix Power Draw Issues
The power supply unit (PSU) supplies D.C power to the computer and to other peripherals that are connected to it. Each of these hardware devices, including the mouse, has a certain amount of power they draw from the power supply unit. If the mouse draws more power than what the PSU is supplying to it, random disconnection can occur.
If you notice that the different hardware devices that are connected to your computer are drawing more power than what is supplied by the power supply unit, disconnect them, leaving just the mouse. After doing this, use the mouse for some time and see if it still randomly disconnects.
If the mouse still disconnects, do any of the following:
Step 1. Upgrade the Power Supply Unit
Upgrade the power supply unit to a much higher power capacity in order to supply more power to the USB devices connected to the computer.
Step 2. Get an External Power Adapter
For laptop computers, get an external power adapter like this one that can be connected to the mouse.
Similarly, you may find interest in our list of gaming keyboard testers and what to do when your gaming keyboard is not working properly. If so, make sure to read our related articles for more information.
How To Fix Driver Issues
Another strategy to fix a gaming mouse that is disconnected is to reset the drivers. A driver is a set of files that control how a piece of hardware functions. Drivers that are corrupt, incomplete, or outdated may be installed during windows updates causing a mouse to occasionally disconnect and reconnect. That is why it is important for you to install only the updated version of mouse drivers on your computer.
If the mouse drivers installed on your computer are incompatible or corrupt, you can simply uninstall them and reinstall the updated version of the mouse drivers. Here is a step-by-step process to manually update a mouse driver:
Step 1. Locate the Device Manager
Press the “Windows + R” keys and type “devmgmt.msc” in the display run box that appears, and press “OK.” Alternatively, you can open the windows search box in the taskbar and type device manager.
Step 2. Select Mouse and Pointing Devices
Once the “Device Manager” page displays on the screen of your computer, click on “Mice and other pointing devices”.
Then right-click the “HID-compliant Mouse” option and select “Properties.” A dialog box will be displayed, select the “Driver” tab.
Step 3. Uninstall the Driver
Click on the “Uninstall driver/device” button. Afterward, a prompt will be displayed, click on “uninstall” again. After doing this, the driver will be uninstalled in a few seconds.
Step 4. Install the Most Recent Driver Version
Once you are done with uninstalling, type the mouse model + manufacturer drive into the Google search query field. The correct mouse model should be typed in the search query. The Google search will display the mouse manufacturer's website within the first page search result. The updated version of mouse drivers can then be downloaded from the mouse manufacturer's website. After downloading the mouse driver, install it, and reboot your computer.