Is Your Mouse or Keyboard Not Working? Try These Steps First

Few things are more frustrating than a suddenly unresponsive mouse or keyboard—especially when you’re right in the middle of something important. Whether you’re replying to emails, working on a spreadsheet, or just browsing, losing control of your input devices can grind your entire workflow to a halt.

We get calls about this issue all the time. The good news? You might not need a new mouse or keyboard—or even a service call. Most of the time, the fix is quick and simple. So before you panic or start shopping for replacements, try these easy steps first.

✅ Step 1: Rule Out the Basics

Let’s start with the obvious (but often overlooked):

🔄 Reboot Your Computer

It sounds cliché, but a quick restart often clears up temporary bugs or software glitches affecting input devices.

🔌 Check the Connections

For Wired Devices:

Unplug and reconnect the USB cable.
Try a different USB port—especially one directly on the back of your desktop or laptop.

For Wireless Devices:

USB Receiver (Dongle): Make sure it’s securely plugged in. Try another port if needed.
Power Switch: Double-check that it’s turned ON.
Batteries: Swap in fresh batteries—even if the old ones were “just replaced.”
Re-pairing (Bluetooth): You may need to re-sync the device to your computer. Refer to the manual for instructions.

🛠️ Step 2: Targeted Troubleshooting

Depending on what’s acting up, here’s what to do next:

📌 Scenario 1: Only the Mouse or Keyboard Isn’t Working

When one device works but the other doesn’t, it’s likely a fault with the device itself or its connection.

Try This:

Test the device on another computer.
- If it works there, your original system may have a driver or port issue.
- If it doesn’t, the device might be faulty.

For Windows Users:

Press Windows + X, select Device Manager.
Expand Keyboards or Mice and other pointing devices.
Look for any ⚠️ yellow exclamation marks or ❌ red Xs.
Right-click the affected device and select:
- Update driver
- Or Uninstall device → then reboot to reinstall it automatically.

For Bluetooth Devices:

Windows: Settings > Bluetooth & Devices → Make sure Bluetooth is on. Remove and re-pair the device.
macOS: System Settings > Bluetooth → Remove and re-add the device.

⚠️ Scenario 2: Neither Mouse nor Keyboard Is Working

This can be tricky since you can’t easily navigate menus.

Try This:

Unplug everything except power and monitor. Restart the system.Then plug in just the mouse or keyboard one at a time.
Test multiple USB ports—front and back. Try both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 if available.
Boot into Safe Mode:
- On Windows: Hold Shift during restart, or tap F8 repeatedly during boot (older systems).
- On Mac: Hold Shift immediately after powering on.If things work in Safe Mode, a software or driver conflict is likely.
Inspect cables, connectors, and ports for physical damage.

🔄 Scenario 3: Mouse Works, Keyboard Doesn’t (or Vice Versa)

This often indicates a driver issue or hardware failure in the non-working device.

Follow the steps under “Check Device Manager” and test the faulty device on another computer to isolate the issue.

🧰 Still No Luck? Bring It to the Pros

If none of the above fixes do the trick, don’t stress—A.S. Computer Solutions is here to help.

We can:

Run advanced diagnostics to identify system or driver conflicts
Repair or replace damaged ports or input devices
Check for underlying issues like malware or system corruption
Recommend reliable replacement options that suit your needs

🏡 Local. Reliable. Ready to Help.

Serving Onoway and surrounding communities, A.S. Computer Solutions is your go-to for friendly, affordable tech support.

Don’t let input issues slow you down. Try the steps above first, and if you’re still stuck, give us a shout. We’ll get your mouse, keyboard—and your productivity—back on track.

📞 Call or visit us today:

🌐 www.ascomputersolutions.ca

📍 Onoway, Alberta

📧 [email protected]