This article explains how to connect a wireless mouse to a computer. There are two types of wireless pointing devices: Bluetooth that can be connected directly to the Bluetooth receiver built into the computer or the radio wave version that uses an external USB receiver to connect to the computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Using a Mouse Equipped with a Wireless Receiver
Step 1. Connect the mouse receiver to the computer
It is a small rectangular-shaped device that must be connected to a free USB port on your computer. USB ports are typically located along the sides of the case on laptops or on the front of the desktop case.
Connecting the wireless receiver to the computer before turning on the mouse will allow the operating system to install the drivers and any software necessary to use the pointing device without any problems
Step 2. Make sure the mouse is functional
If you have purchased a battery-operated mouse, check that it is new and that you have installed them correctly. Normally you can access the battery compartment by removing a part of the bottom of the device or the back shell. If you purchased a mouse with built-in batteries, make sure you have fully recharged them.
- If it's been several months since you last used the mouse, consider replacing the batteries even if they were new when you installed them in the device. It is very likely that they have become discharged or damaged due to the long period of inactivity.
- Some mice like Apple's Magic Mouse 2, which has built-in batteries, simply need to be recharged.
Step 3. Turn on the mouse
Normally you will simply have to use the appropriate switch or button located on the bottom or side of the device.
If you can't locate the power button, consult your mouse instruction manual
Step 4. Press the "Connect" button of the mouse
The precise location of this item varies by mouse brand and model, but is usually placed between the two buttons on the device or along either side.
Some mice are "plug and play," which means they will be automatically detected by your computer's operating system, so you don't need to go through any connection procedures or download additional software to use them
Step 5. Move the mouse to check if it works
If the visible mouse pointer on the screen moves, the pointing device is connected to the system and working.
Conversely, if the mouse pointer does not move, try turning the device off and on again. If possible, also try to change the USB port the receiver is connected to
Method 2 of 5: Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to a Computer with Windows 10 Operating System
Step 1. Turn on the mouse
Locate the switch that is normally located on the bottom or along one of the sides of the device and move it to the "On" position.
If your mouse uses lithium batteries, make sure they are new or replace them if in doubt. The battery compartment is normally accessible from the bottom of the mouse
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 3. Click the Settings icon
It features a small gear and is located in the lower left corner of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Click the Devices icon
It features a stylized keyboard and small iPod. It should be the second option in the "Settings" menu starting from the upper left corner.
Step 5. Click on the Bluetooth and other devices tab
It is the first item listed on the left side of the page that appeared.
Step 6. Click on the switch
visible in the "Bluetooth" section.
This will enable the computer's Bluetooth connectivity.
If the indicated switch is blue, it means that Bluetooth connectivity is already active
Step 7. Click the + Add Bluetooth or other device button
It is located at the top of the "Bluetooth to other devices" section of the page. The "Add a Device" dialog will appear.
Step 8. Click on the Bluetooth option
It is the first item listed in the "Add a Device" dialog. The automatic scan will start which will allow the computer to detect all Bluetooth devices in the vicinity.
Step 9. Press and hold the mouse button that allows you to activate the "Pairing" mode of the device
Most Bluetooth mice have a dedicated button that must be pressed for a few seconds to make the device enter "Pairing" mode and can be detected by other Bluetooth devices. Normally, when "Pairing" mode is active, the mouse indicator light should blink.
To find out if your mouse has a button to activate the "Pairing" mode and to locate its position, consult the instruction manual of the device
Step 10. Search for the name of your mouse
When the Windows operating system has detected the Bluetooth pointing device, you will see it appear in the list visible in the "Add a device" section.
If the name of the mouse did not appear on the screen, press and hold the button to activate the "Pairing" mode of the device again, then deactivate and reactivate the Bluetooth connectivity of the computer
Step 11. Click on the mouse name
In this way it will be added to the list of Bluetooth devices paired with the computer and you can use it whenever you want without having to carry out the pairing procedure again.
Method 3 of 5: Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to a Mac
Step 1. Turn on the mouse
Locate the switch, which is usually located on the bottom or along one side of the device, and move it to the "On" position.
If your mouse uses lithium batteries, make sure they are new or replace them if in doubt. The battery compartment is normally accessible from the bottom of the mouse
Step 2. Click on the "Apple" menu icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the Mac screen.
If the Bluetooth connectivity icon is visible in the upper right corner of the screen, click on it instead of the one in the "Apple" menu
Step 3. Click on the System Preferences item
It is one of the options listed within the "Apple" drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click the Bluetooth icon
It is blue with the white symbol of the Bluetooth connection inside.
Step 5. Click the Enable Bluetooth button
It is located on the left side of the "Bluetooth" window. This will activate your Mac's Bluetooth connectivity.
Alternatively, click on the Bluetooth icon visible on the right side of the Mac menu bar, then click on the item Turn on Bluetooth from the menu that will appear.
Step 6. Press and hold the mouse button that allows you to activate the "Pairing" mode of the device
Most Bluetooth mice have a dedicated button that must be pressed for a few seconds to make the device enter "Pairing" mode and can be detected by other Bluetooth devices. Normally, when "Pairing" mode is active, the mouse indicator light should blink.
To find out if your mouse has a button to activate the "Pairing" mode and to locate its position, consult the instruction manual of the device
Step 7. Wait for the mouse name to appear on the screen
The Mac will continue to scan the area for active Bluetooth devices. When the mouse is detected, the name will be displayed in the "Devices" pane of the "Bluetooth" window.
The Magic Mouse 2 pointing device must be turned on and connected to the Mac via the appropriate USB cable to be able to pair
Step 8. Click the Connect button next to the mouse name
When the name of your pointing device appears in the "Devices" box of the "Bluetooth" window, click on the button Connect corresponding. When the Mac has established the connection, the mouse will be ready for use.
Method 4 of 5: Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to a Chromebook
Step 1. Turn on the mouse
Locate the switch that is normally located on the bottom or along one of the sides of the device and move it to the "On" position.
If your mouse uses lithium batteries, make sure they are new or, if in doubt, replace them. The battery compartment is normally accessible from the bottom of the mouse
Step 2. Click on the Chromebook's system clock
It is displayed in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Click the Bluetooth icon
It is displayed in the menu that appeared when you clicked on the system clock located in the lower right corner of the desktop.
Step 4. Click on the Enable Bluetooth option
If Bluetooth connectivity is not active, click on the item Turn on Bluetooth displayed at the top of the appeared menu. This will activate Bluetooth connectivity and the computer will start scanning the area for Bluetooth devices to pair.
Step 5. Press and hold the mouse button that allows you to activate the "Pairing" mode of the device
Most Bluetooth mice have a dedicated button that must be pressed for a few seconds to make the device enter "Pairing" mode and can be detected by other Bluetooth devices. Normally, when "Pairing" mode is active, the mouse indicator light should blink.
To find out if your mouse has a button to activate the "Pairing" mode and to locate its position, consult the instruction manual of the device
Step 6. Click on the mouse name in the "Bluetooth" menu
This will connect the device to the Chromebook. Once the connection is complete, your Bluetooth mouse will be ready for use.
Method 5 of 5: Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to a Computer with Windows 7 Operating System
Step 1. Turn on the mouse
Locate the switch that is normally located on the bottom or along one of the sides of the device and move it to the "On" position.
If your mouse uses lithium batteries, make sure they are new or, if in doubt, replace them. The battery compartment is normally accessible from the bottom of the mouse
Step 2. Go to the Windows "Start" menu
You can do this by clicking on the Windows logo icon in the lower left corner of the desktop or by pressing the ⊞ Win key on your computer keyboard.
Step 3. Click on the Devices and Printers item
It should be listed on the right side of the "Start" menu, exactly below the entry Control Panel.
If the option indicated is not visible, type the keywords devices and printers in the search bar at the bottom of the "Start" menu, then click on the icon Devices and printers appeared in the hit list.
Step 4. Click the Add Device button
It is displayed in the upper left of the "Devices and Printers" window.
Step 5. Press and hold the mouse button that allows you to activate the "Pairing" mode of the device
Most Bluetooth mice have a dedicated button that must be pressed for a few seconds to make the device enter "Pairing" mode and can be detected by other Bluetooth devices. Normally, when "Pairing" mode is active, the mouse indicator light should blink.
To find out if your mouse has a button to activate the "Pairing" mode and to locate its position, consult the instruction manual of the device
Step 6. Click on the mouse name
It should have appeared inside the window in question.
If your device name does not appear, it may be because the computer you are using does not support Bluetooth connectivity. In this case don't despair, you can solve the problem by purchasing a USB Bluetooth adapter
Step 7. Click the Next button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 8. Wait for the mouse to connect to the computer
This step may take several minutes to complete. When the connection process is complete, you should be able to move the visible mouse pointer on the screen using your new Bluetooth pointing device.
Advice
- When the mouse is in "pairing" mode you may see the device light flash.
- Be sure to replace the mouse batteries regularly or to fully charge them when not in use in the case of a device with rechargeable batteries.
