To update a mouse driver in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates, then open Advanced options > Optional updates and install any driver listed for your mouse. If nothing is offered, right-click Start, open Device Manager, right-click the mouse under Mice and other pointing devices and select Update driver.
Applies to: Windows 11 with a USB, wireless or Bluetooth mouse. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 6, 2026.
Before you start
A driver is the small piece of software that lets Windows talk to a piece of hardware. Most mice use a basic driver that is built into Windows, so a mouse that works normally rarely needs a manual driver update. Updating is worth doing when the pointer freezes or lags, buttons or the scroll wheel stop responding, or the trouble started right after a Windows update.
A few things make the job easier:
- A second way to control the PC. The mouse can stop responding for a moment while its driver is replaced. On a laptop, the touchpad is enough. On a desktop, keep a spare mouse nearby if you have one.
- An internet connection. Windows Update and the automatic search in Device Manager both download drivers online.
- An administrator account. Microsoft states that you must be signed in with administrator permissions to roll back a driver, and driver changes in general may ask for approval.
- Saved work. Several of these methods end with a restart, so save your files and close your apps first.
Microsoft’s own advice is that the best way to get driver updates is automatically through Windows Update, so start there and move to Device Manager only if the problem remains.
Update the mouse driver with Windows Update
Windows Update installs most drivers by itself, but some are published as optional updates. Optional drivers are not installed automatically, so you have to pick them.
- Select Start, then Settings. The Settings window opens.
- Select Windows Update, then select Check for updates. Windows looks for new updates and installs the ones it finds. Let it finish.
- On the same page, select Advanced options.
- Make sure Receive updates for other Microsoft products is turned On.
- Under Additional options, select Optional updates. Any optional drivers that Windows has found for your PC are listed here.
- Select the driver that matches your mouse, or the Bluetooth or USB driver for your PC if the mouse connects that way, then select Download and install.
- When the installation finishes, right-click Start and select Shut down or sign out > Restart.
If the Optional updates page shows no drivers, Windows Update has nothing newer for your hardware. That is normal for most mice. Microsoft documents this route in Automatically get recommended and updated hardware drivers. For the wider picture, including graphics and audio hardware, see our guide to updating drivers in Windows 11.
Update the mouse driver in Device Manager
Device Manager is the Windows tool that lists every piece of hardware in the PC and the driver each one uses. Use it when Windows Update offers nothing, or when you want to target the mouse alone.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager. You can also select Start, type Device Manager and choose it from the results.
- Select the arrow next to Mice and other pointing devices to expand it. Your mouse and, on a laptop, the touchpad appear in the list. The entry often has a generic name instead of the brand name.
- Right-click the mouse and select Update driver. A new window opens.
- Select Search automatically for drivers. Windows searches for a newer driver and installs it if it finds one.
- If nothing is found, select Search for updated drivers on Windows Update to check there as well.
- Select Close, then restart the PC if Windows asks you to.
If Windows reports that the best drivers for your device are already installed, the driver Windows knows about is current. Microsoft notes that a newer version may still be available from the manufacturer, which is the next method. The full procedure is in Microsoft’s article Update drivers through Device Manager in Windows.
If you cannot find the mouse under Mice and other pointing devices, look under Human Interface Devices. Microsoft lists both categories as places where pointing devices such as touchpads can appear.
Install a driver from the mouse manufacturer
Mice with extra buttons, adjustable sensitivity or lighting usually rely on the manufacturer’s own software for those features. The basic Windows driver moves the pointer, but it does not know about custom buttons or profiles. In that case the manufacturer’s download is the real update.
- Find the exact model name, which is normally printed on the underside of the mouse or on its box.
- Go to the manufacturer’s official support site and search for that model. For a laptop touchpad, use the laptop maker’s support site instead.
- Download the driver or app for Windows 11. Microsoft advises downloading only from the manufacturer’s official site and making sure the driver matches the version and architecture of Windows on your PC.
- Run the installer and follow its instructions, then restart the PC.
Some manufacturers supply a plain driver folder with no installer. To install that kind of driver, open Device Manager, right-click the mouse and select Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers. Select Browse…, choose the folder where you saved the driver, select OK, then Next. Select Close when Windows finishes.
For Microsoft-branded mice, the app is Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center. Microsoft lists version 14.41 for Windows 10 and Windows 11 in 32-bit, 64-bit and ARM64 editions, and it lets you reassign mouse buttons, create macros and set up app-specific settings on supported models.
Avoid generic driver-updater utilities that promise to find dozens of missing drivers. A wrong input, Bluetooth or USB driver can cause more problems than it solves, and Windows Update plus the manufacturer’s site already cover every legitimate source.
Reinstall the mouse driver
Reinstalling replaces a damaged or half-installed driver with a clean copy. Try it when updating finds nothing but the mouse still misbehaves. The mouse stops working once you uninstall it, so have the touchpad or another mouse ready, and save your work first.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
- Right-click the mouse and select Uninstall device.
- In the window that opens, select Uninstall to confirm.
- Right-click Start and select Shut down or sign out > Restart.
After the restart, Windows tries to reinstall the driver by itself, and the mouse should respond again within a few moments of the desktop loading. If it does not, repeat the Device Manager update steps above or install the manufacturer’s driver.
Roll back the driver if the update made things worse
If the mouse worked until a driver update arrived, you can return to the previous driver. You must be signed in with administrator permissions.
- Right-click Start and select Device Manager.
- Expand Mice and other pointing devices, right-click the mouse and select Properties.
- Select the Driver tab, then select Roll Back Driver.
- Choose a reason when Windows asks why you are rolling back, then select Yes.
- Restart the PC if you are prompted.
Microsoft describes the button as available only in some cases. If you cannot select Roll Back Driver, Windows has no earlier driver stored for that device, so reinstall the driver or use the manufacturer’s download instead.
Update the Bluetooth driver for a Bluetooth mouse
A Bluetooth mouse depends on the PC’s Bluetooth adapter as much as on its own driver. If the pointer stutters or the mouse keeps disconnecting, update the adapter too, or reinstall the Bluetooth driver if updating doesn’t help.
- Open Device Manager and expand Bluetooth.
- Right-click your Bluetooth adapter and select Update driver.
- Select Search automatically for drivers and let Windows finish.
- Restart the PC.
Our separate guide on how to update the Bluetooth driver on Windows 11 covers the adapter in more detail.
If the mouse still will not connect, pair it again. Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices, select More options (the three dots) next to the mouse and choose Remove device. Put the mouse in pairing mode, keep it close to the PC, select Add device and follow the on-screen instructions. Microsoft also suggests checking the mouse’s battery level, as described in Troubleshoot Bluetooth not connecting in Windows.
How to confirm the update worked
Move the pointer, click both buttons and use the scroll wheel in a couple of different apps. If the mouse came with its own software, open it and check that your buttons and settings are still there.
To look at the driver itself, open Device Manager, right-click the mouse, select Properties and open the Driver tab, which shows the details of the driver that is installed. The same Properties window has a Device status area, where Windows reports any problem with the device.
Troubleshooting
Windows says the best drivers are already installed
This means Windows has nothing newer. It is not an error. If the mouse still has a fault, get the driver or app from the manufacturer, or reinstall the driver as shown above.
Optional updates shows no drivers
Nothing is waiting for your hardware. Confirm that Receive updates for other Microsoft products is on, run Check for updates again, and then use Device Manager or the manufacturer’s site.
Device status shows an error code
Microsoft publishes the meaning of each code in Error codes in Device Manager in Windows. The ones most likely to appear for a mouse are below.
| Code | What it means | What Microsoft recommends |
|---|---|---|
| Code 10 | The device cannot start. | Update the driver from the Driver tab. |
| Code 22 | The device is disabled. | In Device Manager, select Action, then Enable Device. |
| Code 28 | The drivers for the device are not installed. | Uninstall the device, then select Action > Scan for hardware changes. |
| Code 43 | Windows stopped the device because it reported problems. | Uninstall the device, then select Action > Scan for hardware changes. |
| Code 45 | The device is not connected to the computer. | Nothing to fix. Reconnect the mouse and the code clears. |
The mouse does not appear in Device Manager
Windows usually detects and installs new hardware automatically when you connect it. Unplug the mouse or its wireless receiver and plug it into a different USB port, replace or charge the batteries, then check Human Interface Devices as well as Mice and other pointing devices. For a Bluetooth mouse, pair it again from Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices > Add device.
You cannot change drivers on a work or school PC
Organizations often manage drivers centrally and limit administrator rights. If Windows asks for an administrator password you do not have, or an update is blocked, ask your IT department to install the driver.
The mouse still does not work after every method
Test the mouse on another computer. If it fails there too, the hardware is at fault and no driver will fix it. If the problem is a laptop touchpad, Microsoft’s advice is to contact the device manufacturer once updating and reinstalling the driver have not helped.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to update my mouse driver if the mouse works?
No. Windows Update keeps the built-in driver current, and a working mouse gains nothing from a manual update. Update when you have a specific problem or when the manufacturer releases software with a feature you want.
How do I check which mouse driver is installed?
Open Device Manager, expand Mice and other pointing devices, right-click the mouse and select Properties. The Driver tab shows the details of the installed driver.
Can I update a mouse driver without an internet connection?
Yes, if you already have the driver files. Download them from the manufacturer on another computer, copy them to the PC, then use Update driver > Browse my computer for drivers in Device Manager. Windows Update and the automatic search both need a connection.
Why is my touchpad in the same list as my mouse?
Windows groups pointing hardware together, so a laptop touchpad can sit under Mice and other pointing devices or under Human Interface Devices. Check the name before you update or uninstall anything, so you change the right device.
Will uninstalling the mouse driver break my mouse?
Only until the restart. Windows tries to reinstall the driver automatically when the PC starts again. Have a touchpad or second mouse available for the steps in between.
Is it safe to use a driver updater program?
It is not necessary. Microsoft recommends Windows Update first and the manufacturer’s official site second. Those two sources cover every legitimate mouse driver.
Once the mouse is working again, run Check for updates in Windows Update from time to time so that future driver fixes reach your PC without any manual steps.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.