Why won’t my mouse cursor move?

If your mouse cursor is not moving, there can be many potential issues with the hardware, software, or driver that are causing the problem.

1. Hardware Issues

The mouse may be physically impaired or broken. This can be caused by a number of things such as a wire that has become disconnected or frayed, a failure of the mouse tracking laser, or a malfunctioning of the buttons. Check to see if your mouse is working on another computer for confirmation. If no other computer is available, use the mouse on a different surface, as sometimes certain materials can affect a mouse’s tracking capability.

2. Software Issues

It is also possible that a software issue is causing the cursor to not move. Two common issues with software can cause the cursor to stop moving. The first issue is that the computer can be infected with malware or a virus – often these types of programs will prevent the mouse cursor from functioning properly. The second issue could be that the operating system is out of date and needs to be updated. To verify this, open the “About Computer” window and check that the system is up-to-date.

3. Driver Issues

If the software and hardware issues are not present, then it may be a problem with the mouse driver. To verify this, open the Device Manager in the Control Panel and find the device that controls the mouse. If the mouse’s name appears with a yellow exclamation mark beside it, this means that the driver is either missing or out of date. To resolve this, find the correct version of the driver and install it.

If these solutions do not work, it is best to consult a professional computer technician who can diagnose the problem further.