My Apple USB mouse doesn't work

Resolution

Troubleshooting your Apple USB Mouse Step-by-Step

If your mouse still isn't working after trying the steps in article USB Basic Troubleshooting, try these steps, in order, until you've come to a resolution.

1. Pick up your mouse and turn it over. If the red LED on the underside of the mouse is lit, try using the mouse on another surface. Non-reflective, opaque surfaces without repetitive patterns work best. The surface should be clean, but not shiny.
2. Most people have their mouse plugged into a USB port on their keyboard. If this is true in your case as well, try plugging the mouse into the other USB port on the keyboard. If the mouse works in one of the keyboard's USB ports but not the other, you may need to replace the keyboard. Order a replacement Apple keyboard.
3. Unplug all devices from your computer, including your mouse and keyboard, as well as your printer, scanner, cameras, iPod, external hard drives, and hubs. (Warning: Some devices, like iPods, may require you to perform steps before it is safe to unplug them.) If you have a hub, don't forget to unplug it as well.
4. Plug your mouse into the side of your computer firmly and securely. Take special care to make sure that the connector is completely in the port. (USB plugs fit into ports one way only, and won't plug in if you try to plug them in upside-down.)
5. If that still doesn't work, try plugging your mouse in to the other USB ports on the computer. Be sure to try them all. Check to see if the red light on the underside of the mouse turns on when you press it, and try moving the mouse around on your Desktop.
   

If your mouse's red LED is lit but not functioning after startup, or if the red LED doesn't light up at all, plug the keyboard back into the computer and follow the steps below, in order, to help us figure out what is causing the issue:

1. Restart your computer and hold down the Option key on your keyboard while it starts up.
   

   

    

2. You should see a blue screen, called the Startup Manager, that displays two arrow buttons and your hard drive.
   

   

    

3. Test your mouse at this screen. It may be jumpy, but it should work. If your mouse still isn't working while in the Startup Manager and you've followed all the other troubleshooting steps, you will probably need to replace your mouse. If you can, test out another mouse in the same USB port just to make sure that this is the correct solution. You can order the mouse online. Order a replacement optical mouse.
4. If your mouse works while in the Startup Manager but not after you start up your computer normally, software seems to be the cause of the issue. Follow these steps to fix the issue.
   1. Insert the Software Install and Restore disc into your CD/DVD drive.
      

      

       

   2. Shut down your computer by holding down the power button for a few seconds.
   3. Once it's off, hold down the C key on the keyboard and start up your computer. (You can let go of the C key when you see the big Apple logo on the screen.) This will start up the computer from the Software Install and Restore disc instead of your hard drive.
   4. Now you want to use the Archive and Install feature of the Mac OS X installer. This kind of installation gives you a fresh version of Mac OS X, but you don't lose any data from the computer as your old information is all archived.