I grabbed my Logitech MX Master 3 one morning, moved it across the mousepad, and nothing happened. The cursor sat frozen on my screen. I clicked frantically – nothing. I checked the battery – fully charged. Restarted my computer, still dead.
After two hours of increasingly desperate troubleshooting, I finally discovered the problem: Windows had automatically disabled my USB port to “save power.” One checkbox fix later, my $100 mouse worked perfectly again.
Let me show you every reason a Logitech mouse stops working and exactly how to fix each one.
Table of Contents
✨ TL;DR – Logitech Mouse Not Working
Most “dead” Logitech mice aren’t actually broken. In most cases, the problem is battery, USB power saving, port choice, or wireless interference – not the mouse itself.
Fix these first (solves ~80% of issues):
• Put in a fresh battery or fully recharge (even if it shows 30–40% charge)
• Move the receiver to a USB 2.0 (black) port, not USB 3.0 (blue)
• Disable USB Selective Suspend and USB power saving in Windows
• Restart your PC and re-plug the receiver
• Re-pair the mouse (Bluetooth or Unifying) if it lost pairing
Common hidden culprits:
• USB 3.0 ports and hubs causing 2.4 GHz interference
• Windows power management turning off USB/Bluetooth adapters
• Weak built-in Bluetooth on desktops (fix with a USB Bluetooth 5.0 adapter)
• Old Logitech software conflicting with Logi Options+
When to suspect hardware failure:
• Mouse doesn’t work on any computer or USB port
• Fresh batteries and new receivers don’t help
• Obvious physical damage, double-click issues, or dead scroll wheel on an older mouse
Bottom line: Start simple: new battery → USB 2.0 port → disable USB power saving → re-pair the mouse. Most Logitech mice come back to life in under 15 minutes with those steps.
📌 Summary Table of Likely Solutions
| Problem | Most Likely Fix |
|---|---|
| Mouse not responding at all (no cursor movement, no lights) | Replace battery, charge mouse, try a different USB port, restart PC |
| Cursor moves but clicks don’t work | Check battery, reinstall Logi Options+, test buttons on another PC, hardware switch failure possible |
| Intermittent stuttering or lag | Move receiver to USB 2.0, avoid USB 3.0 ports, use USB extension cable, reduce 2.4 GHz interference |
| Mouse disconnects randomly | Disable USB Selective Suspend, disable USB power saving in Device Manager, replace battery |
| Bluetooth mouse won’t connect or keeps dropping | Update Bluetooth drivers, remove old paired devices, disable Bluetooth power saving, use external BT 5.0 adapter |
| Logitech receiver not detected | Switch to USB 2.0 port, reinstall USB drivers, test receiver on another PC, receiver may be damaged |
| Mouse moves but is extremely slow or jumpy | Clean optical sensor, try different surface, check DPI settings in Logi Options+ |
| Scroll wheel not working or scrolling erratically | Clean scroll wheel encoder with compressed air, reinstall software, possible hardware wear |
| Multi-device switching slow or freezing | Replace battery, disable USB/Bluetooth power saving, update Logi Options+, re-pair devices on channels 1/2/3 |
| Mouse works on another computer but not yours | Reinstall USB/Bluetooth drivers, check for software conflicts, disable Fast Startup |
| No response after Windows Update | Disable USB Selective Suspend again (Windows re-enables it), reinstall Logitech software |
| Random freezing or lag during gaming | Remove interfering software (Razer, Corsair), use direct USB port, disable background apps |
| Double-clicking when single-clicking | Hardware switch failure; adjust debounce settings if available or replace mouse |
| Mouse won’t wake up from sleep | Toggle mouse power, disable USB power saving, replace battery |
| Completely dead mouse after years of use | Likely hardware failure (battery wear, switch failure). Replace mouse. |
Quick Diagnostics: Identifying Your Problem
Before diving into solutions, figure out what’s actually happening.
Complete failure symptoms
- Cursor doesn’t move
- No lights on mouse
- Computer doesn’t detect it
- Completely unresponsive
Partial failure symptoms
- Cursor moves but clicks don’t register
- Lag or stuttering
- Works intermittently
- Erratic behavior
Connection issues
- Mouse connects then disconnects
- “USB device not recognized” errors
- Works on another computer
- Receiver issues or pairing failures
Model-specific symptoms
- MX Master / MX Anywhere switching problems
- G502 scroll wheel failures
- Lost button mappings
- Software conflicts
Quick checklist
- Does the mouse light up?
- Does the computer beep when plugging in the receiver?
- Does the mouse work on another machine?
- Does another mouse work on this machine?
Answering these isolates the issue almost immediately.
Power and Battery Issues
The number one cause of Logitech mouse failure.
Battery completely dead
- Most common problem
- Even rechargeables eventually fail
- Try a brand-new battery
- Or charge overnight
Battery contact issues
- Dirty or corroded terminals
- Loose contacts
- Bad battery seating
- Clean with isopropyl alcohol
Rechargeable battery problems
- Battery degradation after 2–3 years
- Damaged charging port
- Faulty USB cable
Low battery symptoms
- Cursor jumping
- Missed clicks
- Mouse disconnects randomly
Power-saving mode
- Mouse goes to sleep
- Toggle the switch off/on to wake it
A real example
My battery showed 40% in the app—but the mouse still didn’t work. A fresh battery fixed it instantly. Always try a new battery first.
USB Receiver Problems
The second most common cause.
Receiver not plugged in
It happens more often than you’d think.
Receiver in the wrong port
- Avoid blue USB 3.0 ports
- Use black USB 2.0 ports instead
- USB 3.0 creates 2.4 GHz interference
Windows disabling the USB port
USB Selective Suspend commonly breaks Logitech mice.
Disable it:
- Control Panel → Power Options
- Change Plan Settings
- Change Advanced Power Settings
- USB Settings → USB Selective Suspend
- Set to Disabled
- Restart
Disable USB power management (critical)
- Device Manager
- Universal Serial Bus Controllers
- Open each “USB Root Hub”
- Uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device”
- Apply to all hubs
Receiver not detected
- Try different ports
- Try another computer
- Receiver may be defective
USB extension cable trick
Plug the receiver into a 3–6 ft USB extension cable and pull it onto your desk. This massively reduces interference.
My experience
A Windows update silently re-enabled USB Selective Suspend. My mouse broke again until I disabled it. Check this after every major update.
Bluetooth Connection Issues
If your Logitech mouse uses Bluetooth, try these fixes.
Bluetooth off or unpaired
Verify Bluetooth is enabled and re-pair the mouse.
Bluetooth drivers outdated
Update through Device Manager or download directly from Intel/Realtek/Qualcomm.
Too many paired devices
Bluetooth stacks often fail when overloaded. Remove unused devices.
Poor Bluetooth hardware
Desktop PCs often have terrible built-in Bluetooth.
Recommended adapters:
- TP-Link UB500
- ASUS USB-BT500
- Plugable USB-BT5
Bluetooth power management
Disable “Allow the computer to turn off this device” under your Bluetooth adapter in Device Manager.
Real example
A $15 external adapter fixed months of Bluetooth issues instantly.
Logitech Unifying Receiver Issues
Applies to the orange-logo Unifying receivers.
Re-pair your devices
Use the Logitech Unifying Software to reconnect the mouse.
Receiver full
A single receiver supports 6 devices. Remove old pairings if needed.
Unifying vs Bolt receivers
Newer Logitech mice use Bolt receivers (gray logo). They are not interchangeable.
Lost or damaged receiver
You can buy replacements, but they must match your mouse’s technology.
Firmware updates
Logi Options+ sometimes includes receiver firmware updates that fix connectivity issues.
Logitech Software Issues
Many problems come from Logitech Options+ or old Logitech Options.
Clean installation process
- Uninstall everything Logitech
- Restart
- Install the newest Logi Options+
- Restart again
Conflicting software
Never run old Logitech Options and Logi Options+ together.
Detection problems
Reinstall software, or temporarily disable firewall if needed.
High CPU usage
Logi Options+ can spike CPU; disable background features if necessary.
USB Port and Driver Issues
Dead USB port
Try a port directly on the motherboard.
USB hubs
Unpowered hubs cause dropouts; use powered hubs or plug in directly.
Corrupted USB drivers
Uninstall USB Root Hubs in Device Manager and restart.
Chipset drivers
Motherboard chipset updates often fix USB instability.
BIOS/UEFI settings
Enable USB compatibility and legacy USB support.
Interference and Range Problems
Distance issues
Keep the receiver within a few feet of the mouse.
2.4 GHz interference
Wi-Fi routers, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and cordless phones all compete.
Metal obstructions
Metal desks, PC cases, and cabinets block the signal.
USB 3.0 interference
Move the receiver away from blue USB 3.0 ports.
Real example
Moving my Wi-Fi router and switching to 5 GHz fixed stuttering instantly.
Physical Damage and Hardware Failure
Common hardware issues
- Broken switches
- Damaged scroll wheels
- Dead optical sensors
- Water damage
- Internal solder failures
Cleaning the sensor
Use compressed air or a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol.
Mechanical switch wear
Left-click switches fail first after millions of clicks.
Age-related failure
Most mice last 3–5 years.
Operating System Issues
Windows updates breaking settings
USB power management often resets.
Fast Startup
Disable Fast Startup if you have USB detection problems.
Conflicting drivers
Remove extra mouse drivers (Razer, Corsair, Synaptics).
Safe Mode testing
If the mouse works in Safe Mode, the issue is software-related.
Multi-Device Switching Problems
Pair each device properly
MX Master and MX Anywhere require separate pairing for each channel.
Switching delays
2–5 seconds is normal; 10+ seconds means battery or Bluetooth issues.
Bluetooth vs Unifying
Mixing both is fine, but make sure each pairing is correct.
Real fix example
Replacing my battery and disabling USB Selective Suspend cut switching time from 20 seconds to 2–3 seconds.
Complete Troubleshooting Checklist
Level 1 (5 minutes)
- Fresh battery
- Power cycle mouse
- Try USB 2.0 port
- Restart computer
Level 2 (15 minutes)
- Disable USB Selective Suspend
- Disable USB power management
- USB extension cable
- Re-pair mouse
- Update Logi Options+
Level 3 (30 minutes)
- Reinstall software
- Update Windows
- Update drivers
- Disable Fast Startup
Level 4 (45 minutes)
- Test on another computer
- External Bluetooth adapter
- Reinstall USB drivers
Level 5 (60+ minutes)
- Open mouse and inspect
- Clean sensor
- Check battery contacts
- Contact Logitech
The Bottom Line
Key points
- Fresh battery solves most problems.
- USB 3.0 ports cause interference—use USB 2.0.
- USB Selective Suspend breaks receivers—disable it.
- Bluetooth mice need good Bluetooth hardware.
- Most issues are software, not hardware.
Final advice
Start with simple fixes: a fresh battery, a USB 2.0 port, and disabling USB Selective Suspend. These three steps solve more than 80% of Logitech mouse problems. Move through the checklist methodically, and replace the mouse only if hardware failure is obvious or the device is older than 5 years.
