Your mouse jumps, hangs, or jolts? We’ll show you what you can do about this annoying bug.
One error under Windows is particularly annoying: When the mouse jumps or hangs. Then the user interface can no longer be operated properly. Before throwing your mouse right away, be sure to try our troubleshooting methods first. Maybe it’s just a software problem, or your mouse is just dirty.
Check physical components
Various errors with limited mouse functionality are not software errors. Often there is a problem with the hardware. You should therefore check the following things:
1. Is the computer dusty?
If too much dust has accumulated inside your PC, diplomatic contacts can be blocked by small particles of dust. So it would help if you cleaned your computer regularly. To check for any contamination, open your computer, then carefully remove any dust from inside.
2. Is the mouse sensor dirty?
Take a look at the sensor on the bottom of your mouse. Is it dirty or dusty? If so, you should clean it with a soft cloth. It can also help to blow lightly on the sensor. With a ball mouse, the situation becomes a little more complicated. You have to remove the ball first – then you can examine the sensor.
3. Is the USB connection working?
No matter what type of mouse you are using: Check the USB connection. This means that you examine both the USB slot on your computer and the USB port on the mouse or transmitter. If the mouse connection works, you should plug it into another USB slot. The previously used USB slot may be defective so that the mouse signal cannot be sent correctly.
With wireless mice, you should also ensure that reception between the USB transmitter and the mouse is not disturbed. When the signal the wireless mouse and computer cannot be adequately exchanged, the mouse can jump.
If you have a wired mouse, you also have to check the mouse cable here. Cable breaks can be easily identified; in most cases, the outer rubber lining is also damaged.
4. Is the battery in the wireless mouse empty?
If the battery or rechargeable battery charge in a wireless mouse slowly comes to an end, the mouse is no longer optimally supplied with power. Try putting a new battery in your mouse. Read here how to dispose of your old battery. You should also check that the battery has not accidentally leaked or otherwise contaminated the contacts inside the mouse.
5. Suitable subsurface?
A suitable mouse pad can also help with problems with the mouse. Older mice in particular, still have problems with multi-colored underlays. Therefore, the mouse should only be used on smooth, single-colored surfaces – a mouse pad optimally meets these requirements.
6. Which USB port?
In the meantime, in addition to the standard USB 2.0 ports, the USB 3.0 ports are becoming more and more widespread. These are primarily marked in blue. Now and then, hardware problems can occur if the mouse is plugged into a USB port that is not compatible. If you have both types of USB ports on your computer, insert the mouse once into a slot of the other type.
Problems with the software
Tip: Software problems sometimes repair themselves by themselves, for example, by restarting. Before you go through the other software solutions, you should restart your computer. Sometimes that helps against mouse problems.
1. Is the mouse recognized?
If your mouse stops moving, it may not be recognized by the computer. Then you can try plugging the mouse into a different USB port. If that doesn’t work either, your mouse may be broken or has missing/outdated drivers.
2. Are the mouse drivers up to date?
Outdated drivers can also facilitate incorrect mouse movement. Windows downloads the appropriate drivers typically automatically and keeps them up to date. It is best to check the manufacturer’s website for your mouse to see which driver version is up-to-date. You can also download the latest drivers directly from most manufacturers’ websites.
3. Are there any programs that can access your mouse?
Some mice come with specific programs that can be used to activate special mouse functions. Sometimes errors in these programs, such as Logitech Gaming Software, limit the functions of the mouse.
Also, downloaded malware, such as a Trojan horse, can access your mouse and control it externally. So if your mouse moves on its own without any action on your part, be careful. You should use an antivirus program to rule out this case. Learn how to protect your PC from viruses in this article effectively.
4. Exceptional case: the mouse only
works when the task manager is open. Does your mouse only work when you have the task manager open in the foreground (not minimized)? There may be a problem with Realtek programs here. If you have installed Realtek programs, the solution is simple: Search for the ” FMAPP Application ” task and end the task. Your mouse should now be working correctly again.
This file is a background process of a Realtek program. You can close this process without impairment. To prevent restarting, you need to do the following:
Open the path in which you have installed the Realtek program, for example:
- C: \ Program Files \ Realtek \ Audio \ HDA \
Look for the ” FMAPP.exe ” file and change the file extension. For example, you could name the file ” FMAPP.exe.txt. ” Since it is no longer an executable file, it is not started automatically.
