The mouse will help you use the computer efficiently. But when something goes wrong, the device becomes a disappointment and makes you feel uncomfortable.
The scroll wheel has been a mouse feature since the mid-1990s. It’s an important feature for interacting with operating systems, apps, and games. But when the mouse wheel malfunctions and starts to scroll incorrectly, what can you do to fix the situation?
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1. Mouse cleaning
Surprisingly, the majority of scrolling problems are caused by dust.
Dust collects in the area around the roller, interfering with the sensor and preventing accurate rolling. But the good news is that you can easily clean the dust from the mouse. Simply pick up the mouse and blow hard inward to get the dust out. In most cases, this will be enough to push the dust out, resulting in smooth mouse scrolling again.
Note: You can use a can of compressed air that will do the job.
2. Replace battery for mouse
If the above doesn’t work, then the problem may be the power supply, not the dust. This can especially happen if you use a wireless mouse instead of a wired USB mouse.
To ensure that the battery has enough power to work properly, open the mouse, remove the battery, and try on another device. Check it with a charger as well, if one is available. Batteries with a charge above 30% will still work fine, although you should consider replacing them as soon as possible.
Once you have a fully charged or new battery, try the mouse again. Hopefully, any scrolling issues you’re currently experiencing will be resolved.
3. Change scroll settings
Your mouse has specific settings for clicking, double-clicking, speed, and scrolling.
Scrolling issues in the mouse settings panel can be resolved. Within Windows 10:
Step 1: Press WIN + I to open Settings.
Step 2: Type mouse.
Step 3: Select Change how far you scroll with the mouse wheel.
Step 4: Adjust the slider on Choose how many lines to scroll each time (the default is 3).
Go back to your browser, word processor, or wherever the scrolling is jerky and give it a try. You may need to further adjust the slider. See also: How to change mouse settings in Windows if needed.
4. Swap USB ports
Whether you’re using a wireless USB mouse or a wired device, swapping out the USB ports on your PC or laptop can make all the difference when it comes to scrolling issues.
Most computers have USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. Swapping from one port type to another can be of great help here. Also, if you’re using a USB hub, remove it from the equation if possible and connect a mouse or its receiver directly to the computer.
Try your mousewheel again; hopefully it will work again.
5. Update mouse driver
The device driver may be damaged or in conflict with other drivers. These problems are usually resolved by updating the driver. If you are using Windows 10, this is easy to do, as follows:
- Right click on Start.
- Select Device Manager.
- Find and expand Mice and other pointing devices.
- Right-click the correct mouse.
- Select Update Driver.
- Wait for the driver to update.
If this was the cause of the error, your mousewheel should now work properly.
6. Does mouse scrolling occur in certain software? Please update that app!
You may find that the mouse wheel misbehaves only in specific applications, such as a browser or word processor, or even in a video game.
If after updating your mouse driver the issue persists, regardless of the application, think about updating that application.
Application updates will vary by software. Normally, you’ll find a link to the update page in the About menu, which will help you update the software if a download link isn’t available. For video games, use a digital distribution service (e.g., Steam) to update the software.
7. Turn off Tablet Mode on Windows
Windows 10 users may find that tablet mode interferes with mouse operation, which can affect scrolling speed.
In many cases, you may not even realize Tablet Mode is running (this is not a feature on desktop or laptop computers). To turn off Tablet Mode on a Windows 10 tablet or combination in desktop mode:
- In the taskbar, click the Action Center button.
- Find Tablet Mode.
- Click on it to disable.
- If Tablet Mode has been turned off, click it to turn it on and then click again to turn it off.
Smooth scrolling of the mouse wheel should now work again.
Good luck fixing the error!
