lifehackerlifehacker LifeHacker LifeHacker 7 ways to fix weird mouse movements

Since the mid-1990s, mice have had scroll wheel functionality that has allowed us to use our PCs more efficiently. In particular, it is an indispensable function for interactive use of the OS, applications, games, etc.

If this scroll wheel goes bad or starts to behave strangely, how do I fix it?

I can't scroll well

The scroll wheel is arguably the most important mouse control. The scroll wheel is tactile and intuitive, allowing you to easily navigate pages, documents, menus, and more.

You may feel sluggish, jumping up and down the page, scrolling in the wrong direction, or the mouse not responding at important times. These are all common examples of scroll wheels not working.

However, in most cases such problems are not caused by hardware failure. As we'll show you, fixing weird mouse scroll wheel movements is pretty easy and anyone can do it.

You Don't Need a New Mouse

Before I tell you how to fix a mouse scroll wheel glitch, let me tell you that you probably don't need a new mouse.

A few times I've bought a new wireless mouse, thinking that buying a new one would fix the problem. It solved the problem for a short time.

When I dropped my mouse on the floor, I thought the scroll wheel was damaged and it made sense to buy a cheap mouse and replace it.

However, this won't fix the problem forever. A sluggish or unresponsive scroll wheel can happen to any mouse, new or old, and doesn't require a new mouse.

In this article, we'll show you how to fix a jerky or unresponsive mouse scroll wheel.

1. Get rid of the garbage anyway

Believe it or not, garbage is the most common cause of mouse scrolling problems.

Debris builds up around the scroll wheel, interfering with sensors and preventing accurate scrolling.

However, as easy as debris can get into your mouse, that debris is easy to remove.

Just pick up your mouse and give the scroll wheel a few breaths. In most cases, this should be enough to remove garbage and allow smooth scrolling.

Use an air duster if you can't get the dust out by just blowing on it.

2. Replace the batteries in your mouse

If that doesn't work, the problem may be the power supply, not the garbage. This is especially likely if you're using a wireless mouse rather than a USB mouse.

To check if the battery or batteries are dead, open the mouse, remove the battery or batteries, and try using it on another device.

Alternatively, if you have a battery charger, check with the charger. As long as it's at least 30% charged, you should be fine, but you should replace it as soon as possible.

If you have a fully charged or fresh battery on hand, try it with your mouse. Hope this fixes the scrolling problem.

3. Change Scrolling Settings

Mouses have settings for click, double-click, speed, scrolling, and more.

If scrolling is erratic, you may be able to fix it in your mouse settings screen. For Windows 10:

1. Press WIN + I to open Settings.

2. Type "mouse".

3. Choose how much to scroll with the mouse wheel.

4. Adjust the slide to select how many lines to move in one scroll. The default is 3 lines.

Go back to your browser, text editor, or whatever program was causing the scrolling issues and try to see if you need to adjust the slides a little more.

4. Switching USB ports

If you are using a wireless USB mouse or a mouse with a USB cable, changing the USB port on your computer may solve the scrolling problem. I have.

Most computers have USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. Switching to another port might do the trick.

Also, if you are using a USB hub, try disconnecting the mouse from the hub and connecting the mouse or receiver directly to your computer.

So let's check the movement of the scroll wheel again. I hope it's working fine.

5. Update the Mouse Driver

Sometimes the device driver conflicts with other drivers or causes errors. Such problems can often be fixed by updating the driver.

If you are using Windows 10, you can easily do it by following the steps below.

1. Right click Start.
2. Select Device Manager.
3. Pick the mouse.
4. Right click the selected mouse.
5. Select Update Driver.

Wait for the drivers to update. If the driver is the culprit, your mouse scroll wheel should now work.

6. If you have problems with a specific app, update the app

The scroll wheel on your mouse behaves strangely only in certain apps, such as browsers, text editors, games, etc. There is also

Anyway, if updating your mouse driver doesn't fix the problem, update the corresponding app as well.

The update method differs depending on the app. Updates page in the "About" menu often has a link, and if you don't have a download link, use that to update your app. For games, use a digital distribution service (e.g. Steam) to update the software.

7. Disable Windows Tablet Mode

Windows 10 users may find that mouse movement is blocked by tablet mode which may affect scrolling speed. .

In many cases, you may not even be aware that Tablet Mode is enabled (desktops and laptops do not have this feature).

To disable tablet mode on a Windows 10 tablet or desktop hybrid, please follow the steps below.

1. Click the Action Center button on the taskbar.
2. Find tablet mode.
3. Click Disable Tablet Mode.
4. If Tablet Mode is already disabled, click Enable once to disable it again.

Now your mouse scroll wheel may move smoothly.

Fixing Weird Mouse Scrolling

That's all for how to fix weird scroll wheel behavior.

Let's review how to fix erratic scroll wheel movement.

If none of the above methods work, the scroll wheel may be physically damaged.

In that case, you need a new mouse.

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Source: Amazon

Original Article: Why Your Mouse Wheel Is Scrolling the Wrong Way and How to Fix It by MakeUseOf