How to check whether every mouse button works

A mouse button may work in one app but not another, or fail only when you press it quickly. You may also be unsure whether the scroll wheel click, side buttons, or a button you use for changing sensitivity is registering at all.

The Mouse Test can check button presses and the scroll wheel in your browser. It helps you see whether the computer receives an input before you change game controls or replace the mouse.

Test each mouse button

1. Open the Mouse Test on the computer you want to check. Move the pointer into the test area.
2. Click the left button once, then the right button once. Check that each press appears as a separate input in the test.
3. Press the scroll wheel straight down to test its click. Then roll the wheel up and down to check scrolling. These are separate actions, so test both.
4. If your mouse has side buttons, press each one separately. Common side buttons go back and forward in a browser, but the test can help show whether the browser receives their presses.
5. Test any other buttons you use, such as a button that changes sensitivity. A special button may not appear as a normal mouse click in a browser, so check its assigned function in the mouse software too.
6. Repeat any inconsistent press several times, with a short pause between clicks. The Mouse Test also checks double-click behavior, scrolling, and polling rate, which is how often the mouse reports its position.

Keep your hand in the same position and press one button at a time. If you press several together, it can be harder to tell which input did not register.

What the result means

Every button registers consistently

The browser is receiving the mouse inputs you tested. If a button still does nothing in a particular game or app, look at that app’s control bindings and mouse settings. The button may be assigned to a different action, or the app may not support it.

A button sometimes fails to register

An intermittent result can point to a worn switch, a loose connection, or software that remaps the button. Test it again with the mouse connected directly to the computer, rather than through a hub, and compare it in another browser or app. If the same button misses presses in several places, the mouse or its connection is more likely to be at fault.

A click registers twice

If a single press appears as two clicks, the switch may be bouncing, which means it sends extra signals as it makes contact. Check the Mouse Test’s double-click result, then try the mouse on another computer. A double-click that follows the mouse is a stronger sign of a worn switch than one that happens only in a single app.

The wheel scrolls but its click does not work

Turning the wheel and pressing it use different inputs. If scrolling works but the click does not register, focus on the wheel’s press switch and any app setting assigned to middle-click. Do not treat working scroll as proof that the wheel click is healthy.

Side or special buttons do not appear

Some browsers or mouse drivers do not expose every extra button in the same way. A button can also be configured to send a keyboard shortcut or a manufacturer-specific action instead of a standard mouse click. Test its assigned action in the software that came with the mouse, or in an app where you know that action is supported.

How to fix a mouse button that does not work

1. Check for a physical lock or switch. Some mice have a switch that changes modes or disables certain controls. Check the mouse body and its manual, and make sure the button is not being held down by a case, debris, or your grip.
2. Reconnect the mouse. Unplug a wired mouse, wait a few seconds, then connect it to another USB port. For a wireless mouse, check its power, receiver connection, and Bluetooth pairing. If possible, test without a USB hub.
3. Check which button is set as primary. In Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mouse and check Primary mouse button. On a Mac, open System Settings › Mouse and check the Secondary click setting. These options can make left and right clicks behave differently than expected.
4. Review the app’s controls. In a game or other app, check its mouse bindings and restore the expected action for the button. If the button works in the browser test but not in one app, changing or resetting that app’s binding is a good next step.
5. Check mouse software and profiles. If you use a mouse utility, confirm that the button has an action assigned and that the right profile is active. A profile for a game or program may change what the same button does elsewhere.
6. Restart, then test again. Restarting can clear a stuck driver or background utility. After the restart, test the button before opening the app that first showed the problem.

When the mouse may be broken

If the same physical button fails or double-clicks in the Mouse Test and in another app, try the mouse on a second computer. A failure that follows the mouse, especially after reconnecting it, points toward a worn switch or damaged cable. If it is under warranty, contact the seller or manufacturer before opening it. For an inexpensive mouse, replacement may cost less than repair.

A browser test can only check inputs that the browser receives. It cannot confirm that every manufacturer-specific feature or assigned action works in every program, so use the mouse’s own software to check buttons with custom functions.