Mouse side buttons stopped working in games

You press a mouse side button to reload, use an ability, or go back, but nothing happens in the game. The button might be faulty, or the game may have lost its control binding or mouse profile.

Test the buttons outside the game first. The Mouse Test checks mouse buttons, so you can tell whether the problem affects the mouse everywhere or just one game.

Test the side buttons

1. Open the Mouse Test on your computer and move the pointer over the test area.
2. Press each side button once. Check whether the test registers a click for each one. Avoid pressing the main buttons while you check.
3. If you use mouse software with profiles, switch to the profile you use for the game, then test the buttons again.
4. Return to the game and check its control or key-binding settings. See whether the actions you want are still assigned to the side buttons.

Some browsers use side buttons for Back and Forward. If pressing one takes you to another page instead of showing a result, that behavior does not prove the button is broken. Return to the test and check the other button, then compare with how the game responds.

What the result means

Both buttons register in the test, but not in the game

The buttons are sending input to the computer. The game may have cleared or changed its bindings, may be using a different mouse profile, or may not support those buttons in the way you expect. Check the game's controls and mouse software before replacing anything.

One button registers and the other does not

The button that registers is working at least at a basic level. The other could be disabled in the mouse profile or worn out. Check its assignment in the mouse software, then test it again with the profile set to its default settings.

Neither side button registers

Check whether the mouse software has disabled or reassigned both buttons. If the buttons fail in the test with the default profile too, reconnect the mouse and test it on another computer if possible. A shared failure across computers points more strongly to the mouse or its cable.

The buttons work in some games but not others

The mouse is probably working. Each game handles extra mouse buttons differently, and some games do not accept them for every action. Assign the buttons again in the affected game, or assign keyboard keys to the mouse buttons in the mouse manufacturer's software if the game allows keyboard input for that action.

How to fix it

1. Reassign the controls in the game. Open the game's settings and look for Controls, Key bindings, or Input. Select the action you want, then press the side button when the game asks for an input. Some games label the buttons as Mouse Button 4 and Mouse Button 5, rather than Side Button 1 and Side Button 2.
2. Check the active mouse profile. Open the mouse manufacturer's software and make sure the game is using the intended profile. A profile can change when a game launches, and a button may have been set to a different action or disabled. If available, restore the default profile and test again.
3. Check the basic mouse settings. On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mouse. On macOS, open System Settings › Mouse. These settings cover basic mouse behavior, but usually do not assign custom actions to extra buttons. Use the mouse software for side-button assignments.
4. Reconnect the mouse. Unplug a wired mouse, wait a few seconds, and connect it directly to another USB port. For a wireless mouse, check its battery, reconnect its receiver, or turn Bluetooth off and back on before testing again.
5. Close and reopen the game. A game may not notice a changed profile or newly connected mouse until it starts again. Save your work first, close the game completely, confirm the mouse profile is active, and then relaunch it.
6. Check for a game-specific limit. Test the same buttons in another game or app. If they work there but not in one game, check that game's control options and support information. If a mouse utility offers a keyboard-key assignment, try that only if the game accepts the same key for the action.

When the mouse may be faulty

If a side button does not register in the Mouse Test, the default mouse profile is active, and the button also fails on another computer, the switch or mouse electronics may be damaged. A wireless mouse can also have a failing receiver or connection, so test with a fresh battery or another USB port before deciding.

If both side buttons fail everywhere while the main buttons work, and resetting the profile changes nothing, the mouse likely needs repair or replacement. Check its warranty before opening it, since opening the case can affect coverage. For an inexpensive mouse, replacing it is often simpler than replacing an internal switch.