macOS Big Sur is one of the most anticipated updates to the Mac operating system that has come along in years. Every update brings with it new features and functions that are meant to improve the user experience, and Big Sur brings with it big visual changes that aim to integrate more closely with Apple’s iOS.
And even though there are plenty of awesome new features to take advantage of, there are some issues people are reporting after installing this update.
One such issue that we will take a look at here is your mouse not working after installing macOS Big Sur. If this is happening to you, try one of the quick fixes below to resolve the problem.
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Why Is My Mouse Not Working After Installing macOS Big Sur?
If your mouse isn’t working after installing macOS Big Sur, it could be caused by a bug related to the new software install.
It can also be a smaller issue associated with your hardware that can be easily resolved.
In early releases of the Big Sur and any new update, there are often bugs and glitches that occur.
These should be fixed by Apple developers quickly, so always keep your eyes peeled for when new updates to Big Sur are available.
Fix #1: The Basics
Before we look at other fixes that are a little more involved, it’s important to start with the basics.
This means that you should make sure your mouse is in good working order and that it has batteries with enough charge to make it operable.
If you are using an Apple mouse, you should see a little green light underneath it when you pick it up.
If you don’t, you probably need to change the batteries. Your mouse is obviously not going to work if it doesn’t have batteries.
Another basic fix to mention here is to restart your computer. This simple action can often fix a variety of small bugs and issues that occur, and it’s always a good place to start.
So, if you know your mouse has good batteries and it’s still not working, go ahead and restart your computer.
Fix #2: Delete Files Associated With the Mouse
The next fix to attempt involves deleting a few files from your computer.
This fix has been reported specifically by Mac owners who have recently installed macOS Big Sur and are encountering the issue of the mouse not working at all.
This fix is simple and should fix the problem quickly.
To delete the files causing potential issues with your mouse connection, follow these steps:
- Open the Finder.
- Click on Macintosh HD from the left-hand side of the window.
- Click on the Library folder.
- Select the Preferences folder from the options in this list.
- Locate a file with the named com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
- Control-click on the file and select Move to Trash to delete it. You can also try moving the file to another location.
- Locate another file in the Preferences folder named com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
- Control-click on the file and select Move to Trash to delete it. You can also try moving the file to another location.
- Restart your computer.
- Your mouse should work when your computer reboots.
If you don’t want to delete the two files shown in the steps above, you can move them to another location instead.
If you create a new folder on your desktop, you can move them into it, or you can just place the files onto the desktop individually.
Final Thoughts
If you are experiencing the issue of your mouse not working after updating to macOS Big Sur, the fixes listed in this article should allow you to get the problem fixed quickly.
Remember to start with the basics of checking that your mouse has batteries installed and if so, restart your computer.
If neither of those options work, proceed to fix #2 described above and that should get your mouse working again.
Scott Campbell
What about a wired mouse freezing the cursor while plugged in?
Hannah
How are you supposed to ‘click’ on anything if your mouse isn’t working?!!
ron
if the computer doesn’t see the mouse then you can’t open anything. My mouse works on older Catalina but stoped working on Big Sur. How can I uninstall this crap & go back to the Cat?
Tedd
Not quite.
My mouse still acts strange. It only moves from top-left to bottom-right. However, my trackpad works fine.
This happened before and then went away — now it’s back again. It takes a lot of movement to get it to go anywhere I want, whereas the trackpad still works.
I can’t be the only person this has affected.
Any other ideas?