The most common issue faced with the malfunctioning of a computer mouse is its left click not working. Sometimes issues like automatic double-clicking occur even though you would have pressed the left button once or the left button functions as the right button, which is usually used to get further options about a file or application.
This is an issue that can be easily fixed if proper identification of the root cause is done to find out whether it’s the hardware’s fault or there are some software issues. As even this simple problem could be frustrating at times, it is better if you spend some time rectifying it.
In this article, we will be dealing with the left-click issues related to the mouse in terms of both – hardware of the mouse and the software in your computer system.
Software solutions for mouse left click not working
As the mouse is a pretty simple device with no installed programs or software, this kind of issue could be related to the mouse’s functioning in your as well as other PCs. If you find the following issues then the reason for left-click not working is software-based:
- Your mouse functions properly on other PCs but not on your device.
- Both the mouse buttons are working fine but their functioning has been interchanged, that is, left-click functions as right-click and vis-versa.
If you are facing these issues then use the following tips to rectify them. Know that having software related issues in the mouse is much better than hardware issues as you need no expert knowledge to solve this simple issue.
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This swapping option is provided in Windows for the ease of mouse usage by left-handed people. This setting can be controlled and changed by the user accordingly. To solve the buttons interchanged functioning, follow these steps:
- Open the ‘Start’ menu and click on the ‘Settings’ tab to open the settings panel.
- Search for the ‘Mouse’ settings option.
- ‘Select your primary button’ setting is present under which you can select either left or right.
- Make sure that it is set at the ‘Left’ option otherwise change it to left.
In case you have the earlier versions of Windows like Windows-7, then follow these steps for swapping the mouse button functioning:
- Open the ‘Start’ menu.
- Open the ‘Control Panel’ and search for the ‘Hardware and Sound’ option.
- Click on the ‘Mouse’ option.
- Uncheck the ‘Switch primary and secondary buttons’ options if checked.
This should change your mouse settings on your device and the left button would work as the left-click and the right button would work as the right-click.
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Another feature in Windows called the ‘ClickLock’ enables the continuous selection for a short period even if you press the button only once. If you don’t want to use this feature but face the issue then you can disable it by:
- Open the ‘Start’ menu.
- Open the ‘Control Panel’ and search for the ‘Hardware and Sound’ option.
- Click on the ‘Mouse’ option and open the ‘Mouse Properties’.
- Open the ‘Button’ tab.
- You will find the ‘ClickLock’ heading at the bottom of the dialog box.
- Make sure that the ‘ClickLock’ feature is unchecked.
- Click on the ‘Apply’ button to check the functioning of your mouse. You can even use this feature and adjust the holding period by using the ‘Settings’ option.
- Click on the ‘Ok’ option.
If you are still facing issues with the mouse and are sure about the hardware condition is good, then try rebooting your PC.
Other reasons for the mouse left-click not working are
- A problem in your ‘User account’.
- Corrupted update files in Windows.
- Restrictions by your anti-virus software.
- An issue caused by any recently installed program or application on your system.
- Lack of mouse-driver update.
To update your mouse driver, follow these steps
- Open your ‘Start’ menu and go to the ‘Device Manager’.
- Search for the ‘ Mice and other pointing devices’ option from the list.
- Click on it to open its properties menu.
- Open the ‘Driver tab’.
- Click on ‘Update Drivers’.
These are the solutions for the issues related to the software of your system that is affecting the normal working of your mouse.
Hardware solutions for mouse left click not working
If all the above-mentioned solutions didn’t help to rectify your mouse problem then try checking whether the root cause of the problem is related to its hardware. However, if you have purchased it brand new from a trusted source then the probability of it being a hardware issue is less.
To identify if the hardware of your mouse is faulty try using it on another device. If the same issue is faced then you may confirm that it’s a hardware problem.
The common hardware issues could be
- Malfunctioning of the physical left-button of the mouse.
- An issue in your PC or device USB port.
- Fluctuations in its working.
- An issue in the working of the mouse trackball unit.
- In the case of a wireless mouse, try changing the USB port or replacing its batteries.
If you find these issues in your recently purchased mouse then it would be better if you ask for its replacement with a new one or from the seller or get it repaired by trusted experts and in the case of the old mouse, it is time that you purchase a new mouse.
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Try the newly replaced mouse in your device and if it functions alright then you can assure yourself that the old mouse definitely had hardware issues!
So, in this article, we have covered all the issues for the left mouse button not working and the causes of its malfunctioning on your PC or other devices. Hope this was useful in improving the functioning of your mouse.
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