How annoying is it when the left mouse button stops working? You change batteries, you slam them on your desk a few times, you curse the gods of technology – but it’s all in vain.
It doesn’t have to be this way. There are steps you can take to get the left click back on the mouse. Here are some ways to move back in when left-clicking isn’t working properly.
1. Repair Corrupted User Profile
You must determine if the issue is unique to your user account or a system-wide issue.
- Create a new temporary local account by going to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family and other users > Add someone else to this PC. The app will ask you for the new user’s login details and name.
- Now, log in to the new profile. Is left click working again? If so, then it is possible that the primary user account is corrupted.
- Try copying all your user data to a new profile. You need at least three profiles (your new one, your damaged one, and an extra one) on your device to perform this operation.
- Log in to the additional person. All of the following steps must be done from the “Backup” account.
- First, open File Explorer Make sure that hidden files and folders and protected operating system files are viewable. If you can’t see them, go to View > Options > View and make the necessary adjustments.
- After that, go to C: Users[Corrupted Username] and select all files except files ntuser.datAnd the Ntuser.dat.logAnd the ntuser.ini. Copy and paste the files in C: Users[New Username].
- Finally, sign out and sign in to your new account. Once you verify that everything is working, you can delete the backed up and corrupted accounts.
2. Check for corrupt Windows data
If you still can’t use the left mouse button on the new profile, then it’s a sign that something went wrong within Windows itself. One of the most common causes is a corrupt Windows update.
To test for corrupt Windows files, you need to run PowerShell or Command Prompt (by right-clicking on the Start menu and selecting it from the list).
Next, you need to run the System File Checker tool.
Writes sfc /scannow and press Enters. You will see one of three results:
- Windows did not find any safety violations.
- Windows Resource Protection found and repaired corrupt files.
- Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files but was unable to repair some (or all) of them.
In the case of the latter, type DISM / online / image cleaning / health recovery and press Enters. PowerShell or Command Prompt will redownload any corrupt files. It may take a long time, so be patient.
3. Delete any recently installed drivers and apps
Have you recently installed any new apps and software? It could be the reason why the left click is not working. Likewise, a software update may have caused the problem.
go to the Settings > Apps. Delete any apps you’ve installed recently, any apps that recently received automatic updates, and any apps you no longer use. Reboot your device and see if the issue is resolved.
In a similar vein, several users have pointed out errant drivers that caused the problem. The most common cause appears to be printer drivers.
Delete your existing drivers by heading to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers and Scanners. Click the printer you want to delete, and press Removal.
4. Delete and reinstall your antivirus
Uninstalling and reinstalling your antivirus suite may solve your problems.
Sometimes, they discover false positives or harmless processes that carry a black flag. Panda Anti-Virus seems to pop up the most. If you are using Panda, this may be your problem.
Before you uninstall and reinstall completely, you can do a software test to see if this is the problem. Next, disconnect from the Internet and temporarily disable any third-party security groups. You can also try booting into safe mode to rule out software problems.
5. Update Mouse Drivers
It’s wise to make sure your mouse drivers are always up to date. If the left click does not work, then you definitely need to check it.
- Right-click on the Start menu and choose device manager. Don’t worry: you can also use the right-click button to make your selection.
- Next, use the keyboard arrows to scroll down to Mice and other pointing devices and press Enters.
- Select the mouse and press Enters repeatedly. The Properties The window will open.
- Uses unpaid bill and the arrow keys to move to driver tab and select Update drivers.
- Next, select Find drivers automatically. Windows will do the rest.
6. Enable ClickLock
What if everything works except drag and drop? If you have already worked through the 6 fixes and you are still facing the problem, you can enable it temporarily ClickLock.
ClickLock allows you to drag and drop files and folders with single mouse clicks, instead of having to physically hold down the left mouse button.
To turn it on, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse > Related Settings > Additional Mouse Options.
The Mouse properties The window will appear. at the bottom of the buttons tab, you will see a file ClickLock and options. Tick the check box to enable it. click Settings It will allow you to customize your ClickLock preferences.
7. Hard to reset your computer
Performing a factory reset is not a good practice and should be done in moderation. However, several users reported that it fixes the left mouse button not working.
It is easy to perform a hard reset (also known as hard crash). Pull the power cord if you are using a desktop without a battery. If you are using a laptop, pull out the power cord and battery. In either case, you need to log into a user account on the PC before performing the reset.
Again, please use this as a last resort, as pulling the force can have unintended consequences. Before you do that, make sure you’ve saved files, closed open programs, etc.—as well as possible with your broken left mouse button.
8. Clean your mouse
Now, we will not give a detailed explanation of how to clean every mouse on the market. That would be impractical. But there are some easy cleaning tips that will work on most mice, especially in terms of removing dust and buildup. Let’s face it, since it’s a tool that stays in your hand all day and every day, moving some dirt and dust is inevitable.
Using alcohol wipes, compressed air, and a clean microfiber cloth can remove dirt and get the left mouse button back on.
Is the left mouse button still not working?
Do any of these fixes work? You remembered checking the batteries, right?
Of course, your mouse itself may be defective. Try using a wired mouse and see if the problem is gone. And remember that it is always useful to thoroughly clean the mouse. Dust can quickly accumulate inside its electronic components.
If all else fails, remember that you can move around your computer with your keyboard only if you know the correct shortcuts. That’s fine because your mouse can suffer from a wide range of problems, and you’ll need to know how to navigate Windows 10 with minimal mouse use to make the proper repairs.
