Mouse lag in video games since upgrading to Windows 8.1

Anonymous
2013-10-31T03:24:23+00:00

Since I’ve upgraded to Windows 8.1, when playing some games the mouse doesn’t behave right. It lags, or the pointer jumps back and forth, or I can’t click fast.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Gaming

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Anonymous
2013-10-31T03:29:40+00:00

Updated (11/8)

We want to thank our gaming community for the detailed feedback many of you have provided on these issues.  We have released some fixes and workarounds that will allow you to get back to your gaming.

The “mouse lag” issue is actually several different issues that could vary based on the game, input methods used, etc.

The three following issues are addressed by a fix we have provided in **KB 2908279**:

  1. Mouse jitters (jumps forward and back) as you move it through a game – This occurs in some games because Windows 8.1 introduced changes to mouse input processing for low latency interaction scenarios and this causes some games to respond differently to mouse input than in previous releases of Windows.
  2. Mouse movement is not to scale even after acceleration is turned off – If you have turned off acceleration to make the distance on the screen match the distance you move the mouse, that may not work correctly anymore.
  3. Measured mouse Polling Rate has a lower reporting frequency than expected – If you have a gaming mouse that has a high frequency, when you test it, you may find it is reporting a lower frequency than you expect. Note: if you previously encountered issues with measuring the polling rate you will need to follow the instructions in **KB 2908279** to ensure that, not only the patch is installed, but also the app used to measure the polling rate has an appropriate registry entry to enable the fix for that specific executable.

We have also included workarounds here for the following issues:

  1. Mouse may not be able to reach all areas of the game window – This may occur with games that do not use DirectX, when run in window mode. See **KB 2907016** for the workaround.
  2. Can’t left-click with an integrated pointing device immediately after pressing a key – This is a setting for touchpads, like those used on laptops, to make typing easier. You can work around this by changing the mouse delay to zero, but this may make typing more difficult. For instructions to change the setting, see **KB 2907018**.

Some users have also reported success in older games and apps by turning on compatibility mode. To try that:

  1. Right-click the game’s icon.
  2. Select Properties.
  3. Select the Compatibility tab.
  4. Select the version of Windows for which you want to run the game in compatibility mode.
  5. If you want to apply the settings for that program to all accounts on the PC, click Change settings for all users. You might be asked for an administrator password or to confirm your choice.
  6. When you're done, tap click OK.

When we have more information from our investigations, we will update this post. Thank you very much for your patience.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-11-01T23:02:47+00:00

    The most likely reason you can't install kb2908279 is because it is already installed as part of kb2903939.

    http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2903939

    Check your list of installed updates for kb2903939 (it is a regular always installed Windows Update), OR if you run my MouseMovementRecorder program (inside the ZIP file on my blog : http://donewmouseaccel.blogspot.co.nz/2010/03/markc-windows-7-mouse-acceleration-fix.html), it will refuse to run if the fix is not already installed.

    If MouseMovememtRecorder.exe runs, then the fix is already installed.

    ALSO, while MouseMovementRecorder.exe is running, it enables the KB2908279 fix, as if it was a video game that triggers the fix via the KB2908279 registry edit.

    So do this for a test: Run MouseMovementRecorder.exe, leave it running, and see if your jumpy mouse if fixed.

    If it does fix it, then follow the instructions at the blurbusters link to permanently enable the KB2908279 fix.

    (When enabled using explorer.exe, you do not need to make registry edits for each game.)

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-03T18:29:43+00:00

    Hi,

    I am not sure how to check the list of installed updates however I have launched your program MouseMovementRecorder.exe.

    It runs perfectly  so I suggest that the fix is already installed.

    Unfortunately i am still having my mouse cursor jumping in the center of the screen when I use right-click or left-click.

    I appreciate you truning to help but I think I will eventually buy a basic mouse controler.

    Regards,

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-06-19T09:16:56+00:00

    Can you solve the problem with a basic mouse controller?

    I have the same issue on my PC.

    Even after clean installation, with a new mouse (Micro Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000, I used Logitech mouse before, just try if Microsoft mouse can solve the issue, but failed), and no other software installed, it still have mouse issue in a clean Windows with related hardware driver installed only.

    I have replaced 4 mouses already, at first I guess it may be the mouse problem, but no matter what kind of mouse I use, bluetooth, wireless and cable, all have the same issue.

    I'd like to know if any basic mouse controller can solve this issue.

    Thanks a lot.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-19T14:49:49+00:00

    For my part I did not make the test of changing to a basic mouse controller. I just stoped playing games showing this very annoying bug.

    I am not sure whether MS delivered an official patch using windows updates but I did not encounter the mouse jumping issue for a long time. And i play many different games.

    However I did unsintall any game showing the bug so I cannot tell whether it has been fixed.

    If I remember well, this issue can be avoided by game developpers. The modification, which brought the mouse lag issue, was developped by MS on purpose. It is rather suppose to be a change than a regression. But some games must be updated in order to avoid the issue.

    Do you have this issue on a specific game ?

    Did you search on your game forum in order to see if others are currently having the issue or whether the game developpers are aware of it ?

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