How to stop the mouse becoming inactive

Question

How to stop the mouse becoming inactive

Stephen Hawkins 20

Im close to restoring backward to window 10 because I cant seem to solve the persistent issue I am having. This is my last ditch attempt. So thanks for any ideas to solve this.

If I leave the mouse inactive for a minute, sometimes and many times per day, the mouse stops being responsive. Nothing I click ever works. A while ago I thought this to be only within the bottom area of the window, task bar etc. But it seems to now be on the top. But on the top, if I click a tab in the browser to activate it. It just ads another tab, and another and another.

I have to press Ctr Alt Delete, then click the cancel button to get windows active again.

Any ideas appreciated. My unproven ideas are that it has something to do with the Opera browser, or another App I have open constantly called Script Atlas.. But this is unproven and untested. I do believe that it could be Opera, as after a window as been open for a while, everything just becomes slow. This is usually with youtube? But maybe this is a different issue.

Any ideas appreciated. Thanks.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

I understand how frustrating this must be, especially when the issue occurs multiple times a day and forces you to use Ctrl + Alt + Delete just to regain control.

As a first test, could you let me know:

Are you using a USB mouse, Bluetooth mouse, or the laptop touchpad?
Does the issue still occur if Opera and Script Atlas are completely closed?
Did the problem begin after a Windows update or after installing any new software?

In the meantime, please try these two checks:

1, Disable mouse power saving

Press Windows + X and select "Device Manager"
Expand "Mice and other pointing devices"
Right-click your mouse and select "Properties"
Open the "Power Management" tab
Uncheck "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power"
Click "OK"

2, Perform a Clean Boot

A Clean Boot helps determine whether a background application is interfering with Windows.

Press Windows + R, type msconfig, and press Enter
Open the "Services" tab
Check "Hide all Microsoft services"
Click "Disable all"
Open the "Startup" tab and select "Open Task Manager"
Disable all startup items, then restart the PC

After restarting, use the PC normally for a while and see if the issue returns. If it does not occur in the Clean Boot environment, we can then narrow down which application is causing the conflict.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T02:06:50.3766667+00:00

Thanks for the response. Its 3am now and Im just off to be. I will get back tomorrow. I am using a USB mouse.
Its been doing it for so long now I have no data on when it actually started. I will look into getting a new mouse though now you mention it.
Allow this device to wake the computer was ticked, the other

Il do the rest tomorrow. Half asleep. but thanks.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T02:19:58.4633333+00:00

Also, it could be worth noting that at night I always put the pc in sleep mode and turn mouse off underneath. Thanks again.

I may try leaving opera off for a couple of days as a first test, so if you dont hear from me, you will in a couple of days when I have cleared that possibility up?
Anonymous

2026-06-17T03:08:41.4533333+00:00
Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thanks for the update.

Since you're using a USB mouse, that does make it less likely to be a Bluetooth connectivity issue. Testing with Opera closed for a few days is a reasonable approach, especially since you've noticed the system becoming slower after Opera has been open for a while. The fact that the issue has been occurring for a long time makes it harder to correlate with a specific update or change.

Before purchasing a new mouse, I would suggest completing the remaining tests we discussed, particularly the Clean Boot. Since the symptom affects how Windows responds to clicks and is temporarily resolved by Ctrl + Alt + Delete, it may be related to a background process rather than the mouse hardware itself.

Your note about putting the PC to sleep and turning the mouse off each night is also useful information. When you have time, please let me know whether the issue still occurs after:

Running with Opera closed for a couple of days.

Testing in a Clean Boot environment.

Get some rest, and I look forward to your update.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T09:05:57.5966667+00:00

Thank you again. I appreciate it. I have moved to chrome so wont use opera for a few days to rule that out. as a first step. I also shut the pc down last night so can keep an eye on the sleep mode being part of the issue. I can test that again later once I'm sure opera isn't at fault. I will sign in here after few days. Thanks Sin-D, and have a good week.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T12:47:53.3833333+00:00

Hi, Sin-D. It is looking like this is the actual mouse. I changed and am using a brand new mouse I had lying around and the issue returns when I revert back to the "potentially faulty/warn out" mouse. I'll get back in a few days.
Anonymous

2026-06-18T03:25:51.02+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thank you for the update, and that's actually a very useful finding.

If the issue consistently returns when you switch back to the older mouse, but does not occur with the replacement mouse, then the mouse itself is becoming a stronger suspect. A worn switch or intermittent hardware fault can sometimes produce unexpected clicking behavior or cause Windows to misinterpret mouse input.

If the problem does not occur with the new mouse after several days, that would strongly suggest the original mouse is the cause. In that case, replacing it may be all that's required. On the other hand, if the issue returns even with the new mouse and without Opera running, we'll know it's time to continue investigating Windows or software-related causes.

Thanks for taking the time to test this methodically. I hope you've already identified the culprit, but please feel free to come back with your results in a few days and we'll continue from there if needed.

Have a great week as well!

3 additional answers

Your answer

Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T02:06:50.3766667+00:00

Thanks for the response. Its 3am now and Im just off to be. I will get back tomorrow. I am using a USB mouse.
Its been doing it for so long now I have no data on when it actually started. I will look into getting a new mouse though now you mention it.
Allow this device to wake the computer was ticked, the other

Il do the rest tomorrow. Half asleep. but thanks.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T02:19:58.4633333+00:00

Also, it could be worth noting that at night I always put the pc in sleep mode and turn mouse off underneath. Thanks again.

I may try leaving opera off for a couple of days as a first test, so if you dont hear from me, you will in a couple of days when I have cleared that possibility up?
Anonymous

2026-06-17T03:08:41.4533333+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thanks for the update.

Since you're using a USB mouse, that does make it less likely to be a Bluetooth connectivity issue. Testing with Opera closed for a few days is a reasonable approach, especially since you've noticed the system becoming slower after Opera has been open for a while. The fact that the issue has been occurring for a long time makes it harder to correlate with a specific update or change.

Before purchasing a new mouse, I would suggest completing the remaining tests we discussed, particularly the Clean Boot. Since the symptom affects how Windows responds to clicks and is temporarily resolved by Ctrl + Alt + Delete, it may be related to a background process rather than the mouse hardware itself.

Your note about putting the PC to sleep and turning the mouse off each night is also useful information. When you have time, please let me know whether the issue still occurs after:

Running with Opera closed for a couple of days.

Testing in a Clean Boot environment.

Get some rest, and I look forward to your update.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T09:05:57.5966667+00:00

Thank you again. I appreciate it. I have moved to chrome so wont use opera for a few days to rule that out. as a first step. I also shut the pc down last night so can keep an eye on the sleep mode being part of the issue. I can test that again later once I'm sure opera isn't at fault. I will sign in here after few days. Thanks Sin-D, and have a good week.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-17T12:47:53.3833333+00:00

Hi, Sin-D. It is looking like this is the actual mouse. I changed and am using a brand new mouse I had lying around and the issue returns when I revert back to the "potentially faulty/warn out" mouse. I'll get back in a few days.
Anonymous

2026-06-18T03:25:51.02+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thank you for the update, and that's actually a very useful finding.

If the issue consistently returns when you switch back to the older mouse, but does not occur with the replacement mouse, then the mouse itself is becoming a stronger suspect. A worn switch or intermittent hardware fault can sometimes produce unexpected clicking behavior or cause Windows to misinterpret mouse input.

If the problem does not occur with the new mouse after several days, that would strongly suggest the original mouse is the cause. In that case, replacing it may be all that's required. On the other hand, if the issue returns even with the new mouse and without Opera running, we'll know it's time to continue investigating Windows or software-related causes.

Thanks for taking the time to test this methodically. I hope you've already identified the culprit, but please feel free to come back with your results in a few days and we'll continue from there if needed.

Have a great week as well!

Answer 1

Stephen Hawkins 20

Thanks again Sin-D

It is definitely the mouse. I went all day yesterday without the issue. So thanks for pushing me in the right direction to get this solved. I am 100% convinced it was the mouse. Because going a full day and evening without it happening... well, it doesn't happen. It can bee up to 10 times in 30 mins and then it might be okay for a couple of hours then start again. So it was definitely the mouse, I am quite confident in that. So thanks again for your assistance. Very much appreciated.

Anonymous

2026-06-21T00:16:47.41+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

That's great news, and thank you for coming back to share the outcome.

I'm glad the troubleshooting helped point you in the right direction before you spent more time investigating Opera, sleep settings, or Windows itself.

Thank you as well for posting the final resolution. It may help other users who encounter similar symptoms and assume the problem is with Windows when the cause is actually a failing mouse.

Have a great week and happy computing!

Answer 2

Stephen Hawkins 20

Thanks Sin-D. Much appreciated.

All the best

Anonymous

2026-06-21T00:26:43.55+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thanks for your kind words. You're very welcome!

Answer 3

Stephen Hawkins 20

Not sure if this topic is still open or I should create another but the issue has advanced. Now, when Im using MS Word the mouse stops working. Every minute or less, I have to click a taskbar item (my programmers notepad or any icon), to reactivate the mouse in word. Any ideas?

Its looking that mouse was maybe a symptom, of which there seems to be a few. or could be.

Note: Quite frequently/sometimes, I get an error whilst restarting regarding the ... I believe its called .NET Framework. I'm not sure if that could be related. I just agree to whatever it is without reading it because my POCs are work horses not build and develop projects.

Also Whilst installing/or perhaps saving a project in Unity 3d, There was a blank white screen showing beneath the main Unity loading screen. That has never occurred before. But I am wondering, and chatgpt as also suggested that it could be a overlay thats opening? Not sure about that but its one of the issues chatgpt had me trying to solve which came to nothing.

By the way, this is only occurring in Word. I am currently doing an online repair.

Anonymous

2026-06-28T01:04:43.2233333+00:00
Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thanks for the update. The new information is very helpful.

Since you've now confirmed the issue occurs with a different mouse and appears to be affecting Microsoft Word specifically, it sounds like the original mouse may have been one factor, but not the entire cause.

I understand you're already running an Online Repair, which is a good next step. While that's running, could you let me know:

Which version of Word are you using (Microsoft 365, Office 2021, etc.)?

Does the problem occur in all Word documents or only a particular document?

When the mouse stops working in Word, can you still use the keyboard (for example, type text or move with the arrow keys)?

If you're using Microsoft 365 Word, I would suggest one additional test after the Online Repair completes:

Press Windows + R.

Type winword /safe and press Enter.

Open a document and work in Word for a while.

This starts Word without add-ins. If the issue does not occur in Safe Mode, the cause is likely a Word add-in rather than the mouse itself.
Stephen Hawkins 20 Reputation points

2026-06-28T07:58:30.04+00:00

Thanks again Sin-D. However, After writing the previous comment I Worked with chatgpt to troubleshoot. And It stopped doing it. it pointed me into adding this key in the registry.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Graphics

The graphics folder didn't exist so I created it. And added: DisableHardwareAcceleration and set the value to 1.

And yesterday, after a restart it didn't seem to do and seemed to have solved the issue. I will know after todays work.

But After the repair the issue seemed to continue. Adding the key seems to have been the issue.

I'm using Office LTSC Professional 2024 Desktop.
Anonymous

2026-06-29T04:20:52.41+00:00

Hi Stephen Hawkins,

Thank you for the update and for sharing what you've found.

I'm glad to hear the issue appears to have improved. The fact that the problem continued after the Office Online Repair but stopped after disabling hardware acceleration suggests that the issue may have been related to how Word was interacting with your graphics subsystem rather than the Office installation itself.

At this point, I would recommend continuing to monitor the system for a few more days before considering the issue fully resolved. If Word remains stable during normal use, that would provide stronger evidence that hardware acceleration was a contributing factor.

Regarding the occasional .NET Framework error during shutdown or restart, it may or may not be related. Since the Word issue appears to have improved, I'd avoid changing anything else for now. If the .NET error continues to appear, please note the exact error message the next time it occurs, as that would help determine whether it requires separate troubleshooting.

Thank you for returning with the results and for sharing the workaround. Hopefully this will help other users with similar Word-specific mouse issues on Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024.

Please feel free to post back after you've had a few more days to test.