I've got a wireless mouse that connects with a USB dongle, not Bluetooth, and it runs on batteries. Recently, I've noticed a frustrating issue: whenever I plug the mouse into my laptop, it starts freezing whenever I try to open any programs. The mouse seems to work fine while on the desktop, but once I attempt to launch something, the system hangs completely and the only way out is a hard shutdown. I thought it might be a problem with my main laptop, but after testing it on an older one, I found the same freezing issue occurs. Given that I've used this mouse for years without problems, I'm curious—could this be a sign of hardware degradation, and is there any way to fix it?
4 Answers
Honestly, if it’s causing you this much hassle, a new mouse doesn’t cost a lot—like $20. It might be easier to just replace it instead of troubleshooting further, unless you’re keen on fixing it!
Have you checked if your mouse is fully charged? Low battery levels can sometimes cause weird behavior like freezing or intermittent connection issues. I’ve experienced that with my Logitech mouse when the battery gets low, but it sounds like yours is charged up.
It sounds like your USB dongle might be malfunctioning. I've had issues where even a USB splitter caused performance drops, so your mouse's connector could be at fault here too. It might be worth testing it on another USB port or even checking the dongle for any wear or damage.
Make sure to check for updated drivers based on your mouse's manufacturer. Sometimes, Windows updates mess with hardware functionality. Also, if your older laptop is running a different OS, it could highlight a hardware issue. New batteries might solve it, but I suspect the USB dongle could really be the culprit here.
I did notice some signs of wear on the dongle itself. The newer laptop runs Windows 11 while the older one uses Windows 10, but that shouldn't be too different, right? By the way, it’s not a Logitech; it’s a TeckNet.

Yes, the mouse is charged. I used to have freezing issues and weird double-clicks with a low battery, but I'm sure it's good to go now.