13 Ways To Fix Laggy Mouse On Mac [See Reasons Too]

If you’re a MacBook user dealing with a sluggish mouse, the frustration is all too familiar. The annoyance of a laggy or slow cursor can disrupt your computer experience. 

This article examines thoroughly the reasons behind a laggy mouse on your MacBook and provides simple solutions to get it working smoothly again.

Why Is My Cursor Lagging Mac Trackpad?

A slow mouse cursor on your MacBook can be frustrating, but there are many potential causes and fixes. To help narrow down the issue, let’s answer some related questions:

Is It A Wired Or Wireless Mouse? If It’s Wireless, Consider:

1. Battery Level: A low battery can affect performance.
2. Bluetooth Connection: Try toggling Bluetooth off and on to refresh the connection.
3. Interference: Move your mouse away from other wireless devices that might be interfering.

Have You Noticed Any Other Performance Issues Lately?

A slow cursor could be a symptom of a larger problem with your Mac’s CPU, RAM, or software.

When Did The Issue Start? Did It Coincide With Any Software Updates Or New Hardware installations?

Other Reasons:

1. System Overload: If you’re running demanding applications like video editors or games, they might be hogging CPU and RAM, causing the cursor to lag.
2. USB Mouse: Damaged or not properly connected USB cables for wired mouse can also cause this problems.
3. Software glitches
4. Hardware issues

How To Fix Mouse Lagging On MacBook Air Computer

Make your MacBook’s mouse work better if it’s slow with these easy steps:

Fix 1: Toggle Bluetooth On And Off To Resolve Wireless Mouse Lag

If your wireless mouse is laggy, it might be the Bluetooth connection. 

Fix It Like This:

1. Click Bluetooth.
2. Turn Bluetooth off, wait a bit, then turn it back on.

Fix 2: USB Port Switch (Fix Slow Mouse by Changing Port)

For a slow USB-connected mouse:

1. Disconnect everything from your Mac’s USB.
2. Put the mouse in a different USB port.

If you’re using a hub, switch it to another port, like from “upper left” to “upper right.” That should help!

Fix 3: Remove Mouse Configuration Files

If your mouse is still moving slowly or not working, you can try resolving the issue by deleting its property list files.

However, be cautious as these files contain your mouse preferences and settings. Before taking any action, make sure to back up your MacBook. 

To Delete The Mouse List Files, Follow These Steps:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Select Go > Go to Folder.
3. Type ~/Library/Preferences and select Go.
4. Find and delete the following files: com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist and com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist.
5. Restart your Mac computer.
6. Navigate to your Apple Menu > System Preferences > Mouse and reconfigure your mouse settings.

Fix 4: Check Mac’s CPU And RAM Usage

When your CPU and RAM are overloaded with running programs, it can result in a sluggish mouse cursor. 

To Free Up Resources, Follow These Steps:

1. Open Task Manager.
2. Identify any application consuming a significant amount of resources.
3. Click on the Force Quit button to shut down the selected program.

Fix 5: Reset Bluetooth Module For Mouse

If there are pairing or connectivity issues causing a laggy mouse cursor, resetting the Bluetooth module can be helpful. 

Follow These Steps:

1. Click on the Apple menu.
2. Choose System Preferences.
3. Select Bluetooth.
4. Press Shift + Option on your keyboard.
5. Click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar.
6. Choose Debug.Select Reset the Bluetooth module.

Fix 6: Keep Your Mac Updated

If your Mac is a bit old, it might make your mouse slow. Make it faster by doing this:

1. Click the Apple on the top-left.
2. Pick About This Mac.
3. Press Software Update.
4. If there’s an update, click Update Now and wait.
5. After your Mac restarts, check if the mouse is better.

Fix 7: Examine Your Mouse

Maybe your mouse is causing the problem. If it’s too touchy, make it less so. For wireless mice, check the battery; if it’s low, your mouse might be slow. For wired mice, look at the cable for any issues.

Fix 8: Make Your Mouse Faster

If your mouse is still slow, change how fast it moves:

Go to System Preferences.Click Mouse.Move the speed slider to your liking.

After this, your mouse should be faster and easier to use.

Fix 9: Turn Off Handoff

If your mouse is slow, you can try turning off the Handoff feature on your Mac. 

Here’s How:

1. Open the Apple menu.
2. Click on System Preferences.
3. Tap General.
4. Disable Allow Handoff by unchecking the box.

Fix 10: Change Mouse Batteries

When your mouse is acting slow, it might just need new batteries. 

Here’s A Quick Fix:

Get fresh batteries for your mouse and replace the old ones.

Fix 11: Restart Your Mac Computer

If your mouse is still slow, give your MacBook a quick restart:

1. Go to the Apple menu.
2. Choose Restart.
3. After restarting, your mouse should work better.

Fix 12: Adjust Screen Size

For external monitors causing lag, try changing the screen size:

1. Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Monitor.
2. Choose “Ideal for [brand name]”.
3. Hold down ALT and select a screen size that suits you better.

Fix 13: Unpair And Pair Your Mouse Again

If Bluetooth is causing issues, try unpairing and pairing your mouse again:

1. Click the Bluetooth icon at the top.
2. Select Bluetooth Preferences.
3. Remove your mouse by clicking ‘X’.
4. Confirm removal.
5. Put your mouse in pairing mode.
6. In Bluetooth preferences, click Connect next to your mouse.

Conclusion

Try these easy fixes to make sure your Mac’s mouse works well. Make simple changes and updates, and you’ll probably solve any problems with lag or slowness. Keep it simple, and have a smooth time using your mouse on your MacBook!

Further Reading:

• AirPods Not Connecting To Macbook? Here Are The Reasons And 10 Simple Fixes!
• Samsung Galaxy Buds Not Connecting To MacBook Air? Here Are The Reasons And 12 Simple Fixes!
• How To Connect Airpods To MacBook
• My MacBook Keeps Disconnecting From Wi-Fi? Here Are The Reasons And 9 Simple Fixes!