Mighty Mouse Problem - Jerky And Jumpy

I have exactly the same issue even with 10.6.1: i.e. the MM overshoots sometimes the place where I command (or I expect) it to go mainly when CPU is working even if the CPU task is not so heavy.....The worst happened when I was transferring some data from a USB drive....very choppy and jerky.

I have noted moreover (yesterday) that when I switch OFF and I have a HDD connected for time machine, the pointer gets a little bit bumpy and laggy as soon as I move it. It recovers normal functioning a little bit later. P.S.: I have steermouse installed with 0.1-100 setting on cursor preferences.
I am a new MAC user and very happy of it BUT I find that mouse pointer displacement was better managed on Windows environment.
Ciao

califfo1975,

I hope you will contact Apple Care and send them a copy of what you have written. I notified Apple several months ago about this problem. At first, they were unaware of the problem but after searching these forums and Google they were "shocked" at the number of people complaining about problems with bluetooth mice on the mac. Since then Apple has released a couple firmware updates and a couple software updates that have improved the problem but have not entirely solved it.

Apple Care needs to know that the problems still exist! I am quite sure that the problem is not a hardware issue as the exact same mouse and computer works flawlessly on a bootcamp partition running Windows XP SP3.

Let us hope that Apple will resolve this issue promptly! I thought I was finished with choppy mice back in 1991 when serial mice were replaced with a mouse port under Windows 3.1!

Me too. Wireless Mighty Mouse with a Unibody Late 2008 Macbook Pro 15". It happens when I first connect to the mouse - right after I get to work. The mouse moves around the screen apparently at random. I can sit back with my hand off the mouse and just watch the cursor go exploring around. It responds when I move the mouse, but it is like I'm fighting for control with the phantom spirit that is possessing my mouse.

After about 5-10 minutes though, it calms down and works properly.

I have the same exact problem - very frustrating!

I am beginning to think that we should use the new screen capture function in Quicktime X and post a video on youtube showing the problem. That way we can give Apple Care a link where they can actually see the jumpy mouse in action!

I also experienced this issue when using my machine on a Monday morning. The mouse was fine for months and through all upgrades. I am on 10.6.1

Then, this morning the mouse was very jumpy/jerky and basically unusable. I tried a wireless Logitech mouse and also the standard wired apple mouse and it occurred on both.

I then unplugged my external USB drive and immediately the mouse was responsive and normal.

Aussie in Uk,


Can you use the new screen capture function in Quicktime X and post a video on youtube showing the problem. That way we can give Apple Care a link where they can actually see the jumpy mouse in action!

Also please join me in contacting Apple at Apple.com/feedback.

Howdy folks,

So let me join the bandwagon here..

I have a 13" Mac Book Pro with OS X 10.5.8 (latest updates as of the 3rd Oct 2009).

The problem configuration for me seems to be when I am connecting a 24" Dell monitor (1920x1200) using the Mini displayport->DVI adapter either when mirroring the internal display, or when extending the desktop (13" MBP + 1920x1200 DVI).

The issue is as described by other readers, that the USB mouse (tried different makes) appears jumpy on either display whenever the external monitor is connected.

As soon as the mini display port --> DVI adapter is out of the MBP, the display naturally resizes to the laptop display and the USB mouse works as expected.

Regards, Rekki

The Youtube video is now up at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzisliiVpg

This video is being placed on Youtube so Apple Care can see the "jumpy mouse" problem that many of us have been experiencing in Leopard 10.56 through Snow Leopard 10.61.

I captured this jumpy mouse movie using the new QuickTime X screen recording function. (A very cool function!!)

In order to clearly show the problem, I put the video into slow motion and replayed it several times to show that the bluetooth mouse is making exaggerated movements.

The "jumpy mouse" problem seems to be far worse when the hard disk is running - in this case I was downloading a trial copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.

I am certain the problem is software related because the same exact mouse works perfectly in Bootcamp 2.1 and Bootcamp 3.0 in Windows XP SP3.

I will update this video to let you know if the problem has been solved in 10.62 or future updates. I am hopeful that Apple will be able to find the source of the problem and solve it quickly. I really like my Mac and I can hardly wait for the problem to be resolved.

24 inch Imac, 3.06 ghz, 4gb RAM Mac OS X (10.6.1)

The Youtube video is now up at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzisliiVpg

This video is being placed on Youtube so Apple Care can see the "jumpy mouse" problem that many of us have been experiencing in Leopard 10.56 through Snow Leopard 10.61.

I captured this jumpy mouse movie using the new QuickTime X screen recording function. (A very cool function!!)

In order to clearly show the problem, I put the video into slow motion and replayed it several times to show that the bluetooth mouse is making exaggerated movements.

The "jumpy mouse" problem seems to be far worse when the hard disk is running - in this case I was downloading a trial copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.

I am certain the problem is software related because the same exact mouse works perfectly in Bootcamp 2.1 and Bootcamp 3.0 in Windows XP SP3.

I will update this video to let you know if the problem has been solved in 10.62 or future updates. I am hopeful that Apple will be able to find the source of the problem and solve it quickly. I really like my Mac and I can hardly wait for the problem to be resolved.

24 inch Imac, 3.06 ghz, 4gb RAM Mac OS X (10.6.1)

This exact same thing happened to me this morning.

Things I did that didn't solve the problem:
- unplug and plug the mouse
- unplug and plug the keyboard
- switch spaces
- log off user and log in again
- restart iMac
- switch off iMac
- switch off iMAc , unplug power cord and let it rest for some minutes

Things I did that did work:
- switch off the computer, unplug the power of my external firewire hard drive (Western Digital mybook studio) and boot normally

After boot, I could connect the power of the external hard drive and everything is back to normal. I think the issue might come from the fact that at night I let the iMac go to sleep and also unplug the DC plug from the hard drive (has flashing lights even while sleeping that bothers me).

So try unplugging all your devices and reboot the computer. That might work.

Installed 10.62 last night and I can confirm that it does not fix the jumpy mouse issue.

After waiting for almost a year now for a fix it seems to me that Apple needs to test this issue on machines that are having the problem. Maybe something will get done now that a bluetooth mouse comes standard with the new Imacs. Several other Apple users are reporting similar problems with the new Magic Mouse.

I am sure it is not a hardware issue because the mouse works great in Bootcamp 2.1 and 3 with Windows XP SP3. To make sure about this I have tried four different bluetooth mice, and two different routers. Nothing has made a difference.

Finally, some of my clients have the same issue with their Imac's. They have finally given up and purchased a Logitech mouse with a dongle.

P.S. I also unplugged all other devices - no difference!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzisliiVpg

I captured this jumpy mouse movie using the new QuickTime X screen recording function. (A very cool function!!)

In order to clearly show the problem, I put the video into slow motion and replayed it several times to show that the bluetooth mouse is making exaggerated movements.

The "jumpy mouse" problem seems to be far worse when the hard disk is running - in this case I was downloading a trial copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.

I am certain the problem is software related because the same exact mouse works perfectly in Bootcamp 2.1 and Bootcamp 3.0 in Windows XP SP3.

I will update this video to let you know if the problem has been solved in 10.62 or future updates. I am hopeful that Apple will be able to find the source of the problem and solve it quickly. I really like my Mac and I can hardly wait for the problem to be resolved.

Here's something to try. I saw a big improvement on my 2009MacPro with MagicMouse.

Take off the metallic cover on the mouse that covers the batteries.

How does the mouse work now?

Mine becomes very responsive, and smoothly scrolls. Put the little door back on, back to the lag problems. My mouse is about 1 meter away from the MacPro. I saw no improvement when upgrading to 10.6.2.

I don't think this is a "solution," and it's not "perfect," just noticeably improved. I'm on MagicMouse #2. I think I'm going to get my $70 back. The MightyMouse with a cord wasn't all that bad.

May I suggest that as many of us as possible post Youtube videos of the problem using the new screen capture function of Quicktime. With all the activity going on at Apple I think we need to raise the prominence of this issue! In order to do that we need to post videos on youtube and send Apple a link to the video via www.apple.com/feedback (Click on OSX, then under feedback area select peripheral/device support).

*I think this is essential in order to get other websites like (Mac Rumors, Apple Insider, Mac NN, Mac Word etc..) to cover the issue.* I have noticed that when these website pick up an issue the problem gets solved quickly!

I eagerly await your videos!!!


My video is located here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzisliiVpg

In order to clearly show the problem, I put the video into slow motion and replayed it several times to show that the bluetooth mouse is making exaggerated movements.

The "jumpy mouse" problem seems to be far worse when the hard disk is running - in this case I was downloading a trial copy of Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.

I am certain the problem is software related because the same exact mouse works perfectly in Bootcamp 2.1 and Bootcamp 3.0 in Windows XP SP3.

I posted a video of the problem as well. The trackpad on my MacBook and my wireless USB mouse (not apple) both show the same behavior. The problem doesn't happen immediately after a reboot, but shows up later with no apparent reason to trigger it.

Check the video here (let it run to the 8 second mark) and you will see the mouse jump to the bottom left of the screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxLY3-pH-rs

Great! Glad to see another video being posted. Apple needs to understand that there is an issue with bluetooth mice on OSX.

I would send the YouTube link to www.apple.com/feedback

Category: Mac OSX Feedback
Feedback Type: Bug Report
Feedback Area: Peripheral/Device Support

In addition, I would contact Apple Care and *_share your video with them_*.

Feel free to share my video with Apple Care also. Seeing it twice can't hurt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBzisliiVpg