Is my Magic Mouse Dead?

Thank you for posting this.

My mouse "died" the other day with the same symptoms as reported by others. Just stopped working, no green light, changing batteries had no effect. I took it to the apple store and the "genius" there tried turning it on, and off and on again, shrugged his sholders and said "Did you purchase apple care?". I held my breath (I wanted to tell him to kindly **** off but didn't.).

Anyway, I went out and bought a Logictech USB mouse (which works great BTW) but then found this post. I tried your instructions (SHIFT, CONTROL, OPTION and POWER) and voila, it came back to life!!!

Thank you. I still hate that fxxxin' mouse but I'm glad it's working again. I just don't feel as ripped off anymore. 😁

This may help someone? My wireless mouse just died. Batteries were dead. Replaced with fresh Rayovac batteries, but the mouse was still dead. Read the replies to this thread and followed the recommended fix, still dead. Thought it might be dirty contacts and noticed that the positive contacts of the mouse were recessed. In other words, the positive contact protruding from the battery has to extend into a hole on the mouse to dock with the positive contact of the mouse. Compared the length of the positive protrusion on the Rayovacs with that of either Durocell or Energizers I had at home and found that the contact of the Rayovac was distinctly shorter. Put in Energizers or Duracells and the mouse works, put in fresh Rayovacs and it stays dead.

So, it may be that not every brand of battery is going to make satisfactory contact with the recessed positive terminal of the mouse due to brand to brand variations in the length of the protrusion of the positive contact of the battery.

Hope this saves someone from needlessly buying a new mouse?

The positive contacts must be very sensitive. I couldn't get a green light with fresh batteries. I couldn't see any corrosion or buildup, but I swabbed them out anyway, then replaced the batteries and got power back.

Believe it or not guys, this is what worked for me: been trying new duracell 1.5v alkaline batteries, tried many sets, didnt work. Then switched to Energizer Advanced 1.5V AA Battery, & voila it worked like a charm. I know unbelievable but just got it to work. 🙂

Not bad for a 70 year old man. Looks like Apple designed the positive terminals to be recessed so if old folks like me put the batteries in backwards no damage would occur to the device . Probably never checked the universe of battery brands to see if all were sized exactly the same? Glad I could help!

this is exactly right. i was certain that it was a battery or wiring problem, but your tip fixed the problem instantly. thanks IB Retired! (for those needing help, see previous post on SHIFT, CONTROL, OPTION and POWER BUTTON)

So mine is dead as of this morn. It was never really quick at finding the mouse after a battery change but they always worked (rechargeable energizer and Duracell both worked previously). I've followed all suggestions on here, cleaning battery contacts and SHIFT, CONTROL, OPTION... Still nothing. No green light. I'm assuming this ones a dud? It's less than 6mo old.

Thanks for the reply Nick... I mentioned in my note that I already tried this and it did not work. I think that I may have batteries that appear charged on the charger but may have bit the dust permanently.... I was switching 2 pairs of rechargable batteries back and forth and they are always plugged in. I may have to buy some new ones.

I've had my mac for a month and am incredibly disappointed with the issues so far. Mouse is just the latest problem. The entire unit powered off in the first week. Then after taking it to Best Buy (where it was purchased for a pretty-penny) I got my unit back with a defective mouse (had been fine prior to the 'visit'). It lost it's two finger sllide function and only slides to left for certain pages and on desktop (never right) though it used to. I had an HP laptop top of the line which lasted me 6 years, was impressed with it, but thought that for business purposes (and after it's death) I oguht to be using a better computer, etc. I contemplated several. This was the one. Impressed with features, simplistic operating system, but not the quality thus far. The batteries have been changed in my mouse twice. Today it's possessed because it is zooming in and out like a psycho...cannot get it to stop unless I shut it off. Battery changes never make a difference. I don't know what's going on with this thing and I am back to using a regular wireless mouse (from my laptop). Discouraged and disgruntled (and just try to call best buy or go there to get help (no real people to talk to and waiting in line for two hours before being seen is inconvenient - so is toting a gigantic heavy box back and forth).... No technololgy is fool proof is what I'm thinking.

Good tip. In addition to those; if you are using rechargable batteries, the minus (negative) side of the battiery itself get coated with odixation too. Clean both the mouse's contacts and the battiery's.

Use a laser mouse. I am using my Logitech M305 mouse which I used with my HP laptop. I plug in the usb and it works great. It's dissapointing that I cannot have the cool functions I had (the first week of owning my Mac- but after that the mouse was having issues anyways and is now dead...) but at least I can use my computer.

Thank you so much for this, IB Retired!

First I cleaned the connectors, then I stopped using rechargeables and put in a brand new pair of Energizers.

Then I followed your instructions.

Worked like a charm.

Thanks again. It's a mighty Magic Mouse!

Sooo amazed and impressed with IB Retired's answer - I had swapped batteries but no green light on mine either. Can't believe that simple move got it back and would love to know why it died in the first place...