Magic Mouse no longer works on mousepad?

Found this on another board. A small hair might throw off tracking. The lens looked clean with the bare eye, but I used a bright light and magnifier and found ONE tiny hair in the opening.

Some air and careful blowing later and the problem is fixed.

Leaving this, because I might not be alone. I have been struggling with this off and on for weeks!

This exact same problem just happened to me today when I got home from class.. Used my Magic Mouse on the same trackpad since i got it over a year ago, and all of a suddent I get home and it won't work on my mousepad anymore. Also won't work on paper... only works on the surface of my desk..

Anything more come of this per chance?

I've had this problem with my Apple Magic mouse for years, and the usual solution was to make sure the sensors are clean (no dust, no pet hair), but recently, after changing the batteries, it refused to work on a mouse pad. Worked just fine on the polished wood desktop, but no matter how thoroughly I tried to clean it, the mouse pad was no go.

My solution was to get a mouse pad with a more reflective surface, instead of the soft matte surface of most mouse pads.

I wonder if the sensors just get old and just don't work quite so well anymore. The Magic mouse I have is > 4 years old

Same exact problem, The sensor looked clean, but I cleaned it off with an ear swab, then blew on it. fixed the issue immediately.

Just did the security update, Safari update, iTunes update, and iPhoto update last night, and then today my mouse doesn't work on my mousepad just my desk surface. Although I'm not sure if the software updates are related, I'm wondering if my year-old mouse just has a mechanical problem. Any other ideas?

I had the same problem. Even though my Apple Mouse 2 is designed to work on hard surfaces (like my barren desk top) - I don't like the noise. So I prefer to and have been using a mousepad for as long as I've had my MacBook Pro. When it suddenly stopped working on the mousepad, I Googled some help and this is where I ended up. The only solution was to ensure the sensors were clean. So I cleaned it with a blast of canned air, and it works on my mousepad once again. I also cleaned the mousepad.

I am having this same exact problem with my mouse not working on my mousepad only on my hard table - did you ever get a solution?

thanks! thats works for me

Hello CC9799:

We both tried. Apparently a host decided to edit the thread (my remarks as well as yours). Your response (and, for that matter mine) were intended to help. Sadly, there are a few people who are so full of themselves they arrogantly dismiss people who volunteer assistance.

Keep posting.....as you see from my little purple dotsI have been doing this for awhile. I should have reminded myself it is sometimes best to just ignore things and move on 🙂 rather than descend to the level of some people.

Barry

Didn't knew something like this was possible until now,
Having the same problem. Used the mouse on mouse pad and on my bed for as long as 1.5 years.
Was working fine yesterday. Until I woke up in the morning and find out, it doesn't work(movement is too slow and jittery making it impossible to move as desired) on my mousepad or anyplace else other than my wooden desk, which has shiny surface. Weird!

I am surprised to see that the Issue was raised as long as 4 years ago, and still doesn't have any valid solution or fix, or at least I haven't found it yet.
Apple, people - please help!

I think the answer has already been stated (at least for most users) it's usually just a small hair or something similar.

I've been using iMacs for over 8 years now and have had a Magic Mouse do this off and on for both my original machine, as well as my new one I'm presently using. I also have 3 large and very hairy pups. German Shepard/Siberian Husky mix, and because of them, I have excessive hair, dust etc. that we try to keep to a minimum, but it's unavoidable and impossible to completely control. ... So when the mouse gets jumpy, I can usually just blow a little air in the hole where the sensor is and it's fine. (Because it removes some sort of debris) But sometimes it takes more then just puffs of air and I've had to remove the cover (as others have stated) to get something that wouldn't remove with just air. (Unfortunately, there isn't a cover on the newer Magic Mouse II, which is simply plugged in via a lightening port, since it has re-chargeable batteries. Though the port's location could have been better thought out. IMO) If you ever happen to get something down in there where the puffs of air won't remove by itself, you might need a bright light and magnifying glass to check it thoroughly to see what you missed, which is usually a small hair or similar. - (The Magic Mouse II can be taken apart as with anything, but it's not designed to be and a simply look on-line to see how it's done will probably keep most from attempting it)

I struggled to figure out the problem and this tip solved it! I also hadn't noticed a couple of stray small hairs that had gotten caught in the opening. I had to pick them out since air wouldn't dislodge them, and once they were out the mouse returned to normal and tracks as it used to.

Was having problems with tracking. I removed the battery cover, took the batteries out, inspected the sensor.
I removed a single strand of trapped hair across the sensor. Works perfectly now.

I did this exact thing! Found an eyelash and removed it and my mouse works perfectly on my mousepad again!

Magic Mouse is designed to work on hard surfaces. No problem with yours.