Tom Wolsky

Q: What would stop a Magic Mouse from working?

I have an original Magic Mouse. It has new batteries, but clicking it or pressing the mouse does nothing. The green light doesn't blink or come on. What would make it stop working like that? Any ideas or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

 

Thanks.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Early 2013 2.7G i7

Posted on Sep 10, 2016 6:24 AM

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Q: What would stop a Magic Mouse from working?

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  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 10, 2016 6:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
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    Sep 10, 2016 6:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Batteries inserted incorrectly, batteries lacking charge come to mind

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 6:34 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 6:34 AM in response to Csound1

    Thanks. Tried two sets of new batteries. Definitely in the correct direction. Rechecked.

     

    P.S. The clicker function is till working correctly. Moving up and down, making the clicking sound.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Sep 10, 2016 6:43 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 6 (15,093 points)
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    Sep 10, 2016 6:43 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Hello Tom,

     

    In your second post you say the clicker function is till (sic) working correctly, moving up and down and making the clicking sound.    So do you now have a green light and are the batteries re-chargeable? Poor connection was definitely my first thought and unequal size of battery another.   What brand are you using.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 6:51 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
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    Sep 10, 2016 6:51 AM in response to seventy one

    Sorry, that should have been still. No, no green light. No laser. Like there's no electrical function, only mechanical. Fresh, brand new, out of the box, recently purchased Duracell AAs.

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Sep 10, 2016 7:04 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 6 (15,093 points)
    Peripherals
    Sep 10, 2016 7:04 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    The green light is the important factor.   Two possibilities.   I hate this repair option but could you play the old extra packing trick, using oil foil between the connection points and the batteries.   It really shouldn't need it but it is an old mouse.   Does the mouse rattle when you shake it?

     

    But first you should check if the connection points themselves have become soiled in some way and while you are cleaning those, you should also use an optical wipe on the lens with a Q tip.  You could try the Q tip (lightly, not wet) dampened with alcohol.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 7:16 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 7:16 AM in response to seventy one

    Excellent suggestions. Gave it thorough clean out, swabbed with alcohol. Tried packing the connections. Didn't do it. Maybe just time to get a new mouse.

  • by seventy one,Helpful

    seventy one seventy one Sep 10, 2016 7:33 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 6 (15,093 points)
    Peripherals
    Sep 10, 2016 7:33 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Tom, it just has to be contacts.   If the green light does not show, there is no connection and the batteries are the correct ones.   Remember, if you get a new mouse it will only function entirely correctly with El Capitan or later. 

     

    Did you try shaking the old mouse when it wasn't padded?

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 7:37 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 7:37 AM in response to seventy one

    Shaking. Interesting. The shaking worked briefly when the foil wadding was in place. Didn't work again when I took the wadding out. Working again with the wadding, but now the green light seems to be on all the time.

  • by seventy one,Solvedanswer

    seventy one seventy one Sep 10, 2016 8:00 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 6 (15,093 points)
    Peripherals
    Sep 10, 2016 8:00 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    The shaking was meant to determine if the batteries rattled.   But we are getting a result anyway.   What is now confirmed is the batteries were not properly connecting.   The constant green light is OK.   The question is, is it now functioning fully.

     

    I think it is down to wear and tear.   Sit down and make up som thicker pads for the contact points using tin foil, then slip extra packing in the form of a cardboard pad across the body of the batteries. Try again. You may get an old mouse style mouse, new via Amazon.   Thanks for the help star.

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 8:05 AM in response to seventy one
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 8:05 AM in response to seventy one

    TThanks very much 71. Seems fully functional. Maybe time to decide on a new mouse. That MM2 seems a bit pricey.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 10, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
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    Sep 10, 2016 8:10 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Nonsense, with rechargeable batteries a whole new vista of battery problems will emerge for your pleasure

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Sep 10, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Csound1
    Level 10 (118,107 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 10, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Csound1

    Does it actually have batteries in the traditional sense that can be swapped out, or is a rechargeable battery like an iPhone battery?

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Sep 10, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Sep 10, 2016 8:21 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    I believe that it does not have removable batteries, it's a rechargeable 'brick', but I don't have one so could be wrong (its happened before)

  • by seventy one,

    seventy one seventy one Sep 10, 2016 8:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 6 (15,093 points)
    Peripherals
    Sep 10, 2016 8:26 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Tom.

     

    The new mouse, MM2, is charged from your machine by a lightning cable between it and a USB port.   Mine works fine.   You get a days work from even a three minute connection  and several weeks from a full charge.   Worth it if the budget allows and essential as you go up the OS levels from now.

     

    I'm happy you find it solved.  Thank you.

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