The Apple Magic Mouse is simply one of those gadgets that makes your life easier without you even noticing it.
It is more than just a regular Bluetooth mouse, as it is rechargeable and wireless, and it also features a very convenient multi-touch surface that allows you to easily scroll through the pages and swipe from one page to another.
What can certainly make this Apple mouse experience unpleasant are connection issues. Keep on reading to discover what you should do if your mouse keeps disconnecting.
Why does your Apple mouse keep disconnecting?
Many people choose the Apple Magic Mouse for its sleek, modern design without the buttons.
This Bluetooth mouse has a very simple configuration, and it features a single, multi-touch surface that allows you to click, scroll, and swipe easily.
What’s more, the Magic Mouse is wireless and operates on two AA batteries, while it also requires a Bluetooth connection.
What could affect the functioning of the Apple Magic Mouse and jeopardize the Bluetooth connection? Let’s take a look at some of the most common issues.
1. First-generation Magic Mouse Bluetooth issue
If you have a first-generation Magic Mouse, a Bluetooth issue isn’t too big of a surprise, as many Apple customers have reported a similar issue with their mouse.
In addition to disconnecting all of a sudden, the Magic Mouse may also not show up on the Bluetooth device list, even when the Bluetooth connection is on.
2. Battery issues
Another important issue that many Apple customers have experienced is the short life of the two AA batteries the mouse operates on.
In case the Apple mouse keeps disconnecting, the batteries in the device may be weak or dead, and they require a replacement.
Another battery issue reported by the users is that the AA batteries do not fit properly into the wireless mouse battery holder, causing them to fall out of the holder every time you move the mouse.
Once the batteries fall out, the mouse automatically disconnects, especially after a sudden movement.
3. Bluetooth connection issue
In addition to the first-generation Apple Magic Mouse, the Bluetooth connection may also be jeopardized by some kind of interference, such as a wireless keyboard or another Bluetooth device located near the mouse.
4. Software issue
In case your Mac hasn’t received or processed the latest macOS updates, this could be the reason why your Apple mouse keeps disconnecting.
It is necessary to keep up with the latest software upgrades and make sure that your Mac is up to date for all the Apple components to function properly.
5. Apple mouse is defective
Finally, if your Apple Magic Mouse cannot connect even after you’ve checked every single one of the components and made sure that both the Bluetooth and the WiFi signal are not the issue, it could be that the problem is in the Apple mouse itself.
Luckily, if your Apple warranty is still in effect, you will be able to get a new Apple mouse if the one you have is indeed defective.
How to fix an Apple mouse that keeps disconnecting
It is pretty much impossible to get any work done or enjoy anything on your Mac if your Apple mouse keeps disconnecting. Keep on reading to find out more about the best methods to fix your Apple Magic Mouse.
1. Check the batteries
Unfortunately, the fact that the battery life of the first-generation Apple Magic mouse is really short is something that you cannot change. What you can do is ensure that you always have a set of fresh batteries that you can put in if the mouse keeps disconnecting.
In case you notice that the batteries keep falling out of the battery holder, you can try positioning them more tightly into the holder, or securing the battery cover with some scotch tape if you suspect that the cover isn’t tight enough.
You could also try adding some aluminum foil around the negative end of the batteries, which should fill the space between the edges of the battery holder and the battery itself, and make it fit more snuggly.
However, keep in mind that the aluminum foil trick may lead to overheating. If you notice that your mouse is getting hot easily, you should remove the aluminum foil “filler.”
Wrapping some electrical tape around the batteries seems to be a safer solution, as it won’t lead to the batteries overheating.
Luckily, the Magic Mouse 2 models include rechargeable lithium batteries that typically fit tightly into the battery holder, so you shouldn’t experience this issue with the newer model.
2. Establish a stable Bluetooth connection
In case you’re using other Bluetooth devices in addition to the Apple mouse, try disconnecting them and then test your mouse.
If the mouse doesn’t disconnect when there are no other Bluetooth-paired devices around, the problem you’re dealing with is interference, and you may have to limit the number of Bluetooth devices to ensure a stable Bluetooth connection.
As redundant as it may seem, make sure to check if your Apple mouse is indeed connected to the device you’re currently using. You could have accidentally connected it to another PC or laptop without noticing.
3. Update your Mac device
Sometimes the problem isn’t in your wireless mouse, but in the Mac device, you’re trying to connect the mouse to.
Make sure that your Mac software is up to date and that there are no pending updates, especially those concerning the mouse driver or the Bluetooth driver.
As unimportant as it may seem, updating your software regularly is crucial for the functioning of every single component, including the wireless mouse.
4. Restart the mouse
To restart your mouse and make sure that there is a stable Bluetooth connection, check the Bluetooth connections on your Mac device and see if your Magic Mouse is on the list of available devices.
If the connection fails, turn off the mouse and let it disconnect. After a few seconds, reconnect it again and try using it to see if the disconnecting issue persists.
If the Bluetooth connection is still not established, try turning off the Bluetooth on your Mac device. Go to System Preferences, then click on Bluetooth, and hit Turn Bluetooth Off.
After a few seconds, turn the Bluetooth on. Find your mouse on the Devices list, unpair it, and wait a few seconds before you pair it with your Mac again.
5. Check if your mouse is malfunctioning
In case your mouse is indeed defective, and your Apple warranty is still in effect, you will be able to get a brand new mouse.
However, you will need to make sure that the mouse is defective before you can request a new one. Try connecting your Apple Magic Mouse to another device to see if this makes any difference.
If none of the methods we mentioned seem to work and the mouse keeps disconnecting on other Mac devices, as well, it is highly probable that you’re dealing with a defective mouse.
6. Mouse reconfiguration on your Mac device
This is a rather easy method that should eliminate any minor bugs in the system and hopefully prevent the Apple mouse from disconnecting in the future.
To perform a reconfiguration of your Apple mouse on your Mac device, press the Option (or Alt) and Shift keys on your keyboard, and click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar simultaneously.
Once a menu shows up, select Debug, then click on Remove All Devices to erase all Bluetooth devices from the menu.
The final step would be to restart your Mac and configure your Apple mouse again.
