Fix mouse wheel scrolling error

A mouse helps you use your computer efficiently. But when something goes wrong, it can be a source of frustration and annoyance.

The scroll wheel has been a feature of mice since the mid-1990s. It's an important feature for interacting with operating systems, applications, and games. But when your mouse wheel malfunctions and starts scrolling incorrectly, what can you do to fix it?

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Table of Contents

• 1. Clean the mouse
• 2. Replace the mouse battery
• 3. Change scroll settings
• 4. Swap USB ports
• 5. Update mouse driver
• 6. Is the scrolling bug occurring in certain software? Update that application!
• 7. Turn off Tablet Mode on Windows

1. Clean the mouse

Surprisingly, the majority of mouse scrolling problems are caused by dust.

Dust collects in the area around the scroll wheel, interfering with the sensor and preventing accurate scrolling. But the good news is that you can easily clean the dust out of your mouse. Simply pick up the mouse and blow hard into it to get the dust out. In most cases, this will be enough to push the dust out, resulting in smooth scrolling again.

Note : You can use a can of compressed air to do this job.

2. Replace the mouse battery

If the above doesn't work, then the problem may be the power supply rather than the dust. This is especially likely if you're using a wireless mouse instead of a wired USB mouse.

To make sure the battery has enough charge to function properly, open the mouse, remove the battery, and try it on another device. Also, test it with the charger if available. Batteries with a charge above 30% should still work fine, although you should consider replacing the battery as soon as possible.

Once you have a fully charged or fresh battery, try your mouse again. Hopefully any scrolling errors you were experiencing should now be gone.

3. Change scroll settings

Sometimes, inconsistent scrolling — such as skipping too many lines at once or not scrolling as many lines as expected — can be caused by incorrect settings in Windows. These settings control how the mouse wheel works and can be easily adjusted to suit your preferences. Here's how to access them:

• Press Win + S to open the search menu.
• Type mouse settings into the text box and press Enter .
• In the Settings window that opens, go to the Scrolling section and make sure your mouse wheel is set to scroll multiple lines at once.
• Use the slider next to Lines to scroll at a time to adjust how many lines you want your mouse to scroll with each click of the wheel. The default is 3 lines, but you can increase or decrease it to your preference.

After adjusting your scroll settings, go back to the browser, word processor, or application where you experienced jerky scrolling and test it. If scrolling still feels choppy, you may need to tweak the sliders further to get the right results.

See also: How to change mouse settings in Windows if needed.

4. Swap USB ports

Whether you're using a wireless USB mouse or a wired device, swapping USB ports on your PC or laptop can make all the difference for scrolling issues.

Most computers have both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports . Swapping from one type of port to the other can help a lot here. Also, if you're using a USB hub , remove it from the equation if possible and connect your mouse or its receiver directly to your computer.

Try your mouse wheel again - hopefully it will work again.

5. Update mouse driver

Device drivers can become corrupted or conflict with other drivers. These issues are often resolved by updating the driver . If you're using Windows 10, this is easy to do:

• Right-click Start.
• Select Device Manager.
• Find and expand Mice and other pointing devices .
• Right click on the correct mouse.
• Select Update Driver.
• Wait for driver update.

If this was the cause of the error, your mouse wheel should now work properly.

6. Is the scrolling bug occurring in certain software? Update that application!

You may find that your mouse wheel only misbehaves in specific applications, such as a browser or word processor, or even in a video game.

Regardless of the application, if you've updated your mouse driver and the issue hasn't improved, consider updating the application in question.

Updating apps will vary by software. You'll usually find a link to the update page in the About menu , which will help you update the software if there's no download link. For video games, use a digital distribution service (e.g. Steam) to update your software.

7. Turn off Tablet Mode on Windows

Windows 10 users may find that Tablet Mode interferes with mouse operation, which can affect scrolling speed.

In many cases, you may not even realize that Tablet Mode is running (it's not a feature on desktops or laptops). To turn off Tablet Mode on a Windows 10 tablet or desktop PC:

• In the taskbar, click the Action Center button.
• Find Tablet Mode.
• Click to disable.
• If Tablet Mode is turned off, click it to turn it on and then click again to turn it off.

Smooth mouse wheel scrolling should now work again.

Good luck in fixing the error!