Your mouse works outside Chrome, but inside the browser, clicks go nowhere, scrolling stops, or the pointer disappears. The right fix depends on whether a webpage has frozen, a setting has changed, or the mouse has lost its connection. Start with the quick checks below, then follow the section that matches your symptom.
Find out whether the problem stays inside Chrome
Test pointer movement, clicking, and scrolling outside Chrome. Open the affected website in another browser. If that one website fails in both browsers, contact its owner.
If the mouse also fails outside Chrome, skip to the connection checks below. Browser settings cannot repair a disconnected mouse.
To navigate Chrome without the mouse, use Tab and Shift+Tab to move between clickable items. Press Ctrl+L on Windows or Linux, or Command+L on Mac, to reach the address bar. Space scrolls down, and Shift+Space scrolls up. On Mac, allow Full Keyboard Access in macOS for some of these navigation options.
Get a frozen tab or browser responding again
Start here when a page ignores clicks or Chrome freezes. In a game or web app, an intentionally captured pointer also explains a cursor that disappears.
Press Esc to release a pointer captured by a game or app. Switching to another tab or window also releases it.
Reload a malfunctioning page with Ctrl+R on Windows or Linux.
To reload while bypassing cached content, press Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+R on Mac.
Close unnecessary tabs with Ctrl+W, or Command+W on Mac.
If Chrome remains sluggish, open More > More tools > Task Manager.
Select Memory to identify tasks using substantial memory.
Select an unwanted task.
Choose End Process. This discards that task’s unsaved work.
Close Chrome completely.
Reopen Chrome.
If Chrome will not close on Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
Open Task manager > Processes.
Select Google Chrome or chrome.exe.
Choose End task. Force-closing risks losing unsaved work.
On Mac, press Command+Option+Esc instead.
Select Google Chrome.
Choose Force quit, which also risks losing unsaved work.
Reopen Chrome after force-closing it.
Restart your computer if reopening Chrome does not help.
On Windows or Mac, open More > Help > About Google Chrome to check for updates.
Select Relaunch when offered.
On Linux, update Chrome through your distribution’s package manager.
Rule out an interfering extension
An interfering extension is a cause of website controls failing to respond to your mouse.
Open More > New Incognito window, or press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Linux, or Command+Shift+N on Mac.
Test the affected site’s controls in that window. Extensions explicitly allowed in Incognito still run there, so a failed test does not rule them out.
Open More > Extensions > Manage extensions.
Switch extensions off.
Retest the page.
Enable one extension.
Test the page again. Repeat this enable-and-test sequence for each extension to identify which brings the problem back.
For an identified unwanted extension, select Remove.
Confirm with Remove.
If Chrome marks an extension as corrupted, select Repair instead.
Select Repair extension to confirm.
Test graphics acceleration for a disappearing pointer
Open More > Settings > System on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Turn off Use graphics acceleration when available.
Restart Chrome.
Test the pointer on the page where it disappeared or displayed incorrectly.
Restore the setting if it makes no difference.
Use this test for pointer visibility and rendering problems; ChromeOS does not have this desktop toggle.
Check site settings when only one website ignores clicks
Use these checks when Chrome itself responds but a particular website’s buttons or embedded controls fail. Choose the check that matches the symptom, testing the site after each change.
For blocked site functionality, open View site information beside the address.
Select Site settings.
Correct a blocked permission the site requires, including JavaScript when applicable.
Reload the page.
For an embedded sign-in or another control that depends on third-party cookies, select Third-party cookies blocked beside the address when Chrome displays it.
Turn on Third-party cookies for that site.
Close the dialog to reload the page.
Test the affected control.
To clear cached content, open More > Delete browsing data.
Choose the time range.
Select Cached images and files.
Review the other selected categories to avoid deleting additional data unintentionally.
Select Delete data.
If the site still fails, open More > Settings > Privacy and security > Third-party cookies > See all site data and permissions.
Search for the affected website. Deleting its stored data risks losing your session and saved site state.
Select its Delete control.
Confirm with Delete.
Sign in again if the deletion signed you out.
Try a separate Chrome profile
On Windows, macOS, or Linux, select Profile > Open Guest profile.
Test the website in the guest window.
Close the guest window after testing.
If the site works there, select Profile > Add Chrome profile.
Choose a name and appearance.
Test the site before signing in or restoring extensions and settings. A successful test points toward something associated with your usual profile.
Keep the original profile while you troubleshoot.
If a separate profile does not help, try the settings checks below before reinstalling Chrome.
Undo changed settings before a full reset
If the trouble began after changing experimental flags, enter chrome://flags in the address bar.
Select Reset all.
Relaunch Chrome.
For an unexpected text caret or changed keyboard navigation, open More > Settings > Accessibility.
Turn off Navigate pages with a text cursor to disable caret browsing, which changes keyboard navigation without disabling physical mouse input.
After narrower tests fail, open More > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Select Reset settings to reset relevant settings and extensions.
Your saved bookmarks and passwords remain, but accessibility settings are not fully reset.
Restore the connection when the mouse fails everywhere
These checks address lost connections and system-wide mouse failures.
Reconnect a wired mouse’s USB cable.
Try another USB port directly on the computer, bypassing an unpowered hub.
Inspect the cable for damage.
Charge a battery-powered mouse or replace its batteries.
Clear dirt from the mouse sensor.
For a receiver-based wireless mouse, unplug the USB receiver.
Wait approximately 10 seconds.
Reconnect the receiver.
For a Bluetooth mouse on Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices.
Turn Bluetooth off.
Turn Bluetooth back on.
For a Magic Mouse, switch it off using the underside switch.
Switch the Magic Mouse back on.
On the Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Bluetooth.
Enable Bluetooth.
For a rechargeable Magic Mouse, connect the appropriate USB-C or Lightning cable for one minute.
Disconnect the cable for wireless use.
Test a mouse that still fails on another compatible computer with any required driver installed.
Seek repair or replacement if it also fails there.
Reinstall Chrome if the browser still fails
If the mouse works elsewhere and Chrome still fails after these tests, reinstall the browser.
Close Chrome before uninstalling it.
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
Open More beside Google Chrome.
Select Uninstall.
Select Uninstall again to confirm.
On Mac, open Finder instead.
Locate Google Chrome in Applications.
Drag Google Chrome to Trash.
Reinstall from Google’s official Chrome download page using Download Chrome for your platform.
On a work or school device, contact your administrator if a required setting or organization-installed extension cannot be changed.
If reinstalling fails, open More > Help > Report an issue. Include your Chrome version, operating system, mouse model, affected websites, and which tests worked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn a disabled Chromebook touchpad back on?
Select the time, then open Settings > Accessibility > Cursor & touchpad. Set Disable built-in touchpad to Never. Alternatively, press Shift five times to turn the touchpad on.
Why won't a first-generation Magic Mouse scroll in Chrome on iPad?
First-generation Magic Mouse does not support scrolling or gestures on iPadOS. Changing Chrome settings does not add those features.
Why do my MX Master 3S back and forward buttons fail on Mac?
Logitech requires Logi Options+ for those buttons on Mac. Install it from Logitech’s official Options+ page and complete device setup. For Options+ scrolling, gestures, and button customizations, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and enable Logi Options+. Also grant it access under Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring.
Can Windows scroll Chrome without making it the active window?
Yes. In Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse. Enable Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them.