How to Resolve Mouse Click Not Working Issue in macOS Sonoma

• This guide offers ten methods to fix mouse click issues on macOS Sonoma.
• These solutions range from Bluetooth troubleshooting to adjusting preferences and deleting configuration files.
• Users should exercise caution and back up their data before attempting these fixes, and professional help or contacting Apple support may be necessary in some cases.

Are you facing the frustrating problem of mouse clicks not working on your macOS Sonoma? You’re not alone. The latest macOS release by Apple, Sonoma, brings a mix of exciting features and the not-so-pleasant company of bugs. One of these bugs is the unresponsive mouse click issue.

For some users, both left and right mouse clicks have gone haywire, making their computing experience a nightmare. Others might find that only the right-click function is giving them trouble. What’s more, this issue isn’t limited to a specific type of mouse. Whether you’re using the Magic Mouse, Trackpad, or a third-party mouse, this problem can affect you.

The good news is that it’s not your mouse’s fault—it’s an issue within the macOS Sonoma itself. In this guide, we’ll show you various methods to fix this problem and restore your mouse’s functionality. Stick around as we walk you through the solutions.

How to Fix Mouse Click Not Working Issue in macOS Sonoma

If you’re experiencing problems with your mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma, you can try the following fixes. Before we dive into these solutions, we suggest enabling the Mouse Keys accessibility shortcut. This feature allows you to control the mouse cursor and perform left and right clicks using your keyboard, which can be helpful while working through the steps below. To enable Mouse Keys, press the Option (⌥), Command (⌘), and F5 shortcut keys, checkmark the Mouse Keys option, and click OK to activate it.

Solution 1: Restart Bluetooth Connection

To begin troubleshooting the mouse click issue on macOS Sonoma, consider restarting the Bluetooth connection on your Mac. This can help establish a new connection and potentially resolve the problem. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Control Center icon located in your menu bar.
2. In the Control Center, select the Bluetooth icon.
3. Turn off the Bluetooth toggle to disable your Mac’s Bluetooth connection.
4. Wait for a few seconds, then re-enable Bluetooth by turning the toggle back on.
5. Your mouse should automatically reconnect to your Mac. If it doesn’t, you can select it from the “Devices” section in the Bluetooth settings.
6. Test whether this fixes the issue of the mouse click not working in macOS Sonoma.

This simple step might resolve the problem and get your mouse clicks working again. If the issue persists, continue to the next fix.

Solution 2: Power Cycle Your Mouse

In the realm of troubleshooting, the old adage “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” often holds true. Let’s put this fix to the test and see if it resolves the mouse click issue on macOS Sonoma. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Flip over your mouse and locate the power switch.
2. Toggle the power switch to turn off your mouse.
3. Wait for a few seconds, then toggle the switch back on to power up your mouse.
4. Allow your mouse to reconnect to your Mac via Bluetooth automatically.
5. If it doesn’t reconnect automatically, you can manually connect it as instructed in Fix 1.
6. Test whether this step resolves the problem of mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma.

Power cycling your mouse can often address connectivity or responsiveness issues. If the problem persists, let’s explore the next solution.

Solution 3: Recharge or Replace the Battery

The type of mouse you’re using can impact how you address battery issues in macOS Sonoma. There are two main types: those that require battery replacement and those that can be recharged directly through your Mac. Here’s what you should do based on your mouse type:

For Mouse Type 1 (Requires Battery Replacement):

If your mouse falls into the category of needing battery replacement, follow these steps:

1. Open your mouse and replace the depleted battery with a fresh one.
2. After replacing the battery, wait for a moment, then check if the mouse clicks are working properly on macOS Sonoma.

For Mouse Type 2 (Rechargeable Mouse):

If you own a second-generation mouse that can be recharged through your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Connect your mouse to your Mac via the lightning port or the designated charging cable.
2. Allow the mouse to charge for at least half an hour.
3. After charging, disconnect the mouse from your Mac.
4. Test whether this has resolved the issue of mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma.

Addressing the battery status of your mouse is crucial, as low or depleted battery levels can cause various issues, including problems with mouse clicks. If you have replaced the battery or recharged your mouse and the issue still persists, let’s move on to the next potential solution.

Solution 4: Re-Pair Your Mouse

Re-pairing your mouse with your Mac can help resolve issues with mouse clicks in macOS Sonoma. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Click on the Control Center icon in your menu bar and select Bluetooth.
2. In the Bluetooth menu, click on “Bluetooth Preferences.”
3. In the list of paired devices, locate your mouse, and right-click on it. Then select “Remove” to unpair it.
4. Turn off your mouse and wait for a moment.
5. Turn your mouse back on. It should now appear in the list of available devices.
6. Right-click on your mouse in the list of available devices and select “Connect.”
7. Test whether this process resolves the issue of mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma.

Re-pairing your mouse can establish a fresh connection, potentially addressing any issues with mouse functionality. If the problem persists, let’s move on to the next solution.

Solution 5: Adjust Mouse Preferences

If your mouse is not working as expected in macOS Sonoma, such as having slow or laggy cursor movement or unresponsive gestures, it might be due to conflicting settings. You can try adjusting your mouse preferences to resolve these issues:

1. Click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.”
2. In the System Preferences window, locate and select “Mouse” from the menu. This will bring up the gesture and tracking settings.
3. Under the “Point and Click” and “More Gestures” tabs, experiment with disabling or enabling specific gestures to see if it affects your mouse’s behavior.
4. Additionally, you can adjust the tracking speed to match your preferences under the “Point and Click” settings.
5. After making these adjustments, check if the issue of mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma has been resolved.

Tweaking your mouse preferences can help tailor its behavior to your liking and may address problems with mouse clicks and gestures. If the issue persists, let’s explore the next solution.

Solution 6: Reset the Bluetooth Module

If your mouse is having trouble connecting to your Mac because of a potentially corrupted Bluetooth module, you can try resetting it with the following steps:

1. Open Launchpad and navigate to “Other” then select “Terminal.”
2. In the Terminal window, enter the following command and press Enter: sudo pkill bluetoothd
3. After executing the command, re-pair your mouse with your Mac as outlined in Fix 4.
4. Test whether this procedure resolves the issue of mouse clicks not working in macOS Sonoma.

Resetting the Bluetooth module can help clear any potential issues with the connection, allowing your mouse to function correctly. If the problem persists, let’s move on to the next solution.

Solution 7: Reset NVRAM (Non-Volatile Random Access Memory)

NVRAM, which stands for Non-Volatile Random Access Memory, stores essential configuration information for your Mac. This includes settings related to your desktop, mouse, keyboard, time zone, and display resolution. If this stored data becomes corrupted, it can lead to hardware or software components not performing as expected. To address this, you can reset the NVRAM with the following steps:

For M1 or M2 Macs:

If you have an M1 or M2 Mac, a standard restart will reset the NVRAM.

For Intel-based Macs:

If you’re using an Intel-based Mac, follow these steps:

1. Turn off your Mac.
2. Before the gray screen appears during the startup process, simultaneously press and hold the Command (⌘), Option (⌥), P, and R keys.
3. Continue to hold these keys until your Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound.
4. Once you hear the startup sound, release the keys. The NVRAM reset is now complete.
5. Reconnect your Apple Magic Mouse and check if it is working as expected.

Resetting the NVRAM can help resolve issues stemming from corrupted configuration data, potentially restoring proper mouse functionality. If the issue persists, let’s move on to the next solution.

Solution 8: Temporarily Disable Anti-Virus

Certain antivirus software may not be fully compatible with the latest macOS builds, including Sonoma. If you have antivirus software installed that’s causing conflicts with your Mac’s operation, including mouse functionality, it’s advisable to temporarily disable the antivirus to test if the issue is resolved. Here’s how to do it:

1. Locate and open your antivirus software’s settings or preferences.
2. Look for an option to temporarily disable the antivirus protection or real-time scanning. This option may vary depending on the antivirus program you are using.
3. Disable the antivirus temporarily and check if your mouse starts working properly on macOS Sonoma.
4. If the mouse functions as expected with the antivirus disabled, consider keeping it disabled temporarily.
5. While your antivirus is disabled, research and look for an alternative antivirus application that is compatible with macOS Sonoma.

Disabling your antivirus temporarily can help identify whether it’s the source of the problem with your mouse. If disabling the antivirus resolves the issue, you can explore compatible antivirus options for your macOS Sonoma setup.

Solution 9: Delete Mouse Configuration Files

If none of the previous methods have resolved the issue, it might be due to corrupted mouse preferences and configuration settings. To address this, you can delete the mouse’s configuration files (Property List – PLIST) to allow the macOS to recreate them from scratch. Follow these steps:

1. Launch Finder.
2. Press Shift+Command+. keys to reveal hidden files.
3. Navigate to the Library > Preferences folder.
4. Delete the following files:
   • com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist
   • com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist
   • com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist
5. After deleting these files, restart your Mac.
6. Once your Mac has restarted, reconnect your mouse and check whether the issue of mouse clicks not working on macOS Sonoma has been resolved.

Deleting and allowing the system to recreate these configuration files can often fix issues related to mouse settings and preferences. If the problem persists, it might be time to consider further troubleshooting or seeking professional assistance.

Solution 10: Use a Wired Mouse

When macOS Sonoma was initially released, some users encountered mouse click issues that could only be resolved by switching to a wired mouse. They had to rely on a wired mouse for a period until Apple addressed and fixed the bug. If none of the previously mentioned workarounds have resolved the issue with your wireless mouse, you might consider using a wired mouse as a temporary solution. This will allow you to continue using your Mac while waiting for the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) to release a fix for the problem. Keep an eye out for updates from Apple to see when the issue is officially addressed and resolved.

Conclusion

There you have it—ten different methods to help you resolve the issue of mouse clicks not working on macOS Sonoma. If you encounter any questions or need further assistance regarding the steps mentioned above, please feel free to leave a comment. We will respond promptly with a solution to assist you.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is intended to offer potential solutions to the issue of mouse clicks not working on macOS Sonoma. These methods are suggestions and may not work for every individual or situation. It’s important to exercise caution when making changes to your system settings or configuration files. Before attempting any of the fixes outlined here, it is advisable to back up your data and settings. Additionally, if you have concerns or are uncomfortable with any of the procedures, seeking professional assistance or contacting the Apple support team may be the best course of action. The effectiveness of these methods may depend on the specific circumstances, and we cannot guarantee that they will work in every case. Use these suggestions at your own discretion.