Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2025 December 3

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December 3

Bluetooth mouse turns itself off

I have a Dell Inspiron 3910 desktop computer, running the latest version of Windows 11. (That is, I receive and install the updates.) I have a USB optical mouse, but had two problems from time to time with it. The first is that sometimes the USB connector came loose from the back of the computer, so that I had to diddle around with the cable and reseat it. The second was that I would occasionally catch the cable with my foot and bring the mouse onto the floor, and occasionally bring the keyboard onto the floor. (If the cat was asleep on her chair, this had the undesired side effect of scaring her.) So I bought a Bluetooth Insignia BT3.0 mouse. It worked fine for a while, but a few days ago, it would sometimes turn off while I was using it. I would have to turn the power switch on the underside of the mouse off and then turn it on again to restore mouse functionality. For now, I am using the USB mouse, and am asking whether this is a known problem with bottom-of-the-line Bluetooth mice, and whether there is a way to deal with it. If I have to buy a $20 or $30 Bluetooth or wireless USB mouse because the $7 Bluetooth mouse is not worth $7, that is what one gets for buying a bottom-of-the-line peripheral.

Is there a way that I can avoid having the mouse turn itself off, or do I need a slightly better mouse? Robert McClenon (talk) 19:50, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

You may need to replace the battery. Ruslik_Zero 20:20, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

I bought the mouse about two weeks ago, User:Ruslik0. If I need to replace the battery, would that mean that the battery was weak from the start, or that the mouse is a power hog, or what would it mean? I don't think that I should have to replace an almost new battery, but we shall see. Robert McClenon (talk) 20:30, 3 December 2025 (UTC)

Never trust a battery that comes with an item. You have no idea how longs it has been in the manufacturer's stock - possibly since long before that item was actually assembled. A new battery is a quick, comparatively cheap fix. If it makes no difference, reuse the battery elsewhere, and try a different fix.

I use a Logitech (no connection &c.) wireless keyboard+mouse combination with Windows 11 (and Linux), and do not experience any untoward powering off by either item. -- Verbarson  ^talk_edits 16:38, 4 December 2025 (UTC)

I second that. A similar thing happened to me when I bought a second-hand car last year that basically died on my driveway the same day. The garage were indignant when I suggested they'd sold me a car with a dud battery, but after they'd spent 24 hours trying and failing to fully recharge it, they replaced it with a new one for nothing. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} ~2025-31359-08 (talk) 07:47, 6 December 2025 (UTC)

I would bite the bullet and splash out on a decent Logitech wireless USB mouse. Maybe a wireless keyboard as well, saves you knocking out that annoying wiggly cable all the time. It's Christmas, why not grab another 4 or 8 GB RAM while you're at it? MinorProphet (talk) 14:26, 11 December 2025 (UTC)

... or go large and buy a rechargeable Bluetooth mouse. That way, you don't have to worry about batteries at all — GhostInTheMachine ^{talk to me} 17:33, 11 December 2025 (UTC)

Another option is to stay with cables. Buy a USB hub and glue (fix / tie-wrap) it to the front of the computer. Plug it in at the back and trap any spare cable under the computer so nothing can hang down. Plug the mouse and keyboard into the hub with the wires neatly shortened. That way, you don't have to worry about batteries at all — GhostInTheMachine ^{talk to me} 17:53, 11 December 2025 (UTC)