Click a mouse button enough times, and eventually, it will fail. It is not a matter of if it will fail, but when. Rather than throwing your mouse into the trash and buying a new one, you can repair the mouse button for a couple of dollars or less by replacing the faulty mouse microswitch.
Here is how I fixed the non-working middle button switch on my mouse for less than $1.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of a Bad Mouse Switch
Symptoms of a failing mouse micro switch include:
- Accidental double-clicks
- Mouse button only work some of the time
- Mouse button registers as released when it is still held down
- No response when clicking the mouse button
The easiest way to check whether it is a hardware or software problem is to swap out the mouse. Plug the troublesome mouse into another computer and see if the problem follows the mouse. Or plug another mouse that is in good working order into your computer.
Once you’ve determined it is not a software issue, you will want to open up the mouse and clean out any dust and dirt that have made their way inside and are clogging up the buttons. Reassemble the mouse and test again to see if that fixed the problem.
When you’ve determined it is a mechanical issue that is causing your mouse to not work correctly, it is time to test and replace the faulty switch.
Items and Tools Needed
You will need the following items to repair your broken mouse button that isn’t clicking:
- Soldering iron
- Lead solder
- Screwdriver
- Multimeter (optional)
- Desoldering pump or solder wick (optional)
Step 1: Disassemble the Mouse
Opening up the mouse is very simple. First, unplug it from the computer if wired or remove the battery if wireless. Then look on the bottom for screws. Sometimes the screws are hidden under labels or rubber feet.
Once the screws have been removed, carefully pry the mouse apart by separating the bottom half from the top.
There may be a wire that connects the two halves that will need to be disconnected before you can pull apart the mouse.
Step 2: Test or Locate Micro Switch
There are usually two types of micro switches commonly used in computer mice.
My mouse had two square switches for the middle mouse button and DPI selection button that measured 6 x 6 x 6.5 mm.
The square switches have two terminals that will show continuity when the button is depressed.
The left and right mouse buttons were rectangular switches that measured 5.7 x 12.7 x 6.5 mm.
The rectangular switches will have three terminals. The first terminal is the common, the middle is the Normally Open (NO), and the last is Normally Closed (NC).
When you press the button, you should get continuity at the common and NO terminals. You can also test the NC terminal, but the NC is listed as a dummy terminal on the schematics of the Omron switches. It is likely many mouse manufacturers do not use this terminal.
A double-clicking switch or a switch that occasionally registers clicks will be harder to test for with a multimeter. Before my middle mouse button completely stopped working, the button was working intermittently. Replacing the switch should fix the problem though.
Step 3: How to Replace the Mouse Micro Switch
Over time, and all the clicking from playing Fortnite or Minecraft causes metal fatigue on the tension spring in the switch.
Some people had success opening up the rectangular switches and re-bending the spring. However, this is a short-term fix. The mouse will likely stop working again as you will never be able to bend it to the original specifications.
A better solution is to replace the switch. You can buy replacements on Amazon:
Rectangular Switches for Left or Right Mouse Buttons:
| Mouse Switch | Lifespan | Notes |
| Omron D2FC-F-7N | 20M Cycles | Most common micro switch used in gaming mice |
| Kailh GM 2.0 | 20M Cycles | |
| Kailh GM 4.0 | 50M Cycles | |
| Kailh GM 8.0 | 80M Cycles |
Square Switch / Middle Mouse Button:
Use the soldering iron to remove the defective micro switch and clean up the hole with the desoldering pump or solder wick.
You can also use a paper clip if you do not have a desolder pump or wick. Insert the paper clip into the hole on the opposite side. Heat the solder and push the paper clip through when the solder melts.
You may be able to skip the whole soldering process if the faulty switch is the rectangular switch. If you purchase the same model switch, you can carefully open up the switch and swap the bad tension spring with a new one from the new switch.
Step 4: Soldering New Micro Switch
When soldering the new switch onto the board, be sure the switch is tight against the circuit board. An incorrectly soldered switch will not be positioned correctly with the mouse buttons.
I used a piece of wire to hold the switch tight against the circuit board while I soldered.
Once completed, reassemble the mouse and test that the mouse button is working.
Similar Reading: How to Replace a Bad Microwave Door Switch
Closing $ense
It may not make much sense to repair the mouse that came with a new computer from the store. However, a fancy gaming mouse from Logitech, Corsair, or Razer can cost as much as $70 to $100. You can get more life out of your mouse by spending a few dollars on replacement mouse micro switches and a bit of time soldering.
Logitech mice with Omron switches are known to develop the unintended double-click issue.
I recommend buying from Amazon, but you can also order the mouse switches from China on eBay for even less if you are willing to wait two weeks to over a month for overseas shipping.
It took me about thirty minutes start to finish to repair my mouse button. I’ve had the mouse for over a decade and it is no longer available for sale. The mouse fits my hand comfortably when I’m using it for hours at a time. I preferred to fix it than look for another mouse that may not be as comfortable.
i had the same issue of cursed mouse double clicking then i got mouserepair.com software which prevented random double clicks and all good now