10 Best Fixes for When You Can’t Click on Anything on Windows 10/11
Back in the day, the mouse had three buttons. A scroll wheel and 2 buttons for left and right click. Now, they have a button for everything it seems. Despite this, many users face an issue where they can’t click on anything on their Windows 10/11 desktop or open apps. Some common causes may include bugs, faulty drivers, and conflicting apps or accessories.
Table of Contents
Before You Begin
These are common solutions that you can and should try before moving on to more advanced troubleshooting steps.
Navigating PC Without Mouse While Troubleshooting
If you are using a laptop, you may use the trackpad while figuring out and troubleshooting why you can’t click on your Windows computer. If you are using a desktop or even the trackpad is not working, here are some keyboard shortcuts.
Finally, you canturn your Android device into a temporary mouseand use that as a pointing device to get by.
1. Remove All Accessories
Do exactly what it says on the tin. Remove all third-party accessories like mouse,keyboard, writing pad, etc. Then reconnect your mouse and check if you can click somewhere. If yes, one of the accessories is resulting in a conflict.
2. Can’t Click in Specific App
Are you not able to click within a specific app like a game or a new browser? If you can click outside of that app, then that app is responsible. There could be a few reasons behind this.
Maybe the app is incompatible with the PC configuration that you are using. It is also possible that the app adds an overlay that can be navigated using a keyboard only, and hence, you can’t click using a mouse on your Windows 10/11 computer. Some gaming apps do this where they have an overlay to detect FPS, temperature, etc., or record your gameplay, for example.
you may also try relaunching or even reinstalling the app in question.
3. Restart Windows Explorer
Doing so will close all open apps on your Windows 10 and 11 computers. So be sure to save all open work.
1.PressCtrl+Shift+Delon your keyboard to open the Task Manager. Under theProcessestab, right-click onWindows Explorerand selectRestart.
This will take a few moments.
4. Run Troubleshooters
Every copy of Windows 10 and 11 OS comes with some default troubleshooter that helps users fix common problems such as the one you are facing where you can’t click on anything anywhere.
1.PressWindows+Ito open Windows Settings. Search forFind and fix keyboard problemsin the search bar on the left and click to open the same.
2.In the pop-up that follows, click on the Next button and follow the on-screen instructions. It will look for potential errors and attempt to fix them and let you know the results.
I know what you are thinking. I can’t click anywhere on my Windows computer using the mouse, then why is he recommending a keyboard troubleshooter? Because they are both input devices and are related and may help.
There is another one that we recommend. This one will look for issues in all hardware devices, however, Microsoft decided to make it harder to run.
1.PressWindows+Sto open Windows Search and then search forCMD or Command Prompt. Click onRun as administratoroption on the right to open the app with admin rights.
2.Copy and paste the command below and press Enter to executeHardware and Devices troubleshooter.
This command will run the troubleshooter.
3.In the pop-up that follows, click onNextand follow the on-screen instructions.
If you are still unable to click on anything anywhere on your Windows PC, continue reading.
5. Third-Party App Conflict
A third-party app may be responsible for the mouse acting erratically leading to missed clicks on your mouse. For example, I bought a gaming mouse once and it installed Logitech G Hub app. Then I bought another for work and that one installed Logitech Options. Now, fortunately, these two mice apps play well together but your case might be different.
Did you install any apps recently or changed mouse or even keyboard? Check for newly installed apps inControl Panel > Programs > Uninstall programsand sort results by date to find out.
6. Update/Rollback Drivers
Drivers are essentially whatallows the Windows OS to communicate with hardware deviceslike mouse, keyboard, drives, etc. Like any other software component, they need to be updated and may cause errors of all sorts.
1.PressWindows+Sto open the Windows Search. Search for theDevice Managerand open it.
2.Double-click to expandMice and other pointing devices. Here you should find your mouse model details. Right-click on the entry and selectUpdate driverand follow the on-screen instructions.
3.A recent update to the driver may have broken functionality too. If that’s the case, click onProperties. In the pop-up menu that follows, under theDrivertab, you canRoll Back Driverwhich will remove recently installed driver updates.
If it is greyed out, the driver wasn’t recently updated.
NoticedDisplay adaptersin the list? Some users found that it was not the mouse or the pointing device but the display adapter that was responsible for them not being able to click on-screen. See if updating the drivers or rolling them back helps.
7. Windows Update Issue
Try updating Windows to the latest version. These updates often contain patches for known bugs and also add new features. To update Windows:
1.PressWindows+Ito open Windows Settings. Now click onWindows Updatein the left sidebar and check for new updates in the right window-pane.
However, there is a flip side too. Sometimes, updating Windows to the latest version may break functionality. Yeah, I know. I just asked you to update. But if that doesn’t help, check recently installed updates to see if there is anything related to input devices. You can also search Google as these issues are frequently covered by Windows blogs and prominent tech sites.
The good news is that you can roll back updates too if you feel it is breaking functionality and causing the PC to not register mouse clicks.
1.Go back toWindows Settings > Windows Updates > Update history.
2.Here, you will see a list of all the updates recently installed. Scroll down to the bottom and selectUninstall updates.
3.Again, you will see a list of updates but this time, withUninstallbutton on the right. Once you are sure which update was responsible for mouse click issue, uninstall that particular update.
4.Follow the on-screen prompts after that. You may have to reboot your computer once. Note that you may uninstall an update but eventually, they will be reinstalled sooner or later. Microsoft is usually quick at fixing bugs in subsequent updates.
8. Run SFC Scan
TheSFC or System File Checker scanwill look for corrupt or broken system files that are critical to the functioning of the Windows OS including accessories. It will then repair them.
1.PressWindows+Sto open Windows Search and type CMD. Now openCommand Prompt with administrator rights.
2.Copy-paste or type the command below and press Enter to execute it. Wait for the command to run its course. Then close CMD and check if you still can’t click on anything on Windows.
Is your mouse working fine now?
9. Clean Boot
Clean boot is not an app but a process that you can use to reboot Windows 10 or 11 with minimal apps and processes running in the background. Only the bare minimum where all 3rd-party apps are disabled. Helps in figuring out which app or process is responsible for the error. Microsoft has adetailed guide on how to do a clean boot.
10. Restore Point
Windows takes a backup of your entire system from time to time or when it detects some changes like a new update being installed or an app being uninstalled. If something breaks, you’re able to restore your Windows OS to a point in time when everything was working as it should. No user data is deleted in the process. Neat, eh?
1.Press theStart buttonand typeCreate restore pointand open it.
2.In the pop-up that follows, under theSystem Protectiontab, click onSystem Restore. In the next pop-up, click onNextbutton.
3.You should now see a list of all the system restore points available with date and time. Choose the latest one and then click onNextto follow on-screen instructions.
Cannot Click on Anything on Windows
This is a weird issue. Not being able to click on anything anywhere within Windows OS leaves you unproductive. you’re able to’t work and while keyboard shortcuts are well and good, you need a point-and-click device to be quick on your toes. If you think it is the left or right click mouse issue, we have a separate guide that you should read.
Gaurav Bidasaria
Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem.
He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world.
He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.
