Mouse Left or Right Click Not Working on Mac? [Fixed]

Once in a while, you may experience the issue of the mouse click not working on Mac. It can occur after a macOS update (like the intermittent mouse click issues after the Sonoma update in the Reddit post below), or happen suddenly. Some may notice their MacBook mouse click doesn't work consistently and have one or more click issues shown below:

It's annoying when the mouse doesn't click on Mac, as most of our computer activities require the ability to click. But don't worry! We'll offer troubleshooting tips to help you fix your mouse not clicking on Mac.

Why is my mouse on my Mac not clicking?

There are various reasons why the iMac or MacBook mouse is not clicking. They are either software-related or hardware-relevant.

From the software aspect, the problem possibly lies in:

From the hardware aspect, the cause may be:

Share the reasons for the Logitech or Magic Mouse not clicking on Mac with others!

How to fix mouse click not working on Mac?

In this section, we'll cover the effective solutions to fix mouse issues on Mac. Whether it's your Magic Mouse not clicking or the iMac mouse not responding, these solutions should be useful.

Fix 1: Check connected mouse or trackpad

The first thing we want you to check is the connected tracking devices. More often than not, the click functionality is occupied by another trackpad or mouse that's connected to your Mac, rendering the current mouse click not working.

To verify if this is the case, do the following:

This method has proven to fix the issue for many users. For example, a user finds her Logitech mouse right click not working on Mac, but the left click works. She tried many fixes and eventually realized that the Magic Mouse she left in a bag was turned on with the right mouse button pressed. Once she turned it off, she could right click on Mac again.

The same concept also applies if it's the left click not working on Mac.

Fix 2: Try a different mouse and check the mouse in problem

Have you tried another mouse? If the issue only occurs with one mouse, ensure it has enough power, or try connecting it to your Mac with a USB cable, provided that it's wireless. If it happens on another mouse that works on other computers, it's likely a system issue.

In addition, check if your mouse is stuck by debris and clean it nicely. 

Fix 3: Force reboot your Mac

If the mouse still won't click on Mac, try to force reboot your computer. Hold down the power or Touch ID button for about 10 seconds to force shut it down. Then wait for a few minutes to power it on.

This process can resolve temporary software glitches or freezes that may result in mouse click not working on Mac.

Fix 4: Enable "Show Items On Desktop"

If the right-click on Mac is not working in Finder after the Sonoma update, go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock, then scroll down to Desktop & Stage Manager and check the box "On Desktop" for "Show Widgets."

Fix 5: Turn off "Displays have different spaces"

Another fix to mouse right click not working on Mac's desktop is to turn off "Displays have different spaces." Go to System Settings > Desktop & Dock, then scroll down to the section "Mission Control" and toggle off "Displays have separate Spaces."

Fix 6: Delete related Bluetooth files

Deleting relevant preference files is also a helpful way to fix Mac mouse click not working. These files are the settings and configurations of the mouse and Bluetooth. Deleting them will reset the associate settings to the default state. To do this:

Share this guide to help others whose MacBook mouse click doesn't work consistently on Mac!