How to Fix Bluetooth Mouse Lag in Windows 11

Hint: don’t smash it with your fist

Does your Bluetooth mouse lag inWindows 11? Various reasons—such as conflicting power management settings and missing or outdated drivers—can cause the cursor to stutter or freeze after a few seconds of inactivity.

Read on to learn what you can do to resolve Bluetooth mouse lag in Windows 11. The fixes in this troubleshooting guide also apply to Bluetooth trackpads.

Related: Haven’t made the upgrade to Windows 11 yet? Learn how tofix mouse lag in Windows 10.

Try These Quick Fixes First

It’s best to kick things off by working through the quick fixes below. You might be dealing with a trivial issue that doesn’t require advanced troubleshooting.

Run Bluetooth Troubleshooter

Windows 11 comes with a built-in Bluetooth troubleshooter that can automatically detect and fix connectivity issues with Bluetooth devices. To run it:

  1. Open theStartmenu and selectSettings.

  2. Scroll down theSystemsettings and select the option labeledTroubleshoot.

  3. SelectOther troubleshooters.

  4. Scroll down and select theRunbutton next toBluetooth.

Install Support Software & Drivers

Bluetooth pointing devices work best with additional support software and mouse drivers—Logitech Options,Razer Synapse, etc. Look up the Bluetooth mouse model online and install any applicable software from the manufacturer.

If you’ve already done that, update the software (visit the application’s settings page and look for aCheck for Updatesoption or something similar) and see if that eliminates the lag.

Disable Power Management for Bluetooth Adapter

If your Bluetooth mouse lags when left idle for a few seconds, use the Device Manager in Windows 11 to disable power management for the PC’s Bluetooth module.

  1. Right-click theStartbutton and selectDevice Manager.

  2. Expand theBluetoothcategory, right-click the Bluetooth module—e.g.,Intel(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R)—and selectProperties.

  3. Switch to thePower Managementtab and uncheck the box next toAllow the computer to turn off the device to save power. Then, selectOK.

If that fails to resolve the issue, expand theHuman Interface Devicescategory (further down the Device Manager) and open thePropertiespane forBluetooth Low Energy GATT compliant HID. Then, switch to thePower Managementtab and clear the box next toAllow the computer to turn off the device to save power.

Disable Bluetooth Power Management by Modifying Registry Keys

If the above fix doesn’t help, you must modify a set of registry keys related to Bluetooth power management via the Windows 11 Registry Editor. However, since accidental changes can break the operating system, we recommend backing up the system registry before proceeding.

  1. PressWindows+Rto open the Run box. Then, typeregeditand pressEnter.

  2. Navigate to the following folder on the Registry Editor’s left pane:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SYSTEM>CurrentControlSet>Enum>USB

Next, expand the folder that begins withVID_8087(e.g.,VID_8087&PID_0026)and then the sub-folder with the numbers and letters (e.g.,5&ed1e05a&0&10). Finally, selectDevice Parameters.

  1. Double-click each of the following keys on the right side of the Registry Editor window, add a hexadecimal value of0, and selectOK.

Note: If any of the keys above appear missing, right-click a vacant area and selectNew>DWORD (32-bit) Value. Then, name it as the absent key and save it with a hexadecimal value of0.

Switch Performance Plan

Another way to avoid Bluetooth mouse lag caused by PC power management is to configure your Windows 11’s default power mode for best performance. However, that can hurt the battery life of laptop devices.

  1. Open theStartmenuand selectSettings.

  2. Select the category labeledPower & battery.

  3. Open the pull-down menu next toPower modeand selectBest performance.

Remove and Reconnect Bluetooth Mouse

The following fix involves removing and reconnecting your Bluetooth mouse or trackpad. That should help eliminate issues with a corrupt Bluetooth device configuration.

  1. Open theStart menuand selectSettings.

  2. SelectBluetooth & deviceson the Settings sidebar.

  3. Select theMoreicon (three dots) next to your Bluetooth mouse and selectRemove device>Yes.

  4. SelectAdd device.

  5. SelectBluetoothand repeat the pairing process to re-establish the Bluetooth connection between your mouse and computer.

Check for Bluetooth Driver Updates

If the mouse lag problem persists, download the latest Bluetooth drivers from your PC manufacturer—Dell,HP,Acer, etc. Then, run the setup file within the downloaded package or perform the update via the Device Manager.

  1. Open theDevice Manager.

  2. Expand theBluetoothcategory.

  3. Right-click the Bluetooth module and selectUpdate driver.

  4. SelectBrowser my computer for drivers.

  5. SelectBrowseand locate the downloaded driver package on your computer. Then, selectNextto perform the update.

Uninstall and Reinstall Bluetooth Drivers

If you can’t find newer updates, try removing and reinstalling the Bluetooth driver for your PC. Make sure to use a wired mouse to interact with the GUI in the meantime.

  1. Open theDevice Manager.

  2. Expand theBluetoothcategory.

  3. Right-click the Bluetooth module and selectUninstall device.

  4. Check the box next toAttempt to remove the driver for this deviceand selectUninstall.

  5. Restart your computer. Windows 11 will automatically reinstall the Bluetooth driver at startup. If it doesn’t, re-open theDevice Managerand selectAction>Scan for hardware changes.

Update Graphics Drivers

Outdated video drivers can also result in a laggy mouse pointer. Check the card manufacturer’s website (NVIDIA,AMD,Intel, etc.) for possible updates. Alternatively, use a third-party driver updater tool or Windows Update to acquire the latest video drivers for your PC (more on that next).

Update Windows 11

If the Bluetooth mouse lag persists, try updating Windows 11 to its latest version. That should patch out any known issues in the operating system that prevent Bluetooth devices from functioning correctly.

  1. Open theStart menuand selectSettings.

  2. SelectWindows Updateon the Settings sidebar.

  3. SelectCheck for updates.

  4. SelectDownload nowto install available updates.

Additionally, selectAdvanced options>Optional updatesand install any Microsoft-verified driver updates for the Bluetooth mouse, the Bluetooth module, and the graphics card.

Scan for Malware

Computer viruses are another reason that induces mouse or touchpad lag. Use the built-inWindows Securitytool (accessible via the system tray) or adedicated anti-malware utility—such asMalwarebytes—to thoroughly scan your PC for malware.

Disable Fast Startup

Next up, consider disabling Fast Startup in Windows 11. It helpsboot up your PC fasterand has a history of causing problems with input devices.

  1. Open theStartmenu, typeControl Panel, and pressEnter.

  2. SelectHardware and Sound.

  3. Under thePower Optionssection, selectChoose what the power buttons do.

  4. SelectChange settings that are currently unavailable.

  5. Uncheck the box next toTurn on fast startup (recommended)and select Save changes.

What Else Can You Do?

If none of the fixes above work, here are a few other things to try:

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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