6 Ways to Fix Mouse Cursor Moving on Its Own in Windows

Quick Tips

• You can also disable Enhance Pointer Precision, which stops your PC from adjusting mouse sensitivity, preventing erratic cursor movements caused by the pointer acceleration.
• If there are problems with the installed mouse drivers, updating them will help fix the issue.
• Ensure your mouse isn’t damaged – and the surface your mouse is resting on isn’t coarse. It can slide your mouse automatically and move the cursor.

Basic Fixes

• Change old mouse pads: If a portion of your mousepad has faded and lost the coarseness needed to hold the mouse in place, it can make your mouse slide automatically, and you’ll see the mouse pointer moving on its own.
• Check your desk: Some of these desks feature drawers that tend to bend over time and disturb the overall alignment of the spot. So, check if your desk has an unexpected inclination on the surface.
• Restart PC: Restarting your Windows PC can help fix most operating system issues and bugs.
• Reconnect Mouse: If you use an external mouse and the cursor is moving on its own, try disconnecting and reconnecting.
• Disable other external devices: Try disconnecting other connected devices to eliminate any conflict causing problems with the cursor.

Also Read: How to change mouse sensitivity (DPI) and other settings in Windows 11

Fix 1: Manage Mouse Drivers

An outdated version of the mouse driver might be vulnerable to a few issues and bugs. This may cause the mouse to drift on its own in your Windows PC.

Step 1: Open the Device Manager app.

Step 2: Select Mice and other pointing devices and right-click on your mouse to update the driver.

Fix 2: Disable the Touchpad if You Are Using an External Mouse

At times, the touchpad can accumulate dirt inside its surface and malfunction. If you prefer using a mouse with your laptop, disable the touchpad. This can help you fix the issue and prevent ghost actions through your touchpad.

Step 1: Open Settings and search for the ‘Turn the touchpad on or off’ option. Click on the search result to open it.

Step 2: Click on the toggle button to turn it off. Some laptops also have a dedicated key on their keyboard to quickly turn on/off the touchpad.

Fix 3: Disable Enhance Pointer Precision

Disabling “Enhance Pointer Precision” stops your PC from adjusting mouse sensitivity, preventing erratic cursor movements caused by the pointer acceleration.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Windows PC. Tap on Bluetooth & Devices and select Mouse.

Step 2: Select Additional Mouse Settings.

Step 3: Uncheck the box for Enhance pointer precision and click on OK.

Fix 4: Boot PC in Safe Mode

Restarting your PC in safe mode turns off all the third-party applications and runs your PC with the essentials. If the mouse cursor stops moving on its own in safe mode, a third-party app may be causing the problem. Therefore, uninstall a few apps and check if the issue is fixed.

Fix 5: Run SFC Scan

You can run the System File Checker using Command Prompt to repair corrupted system files. This can potentially help you solve the issue of the erratic mouse cursor on Windows if any corrupted system file is the cause.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt from the start menu. Right-click and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following command:

SFC /scannow

You can see the progress of the system scan as it begins. Once it is complete, you will see whether it was successful.

Fix 6: Run Hardware Troubleshooter

As the name suggests, Windows’ built-in troubleshooter will help you figure out the problem and suggest software fixes if you’ve accidentally changed the settings.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt from the start menu. Right-click and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the below command and hit Enter.

msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic

Step 3: That will launch a pop-up window. Click on Next to continue and let it run.

As a last resort, reset your Windows PC. This will remove any corrupted system files and fix misconfigurations within your system settings, which can help you fix the problem. However, it will remove all the installed applications, so proceed with relevant backups.