Mouse Double Clicks Randomly (Causes, Fixes)

 

Issues with a mouse double-clicking aren’t uncommon, but they are undoubtedly infuriating.

Sometimes, the mouse clicks twice without your command and runs an app you didn’t intend to run.

Other times, it misapprehends your single click with a double-click, running a file you didn’t mean to open.

Experiencing this is so annoying that you may start treating the mouse violently or putting your tasks aside.

We’re here to tell you how to work out a mouse that double-clicks randomly.

Depending on what is causing the issue, you can try various solutions.

 

Mouse Double Clicks Randomly (Causes, Fixes)

 

Before starting with troubleshooting, it’s important to check whether the problem is with the mouse or your system.

First, disconnect the mouse and test it on another device.

If it works fine on the new system, chances are you’re having a software error and can find a solution in the next section.

However, if you experience the same issue with the new device, skip the software fixes and go to the hardware-related heading to manually fix your peripheral.

If you don’t have a second laptop at your disposal, you can also test an alternate mouse on your existing device.

 

Software-Related Fixes

 

1. Change The Double-Click Speed

The most common culprit for a random double-clicking issue is inaccurate double-click speed.

If you set the mouse speed too low, it takes more time for your operating system to recognize and respond to your click.

Therefore, it may interpret two separate clicks in a row as a double click.

Similarly, if you make the mouse too sensitive, it mistakes a long click for a double-click and functions incorrectly.

Whether you’ve tweaked the settings unwittingly or Windows has rolled back your adjustments, you can change the situation by going to your system settings:

1. Press the Windows icon at the bottom left of the screen, and go to Settings (FYI, it’s characterized by a gear symbol at the left side of the menu).
2. Select “Devices” and then look for the “Mouse” option.
3. Under “Related Settings,” go to “Additional mouse options” to open mouse properties.
4. In the new pop-up window, hit the “Buttons” tab. (It’s probably the first tab you’ve already landed on.)
5. You’ll see a manageable scroll bar with “Low” at one end and “High” at the other end.
6. Drag the slider either to the right or left to balance the mouse sensitivity. (The middle of the spectrum probably gives you the most balanced speed.)
7. Save the changes and use your mouse to see if the problem persists.

 

Note: For Windows 7 and lower versions, you may find “Mouse properties” in the Control Panel.

All other steps remain the same.

 

2. Turn Off The Auto-Enhance Pointer

While you’re in the “Mouse Properties” section, it’s worth trying another possible fix as well.

Just change the tab to “Pointer Options,” and unmark “Enhance pointer precision” under “Select a pointer speed.”

This ensures your system configuration doesn’t reverse to a more sensitive mode without your permission.

 

3. Check The Explorer Options

When talking about a mouse double-click issue, some people actually mean it double clicks functionally rather than physically.

You don’t hear the click-clack sound twice, but the mouse opens the file with a single left-click.

If this is what you’re experiencing, go to Explorer Options to change the command for folder opening functions:

1. Type “Control Panel” in the Windows search box, and click to open it.
2. Go to “File Explorer Options.”
3. In the new box, under the “General” tab, you’ll see a header that reads, “Click items as follows.”
4. If the first checkbox (Single-click to open and point to select) is ticked, change it to “Double-click to open a file,” and press “OK” to apply your changes.
5. If this doesn’t help, this isn’t the root of your problem, and you have to head to the next solution.

 

4. Adjust USB Hub Properties

Sometimes, the Power Management setting is set to selectively suspend the USB port to save energy.

As useful as it is, this feature can interfere with your mouse performance, resulting in mouse double-clicking and similar issues.

Disabling the function may resolve the difficulty:

1. Go to “Device Manager” through the Start search bar. You can also hold the Windows and X keys on your keyboard and then choose device manager.
2. Scroll down to find the “Universal Serial Bus” option and press the expandable arrow beside it.
3. A list of controllers will appear.
4. Right-click on “Mice and Other Pointing Devices” and hit “Properties.”
5. A new box will appear, and you will go to the “Power Management” tab.
6. Now, uncheck this option: “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.”
7. Press OK to save the changes, and don’t forget to repeat the process for all USB Hub Root controllers.

 

5. Tweak Your Mouse Driver File

The driver is what allows your mouse or other peripherals to communicate with the OS.

If you have a corrupt, obsolete, or wrong type of driver file, your mouse may stop functioning as it used to.

Here are a few practical ways to fine-tune your mouse driver.

 

First Method: Update

1. Go to your Device Manager and expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” segment.
2. Right-click on your mouse name, and select “Update driver.”
3. In the new dialogue box, tap “Search automatically for updated driver software” and continue with the on-screen directions.
4. Restart your computer to apply the changes.

 

Note: You can also visit your mouse manufacturer’s website, get the latest driver, and install it manually.

For this, choose “Browse my computer for device software” in step 3, and then choose the file you’ve downloaded.

Just remember to extract the file before opening the device manager.

 

Second Method: Uninstall/Reinstall

If updating doesn’t seem to fix the mouse double-clicking glitch, try uninstalling and reinstalling the software.

1. Run the Device Manager and select your mouse’s name just as in the first method, but this time, choose “Uninstall Driver” instead of “Update driver.”
2. Unplug the mouse and reboot the computer.
3. Insert the mouse to the port, and once the OS recognizes the gadget, it’ll automatically install the default mouse driver.

 

Note: If your PC fails to reinstall the files automatically, go to your mouse manufacturer’s official website, or get help from a third-party driver installer tool.

 

Third Method: Rollback

If you think the double-clicking hitch has appeared right after a Windows upgrade or driver refurbish, reverting to the older driver version may resolve the newly appearing issue.

1. After heading into the Device Manager, right-click on your mouse’s name and hit “Properties.”
2. Switch to the “Driver” tab from above, and press the “Roll Back Driver” button.
3. Wait until Windows does its job, and then restart your PC to find the problem gone.

 

6. Remove The Extra HID-Compatible Entry

HID drivers let you transfer inputs through the mouse to your computer.

If Windows installs too many HID drivers for a single device, it makes your mouse behave strangely.

It’s also possible that previously created entries (maybe the ones that belonged to your older mice) still exist on your PC, conflicting with the current one.

Whatever the reason, follow these steps to remove multiple HID-compliant entries:

1. Go to the Device Manager > Mice and other pointing devices.
2. Check if there are two instances with the word HID.
3. Right-click on one of them and press “Uninstall.”
4. Restart your PC.

 

7. Perform A Clean Boot

A clean boot helps load your OS in safe mode, with the minimum, pre-appointed startup apps.

In other words, it deactivates non-essential programs, unreliable plugins, and any background software that’s troubling your system, so you can diagnose and remove the bug.

Here’s what you should do to sort out the double-click issue:

1. Press Windows + R keys simultaneously, holding them for a few seconds.
2. Type “msconfig” in the small Run box, and hit OK. This will take you to the System Configuration window.
3. From there, switch to the “General” tab and choose “Selective startup.”
4. Then, clear the checkbox that says, “Load startup items.”
5. Now, click the “Services” tab and tick what says “Hide all Microsoft services” at the bottom.
6. Tap the “Disable all” button.
7. Finally, go to the “Startup” tab and select “Open Task Manager.”
8. A list of startup programs will appear. Select each individually and switch them from “Enabled” to “Disabled.”
9. Hit OK and reboot your computer.

 

This method can probably troubleshoot your double-click difficulty.

After you have resolved the issue, go as the following to return your system to normal:

1. Press Windows and R key once again, and enter “msconfig” in the dialogue box.
2. Under the “Services” tab, uncheck the “Hide all Microsoft services” option, and then select “Enable all.”
3. Head to the “Startup tab” once again, open task manager, and this time, enable all the disabled items, so the system resumes its functions.
4. Restart your PC.

 

8. Install A Third-Party Repair Tool

Many PC error repair tools help you find the reason behind a double-click issue.

They flush malware out of your system, notify you of any file loss or unwanted changes, and optimize its overall functions.

All you need is to find a reliable one, install it, and start scanning.

Then, repair all the bugs with a single click, just like what you do with antivirus software.

 

Hardware-Related Workarounds

 

1. Clean The Dirty Mouse

If left unattended, dust and grime buildup can stand in the way of your mouse switches, hampering their functions over time.

If you’ve been using the mouse for a long time, or you usually put it in a dust-prone area, cleaning may help you out with the double-click issue.

Use a cotton swab, canned air, dust blower, or any other tool at your disposal to remove the accumulated particles.

In the worst-case scenario, you may have to open up the mouse to clean it.

This is especially necessary if you have spilled a sticky substance over the mouse in the past.

Ensure you know how to detach and reassemble the mouse parts, trying not to damage the device.

 

2. Fix The Microswitch

A mouse’s left button gets clicked most often, so it may develop physical problems after a few years, no matter how many bucks you spent on the mouse.

The microswitch inside your mouse button has a mechanism with copper springs that triggers your clicks when you press it.

However, if the springs wear and tear gradually, your clicks become out of order and may produce random double-clicking.

In this case, you can either repair or replace the mouse.

Since repairing an electric device isn’t an amateur thing, we recommend you pay a technician to do this for you.

However, if you know the basics, watch this DIY video to learn how.

Video:

 

Wireless Mouse Double Clicks Randomly

 

If you’re experiencing the issue on a wireless mouse, use a USB cable or adaptor to connect your wireless mouse directly to the computer.

If the mouse-clicking disappears all of a sudden, it means the wireless connection is interrupting your mouse function.

This can have several reasons, and thus, different solutions.

 

1. Wireless Signal Interference

Electrical signals from your monitor or speakers and radiofrequency waves from your Wi-Fi router can sometimes interfere with your mouse wireless frequencies.

As a result, your OS may collect inaccurate messages from your mouse and start to act oddly.

To fix this, distance your speakers from the computer, and push the monitor back a little.

Sometimes, even a few centimeters would suffice to remove the interference between wireless transmitters.

Ensure the router is at least ten feet away from your mouse, and if this is not possible, try placing it in a higher or lower position.

Cordless phones, microwaves, baby monitors, and other signal-transmitting gadgets can also be problematic, so keep them all away.

In addition, remove any metal or hard objects between your mouse and its USB receiver as they can block their communication.

 

2. Defective Or Low Battery

Sometimes, your battery is so dead that it can’t send accurate signals.

Bring the mouse a bit closer to the receiver; if things change, there’s something wrong with your battery.

Juice up your mouse and if the problem isn’t resolved, consult a technician to replace the battery.

 

Try The Inventive Method

 

This is an avant-garde solution, which for unknown reasons, has proven practical for double-click mouse complications.

If none of the techniques above worked, try this one as a last resort before replacing your mouse.

1. Press and hold the right clicker.
2. Keeping the button pressed, rotate the mouse, and turn it off and on.
3. Then, use your other finger to click the left button five times, and don’t release the right button.
4. Now, take your finger off the right switch, and turn the mouse off.
5. Press and hold the right clicker and turn the mouse on while keeping it pressed.
6. Release the button and test if the problem has gone away.