3 Ways to Connect a Mouse to a Mac

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Connect mouse to Mac

Without any doubt, the Apple Magic Mouse has proven to be a must-have for tech-savvy individuals. The Magic Mouse remains the best pick for macOS users with its pretty decent aesthetics and ergonomics.

The sleek device uses gestures to interact with desktop computers because of its multi-touch capabilities. Like the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Magic trackpads, you can swipe and scroll across the surface of the Magic Mouse. The product also comes with many noteworthy features.

Connecting this easy-to-use device to your Mac shouldn’t be a hassle. You can DIY! But that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone. This article will lead you through the steps of connecting a mouse to your Mac.

It doesn’t matter if you use a third-party mouse, an older wireless mouse, or the more recent Magic Mouse 2 . We will show you what to do in simple and easy-to-follow steps.

How to Connect your Mouse to your Mac

A mouse that came with your brand new Mac would have been paired with the computer system. As soon as you switch on the Mac, the mouse will connect to the device.

The first step to connecting your mouse to your Mac is knowing what type of mouse you’ve got. It determines the method you’ll use:

  • A Bluetooth mouse will connect to your Mac via the Bluetooth menu under System Preferences.
  • A wireless RF (radio frequency) mouse might require Bluetooth or a USB adapter to connect to your Mac.

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Method 1 – Connect a Bluetooth mouse to your Mac

A Bluetooth mouse can work without an adapter, but you have to sync it with your Mac first.

Follow the procedure below to set up a Bluetooth mouse on your Mac: 

  1. Switch on your Mac.
  2. Navigate to Apple Menu on your device.
  3. Next, select System Preferences.
  4. Next, click on Bluetooth.
  5. Toggle the On box and select Turn Bluetooth On.
  6. Check for your device name in Bluetooth Preferences, and click on Pair.
  7. Finally, tap Return on your keyboard.

NOTE: You might need to enter a passcode while pairing your device via Bluetooth. Input the passcode on the keyboard.

Method 2 – Connecting an RF Mouse to your Mac

This type of mouse operates using radio frequencies and must be within 100 feet.

Here’s how to connect your mouse to a Mac using a Lightning-to-USB adapter:

  1. Switch on your Mac.
  2. Connect one end of the Lightning-to-USB adapter to your mouse and the other (USB) end to your Mac.
  3. Flip the switch under the mouse to turn it on.
  4. Check for the LED under the Mac. Once the green light starts to blink, the mouse is ready to discover and pair with your Mac.
  5. Navigate to System Preferences.
  6. Click on the Bluetooth button in your menu.
  7. Select the Mouse option or click on Show All at the top of the window.
  8. Next, click the Set Up Bluetooth Mouse button.
  9. Select Continue. Your mouse is ready for use immediately when it pairs with your Mac.
  10. Finally, click on Quit.

You can use the Lightning-to-USB connection to check your battery percent and charge your mouse. Allow the mouse to charge and unplug it when it’s completely charged. Unplug the device to use it wirelessly.

NOTE: If the LED doesn’t come on, try changing the mouse’s batteries. But if the mouse’s LED blinks only once, it is connected to another Mac.

Earlier versions of Apple’s (wireless) input devices lack a Lightning port, so you must use another device connected to your device to set them up.

Method 3 – Use a Third-Party Mouse on Your Mac

It’s common knowledge that Mac users have a thing or two against the Magic Mouse, and it’s pretty useless when using Boot Camp to run Windows. Fortunately, the latest models of Macs support a third-party mouse, and mice that are compatible with Windows also work well with macOS.

Here’s how to connect a third-party mouse to your Mac:

  1. Access the Apple Menu on your system.
  2. Navigate to System Preferences.
  3. Next, click on Bluetooth.
  4. Switch on the mouse.
  5. Then select the Mouse option or click on Show All at the top of the window.
  6. Wait for your Mac to find the mouse. Click on Pair to connect the mouse to your Mac when it does.
  7. After connecting, navigate to System Preferences to configure the mouse.

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Conclusion

We hope you’ve successfully learned how to connect a mouse to your Mac. Please, share your experience(s); we want to know what worked and what didn’t.

Feel free to leave a question if you’re unsure of any steps. We’ll also entertain your thoughts and comments. Please, drop them in the comments section below.

We appreciate your feedback!😀

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