Using a wireless mouse is an effective way to keep our desktop tidy, without annoying cables that get tangled up with everything. It is also a solution that gives us greater freedom of movement. Quite an invention. If you haven't yet "switched over" to this type of mouse, keep reading, because we are going to tell you how to connect a wireless mouse in the simplest way.
But before going into details and explaining the process step by step, let's see what types of wireless mice exist and how they work.
Batteries instead of cables
As its name indicates, the wireless mouse does not require the use of cables, although it does require batteries. We can classify this type of devices in two different categories, depending on the connection mode they use:
- wireless mice by RF (radio frequency).
- wireless mice by Bluetooth.
How are they different from each other? The radio frequency devices They work from radio communication with a receiver (also called dongle), which connects to the USB port of the computer. These receivers are small and very discreet. So much so that many times they can go unnoticed, being confused with a kind of "plug" that blocks the USB port.
Instead, mice that work via Bluetooth they need a computer equipped with a built-in Bluetooth receiver in order to establish communication with it.
In both cases, the mouse may have an on/off button. We must not forget to activate it before starting the connection process.
Radiofrequency connection (with dongle)
If mouse that we want to install has a dongle or receiver, the most common is that this is embedded in the lower part of the device or inside the mouse itself, in the cubicle where the batteries are. The dongle is the key element in this type of connection, as it is what makes communication between the computer possible through radio frequencies.
Installation is very simple, you just have to connect the mouse dongle to a USB-A port from our computer. In most cases, the connection is established immediately, without the need to do anything else.
On the other hand, other times we will need install drivers. A message that will appear at the bottom right of the screen will let us know. In any case, the drivers that we are going to need are available on the website of the manufacturer of the wireless mouse (it is always more advisable to obtain them there than in other unreliable websites).
Bluetooth connection
Another way to connect a wireless mouse to a computer is via Bluetooth. Today almost all PCs and laptops integrate it, but if we are not sure there are many easy ways to check. To establish the connection safely and efficiently, you must follow the appropriate method in each case, as explained below:
On windows
The steps are as follows:
- We must first go to "Settings" and from there access "Devices".
- Next we activate the Bluetooth.
- The next step is to hold down the sync button of the mouse, which is at the bottom of it. This will make it appear on the screen in the list of devices.
- Finally, select the new mouse to connect to our computer.
On macOS
If our computer is a Mac, to connect the wireless mouse, we must proceed as follows:
- The first step is to go to the Apple menu and open the menu of "System preferences".
- There we select "Devices".
- In the Bluetooth menu, we choose the option "Enable Bluetooth."
- After this you have to hold down the sync button, which is at the bottom of the mouse, which will show the mouse in the list of devices.
- To finish, select the mouse from the list to connect it to the computer.
on Chromebooks
In this case, the steps to follow are these:
- Let's go to the setting on our Chromebook and click "Bluetooth".
- Next, we activate Bluetooth.
- As in the previous examples, we hold down the sync button, located at the bottom of the mouse, to show it in the list of devices.
- Finally, there is only select mouse from the list and thus connect it to our team.
Connection issues
Sometimes it happens that, even following these steps that we indicate in detail, we can not connect a wireless mouse to the computer. We move the mouse, but the cursor remains stationary on the screen. Here are some simple solutions that can help us solve this situation:
- Check that the power button mouse button (if you have one) is enabled.
- Check that the batteries they work: that the batteries are well placed, without the original plastic that covers them, and that they are charged.
- Restart your computer, in case all of the above didn't work.