Mouse cursor stuttering or freezing for a second or two randomly? Here's what causes it and how to fix the annoying micro-freezes.

Why Does My Cursor Freeze Momentarily?

You're moving your mouse across the screen when suddenly it freezes for a second or two. Clicks don't register. The cursor is completely unresponsive. Then, just as mysteriously, it starts working again like nothing happened.

These brief cursor freezes—sometimes called micro-stutters—are incredibly frustrating, especially when they happen repeatedly throughout the day. The good news is that this is usually a software issue with straightforward fixes.

✓Quick Check: Is It the Mouse or the Computer?

Before diving into complex solutions, determine whether the issue is your mouse hardware or your computer:

If you have another mouse available, plug it in and use it for a while
If the freezing continues with a different mouse, the problem is your computer
If the freezing stops, your original mouse is faulty
For wireless mice: Try replacing the batteries or moving the receiver closer to the mouse

If changing the mouse solves the problem, you've found your answer—time for a new mouse. If not, continue with the solutions below.

Common Causes of Cursor Freezing

Outdated or Corrupt Drivers

Mouse drivers translate the physical movement of your mouse into cursor movement on screen. Improper, corrupt, or outdated drivers can cause the cursor to freeze intermittently. This is one of the most common causes.

Windows updates can sometimes introduce driver conflicts, especially if you have third-party mouse software installed (like Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, or Corsair iCUE).

System Resource Spikes

When your CPU or disk usage suddenly spikes to 100%, Windows prioritizes whatever is causing that spike over cursor movement. This creates a brief freeze until resources free up.

Background processes like Windows Update, antivirus scans, disk defragmentation, or even malware can cause these resource spikes.

Connectivity Issues

For wireless mice, interference from other wireless devices, weak batteries causing intermittent connection loss, and USB receiver too far from the mouse can all cause cursor freezes.

For wired mice, loose or damaged USB cables, faulty USB ports, and USB hubs that don't provide enough power can create problems.

Windows Fast Startup Feature

The Fast Startup feature in Windows can sometimes cause hardware initialization issues, including mouse problems. Some users report cursor freezing that only started after enabling Fast Startup.

Power Management Settings

Windows might be putting your USB ports or mouse into power-saving mode to conserve energy, causing brief disconnections that appear as cursor freezes.

🔧Step-by-Step Solutions

Solution 1: Update Mouse Drivers

Start with the most common fix—updating your mouse drivers:

Press Windows + X and select 'Device Manager'
Expand 'Mice and other pointing devices'
Right-click your mouse and select 'Update driver'
Choose 'Search automatically for drivers'
If Windows finds an update, install it and restart your computer

If Windows says the best drivers are already installed, try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver:

In Device Manager, right-click your mouse and select 'Uninstall device'
Check 'Delete the driver software for this device' if that option appears
Restart your computer—Windows will automatically reinstall the driver

Solution 2: Disable USB Power Management

Stop Windows from putting your USB ports to sleep:

Open Device Manager
Expand 'Universal Serial Bus controllers'
Right-click each USB Root Hub and select 'Properties'
Go to the 'Power Management' tab
Uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'
Click OK
Repeat for all USB Root Hubs

Also disable power management for your mouse specifically:

In Device Manager, under 'Mice and other pointing devices,' right-click your mouse
Select 'Properties' and go to the 'Power Management' tab
Uncheck 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'
Click OK

Solution 3: Disable Fast Startup

Open Control Panel and search for 'Power Options'
Click 'Choose what the power buttons do'
Click 'Change settings that are currently unavailable'
Uncheck 'Turn on fast startup (recommended)'
Click 'Save changes' and restart your computer

Solution 4: Check for Resource Spikes

Identify what's causing system slowdowns during freezes:

Keep Task Manager open (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc)
Go to the 'Performance' tab
Watch CPU and Disk usage
When a freeze happens, immediately check what spiked
Switch to the 'Processes' tab to see which program caused it

Common culprits include:

Windows Update downloading or installing updates in the background
Antivirus performing scans
Windows Search Indexer
Cloud storage services syncing (OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox)

Once you identify the cause, you can schedule those tasks for times when you're not using your computer, or disable unnecessary background processes.

Solution 5: Try a Different USB Port

USB ports can fail or develop issues:

Unplug your mouse from its current USB port
Plug it into a different port, preferably on a different area of your computer
For best results, use a USB port directly on your motherboard (desktop) or the computer chassis (laptop) rather than a hub or front panel port
Avoid USB 3.0 ports if possible—some mice have better compatibility with USB 2.0 ports

Solution 6: Update Your BIOS

If none of the above solutions work, BIOS not being up to date can introduce bugs when Windows updates itself. An outdated BIOS can cause various hardware issues including mouse problems:

Identify your motherboard model (use CPU-Z or check your PC specifications)
Visit your motherboard manufacturer's website
Download the latest BIOS update
Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully—BIOS updates require precision

Warning: BIOS updates carry some risk. If you're not comfortable doing this yourself, have a professional handle it.

Solution 7: Scan for Malware

Malware can cause system-wide performance issues:

Open Windows Security
Click 'Virus & threat protection'
Run a full scan
Also consider using a second-opinion scanner like Malwarebytes (free version is fine)

Wireless Mouse Specific Solutions

If you're using a wireless mouse, try these additional steps:

Replace Batteries

Even if your mouse shows battery life remaining, weak batteries can cause intermittent connectivity problems. Try fresh batteries to rule this out.

Move the USB Receiver

Place the wireless receiver closer to where you use your mouse. If it's plugged into the back of a desktop PC, use a USB extension cable to move it to the front of your desk.

Remove obstacles between the mouse and receiver—metal objects and other wireless devices can cause interference.

Change Wireless Channels

Some higher-end wireless mice (like Logitech's G series) let you change wireless channels in their software. Try a different channel to avoid interference from other devices.

If That Didn't Work

If you're still experiencing freezes after trying everything above:

Check Windows Event Viewer: Use Reliability History and Event Viewer to capture error codes or warnings at the time of freezes. This can provide clues about what's failing.

Test in Safe Mode: Boot into Safe Mode and see if the freezing continues. If it doesn't, a third-party program or driver is likely the cause.

Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes Microsoft releases patches for known issues. Make sure you're fully updated.

Consider a different mouse entirely: Some mice simply don't play well with certain systems. If possible, try a completely different brand and model.

📞When to Call a Professional

Most cursor freezing issues can be resolved with the solutions above. However, consider professional help if:

Freezing happens with multiple different mice
Your entire computer freezes, not just the cursor
You're getting blue screens or system crashes
Event Viewer shows hardware-related errors during freezes
You've tried everything and the problem persists

These symptoms might indicate motherboard issues, USB controller problems, or other hardware failures that require professional diagnosis.

Persistent Computer Problems?

If your cursor keeps freezing despite trying these fixes—or if you're experiencing other frustrating issues—Geeks in Sneaks can help identify the root cause and get your system running smoothly again.

We can help with: Hardware diagnostics, driver issues, malware removal, Windows troubleshooting and optimization, and peripheral compatibility problems.

Get Expert PC Help

Why Does My Cursor Freeze Momentarily?