How to connect a wireless mouse to your Mac computer
Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email.
Twitter LinkedIn icon The word «in».
LinkedIn Fliboard icon A stylized letter F.
Flipboard Facebook Icon The letter F.
Facebook Email icon An envelope. It indicates the ability to send an email.
Email Link icon An image of a chain link. It symobilizes a website link url.
- Connecting a wireless mouse to your Mac will likely require either Bluetooth or a USB dongle.
- A Bluetooth mouse will need to be connected to your Mac using the Bluetooth menu in System Preferences.
- A mouse needing a USB dongle should work when plugged in without further configuration.
Messy cords on a desk can strike a negative chord with today’s workforce, making a wireless mouse a welcome change from the wired alternative. Aside from aesthetics, a wireless mouse just moves and feels so much better than a wired one.
There are two common types of wireless mice, and the way you’ll connect yours to a Mac depends on which type you have.
A RF mouse operates off of radio frequencies, and just requires you to plug a USB dongle into your Mac. Make sure the mouse is powered on and within range, and you should be able to use it within the minute — there shouldn’t be any real syncing process required.
A Bluetooth-enabled wireless mouse without a dongle, however, requires you to first sync the mouse with your Mac.
How to connect a wireless mouse to a Mac
1. Turn the mouse on, and make sure it’s within range of your Mac. Depending on the mouse, you may need to press a button to put it into pairing mode.
2. Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Select System Preferences.
4. Click the Bluetooth icon.
5. If it’s not already on, select Turn Bluetooth On.
Quick tip: Bluetooth mice typically have a range of approximately 100 feet, or 30 meters.
6. Wait for your mouse to appear on the list. Click on its icon or the Connect button to finish the pairing process.
Best wireless mouse
We test and recommend the best computer mouses. Check out our favorite wireless picks:
- Best overall: Logitech MX Master 3 — See at Logitech
- Best for precision use: Razer Pro Click — See at Amazon
- Best ergonomic: Logitech MX Ergo — See at Amazon
- Best portable: Logitech MX Anywhere 3 — See at Amazon