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Repair guide

Clean a ball mouse that skips or sticks

Dirt builds up on the little rollers inside a ball mouse and makes the pointer behave oddly. A clean takes minutes and needs no parts.

Open the interactive checklist Tick off each step as you go. It saves in your browser.

Cleaning · Easy · about 20 minutes. Try it, but check first. This will not fix every machine, so read the sources first.

You are in the right place if: The pointer jumps, drifts or only moves in one direction.

Before you start

  • Do not use harsh solvents on old plastics.
  • Keep liquid away from the electronics.

Board revisions and models

Optical-mechanical designs and early optical mice that need a special pad are different.

Parts you may need

Tools

  • Toothpick or plastic spudger. Scrape dirt Amazon · eBay

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Step by step

  1. Unplug the mouse Disconnect it from the computer.
  2. Remove the ball Open the ball cover and take out the ball.
  3. Wash the ball Rinse it with warm water and a little soap, then dry fully.
  4. Inspect the rollers Look inside the mouse for grey lines of dirt on the rollers.
  5. Scrape and wipe Scrape the dirt off with a toothpick or fingernail and wipe with isopropyl alcohol.
  6. Clean the cavity Blow out dust.
  7. Check the buttons Press each button for feel.
  8. Refit and test Reassemble and test on a clean surface.
  9. Open further if needed If still bad, open the case and clean the encoder wheels, following a model guide.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

  • Maybe (Low confidence). A clean surface under the mouse helps a lot. General technique, no source.

Sources

We wrote this one from general technique and have no source to credit for it yet. Treat it as a starting point, and read or watch a guide for your exact model before you begin.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

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