How to connect Magic Mouse to Mac

In the early days of computing, mice (and keyboards) were the only way we could interact with what was on our screens. Today, consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to computer input devices, whether it’s touchscreens, trackpads, controllers, or even your head. Yet despite all the leaps and bounds in technology, many people still prefer to use a mouse for their input needs, including many Apple users who prefer to use the Magic Mouse. In many ways, the Magic Mouse’s design, with its glass trackpad and smooth finish, is proof that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. While there’s no shortage of manufacturers who make specialized mice for gaming or working on the go, the Magic Mouse offers users two key things: easy integration with the Apple ecosystem and a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design.

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By 2024, Apple had released two versions of the Magic Mouse: the Magic Mouse and the Magic Mouse 2. Although it’s been almost a decade since the Magic Mouse 2 was released, which is much lighter and offers built-in batteries, it’s still sold in the Apple Store. While you can also use the Magic Mouse on your iPad and iPhone, most people would buy the Magic Mouse for use with their Mac. So, regardless of which Magic Mouse model you own, here’s how you can quickly connect it to your Mac today.

The fastest way to connect your Magic Mouse to your Mac is to connect them both using a Lightning cable. Within a few seconds, you’ll see a notification in the upper right corner of your Mac screen that says “Your mouse is wirelessly connected to this Mac.” At the same time, your Magic Mouse will start charging. But if you don’t have a cable handy, here’s how to connect it to your Mac using Bluetooth.

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1. On your Magic Mouse, switch to the button on the bottom. You will be able to see a green sticker if it is on.

2. Option 1: On a Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the upper right corner of the screen and select Bluetooth Preferences.

3. Option 2: On your Mac, click the Apple icon in the upper left corner of your screen > System Preferences > Bluetooth.

4. In the Bluetooth section, search for Magic Mouse under Devices.

5. Next to Magic Mouse, click Connect.

   

If the connection is successful, you will see the Magic Mouse in the list of devices with the word “Connected” underneath. Unfortunately, unlike the Magic Keyboard, there is no way to use the Magic Mouse with a wired connection. Since the Magic Mouse connection port is located on the bottom of the mouse, it is not possible to connect it to your Mac via a wired connection while in use.

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When it comes to mouse and Mac connection issues, the first thing you should check is whether your Magic Mouse is charged. If you haven’t already, charge your Magic Mouse using a Lightning cable to a power source, such as an outlet or your Mac. Unfortunately, the Magic Mouse doesn’t have charging indicators or a display to tell you how much battery life is left, meaning you’ll only be able to tell if it’s successfully connected to your devices. After a few minutes of charging, you can go through the steps in the previous section again.

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Next, check if the connection issue is with your Mac or Magic Mouse. To do this, try pairing your Magic Mouse and Mac with other devices. Although Bluetooth has become ubiquitous in the technology we use every day, it has its limitations, such as range and susceptibility to interference from other signals in our home. To avoid this, try moving your Magic Mouse and Mac closer together or moving them to a different location.

If it turns out that the problem is with your Mac, you can try turning your Mac off and on, resetting your network settings, or updating your operating system. On the other hand, if you have confirmed that the problem is with your Magic Mouse, you can contact Apple Support via their website or the Support app.

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Once you’ve successfully connected your Magic Mouse to your Mac, there are a few other things you can do to improve your experience. Here’s how to access the mouse settings on your Mac and make it truly yours.

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1. On a Mac, click the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen.

2. Select System Settings.

3. In the sidebar on the left, scroll down and click Mouse

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In this section, you can make changes to the Point & Click features, as well as set additional gestures for your Magic Mouse. In the Point & Click area, you can change the tracking speed (from slow to fast), turn natural scrolling on or off, choose what you want Secondary click to do, or turn Smart zoom on or off.

On the other hand, in the Gestures tab, you can enable the swiping feature between pages and the gestures required to perform this action (swipe left/right with one finger, swipe left/right with two fingers, or swipe with one or two fingers), swiping between full-screen apps, as well as quick access to Mission Control with a double-tap with two fingers.

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Not to mention, you can see how much battery is left in your mouse. You can also click the Bluetooth icon in the upper right corner of your Mac screen to see the current battery level.