How to connect a Magic Mouse to your Mac

In the early days of computers, mice (and keyboards) were the only ways to interact with what was displayed on our screens. Today, consumers are spoiled for choice when it comes to computer input devices, be it touchscreens, trackpads, controllers, or even the head. However, despite all the advances in technology, many people still prefer mice 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 something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. While there’s no shortage of manufacturers making dedicated mice for gaming or working on the go, the Magic Mouse offers users two important things: easy integration into the Apple ecosystem and a sleek, aesthetic appearance.

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By 2024, Apple has released two versions of the Magic Mouse: the Magic Mouse and the Magic Mouse 2. Although the Magic Mouse 2, which is significantly lighter and has built-in batteries, is almost a decade old, it is still sold in the Apple Store today. While you can also use the Magic Mouse on your iPad and iPhone, most people would get a Magic Mouse for their Mac. Regardless of which Magic Mouse model you own, here’s how to quickly connect it to your Mac today.

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

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1. On your Magic Mouse, turn on the button on the bottom. When it is on, you will see the green sticker.

2. Option 1: On your 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 top left of the screen > System Preferences > Bluetooth.

4. In the Bluetooth section, under “Devices,” look for “Magic Mouse.”

5. Click Connect next to Magic Mouse.

   

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

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If you’re having connection issues between your mouse and your Mac, the first thing you should do is check if your Magic Mouse is charged. If you haven’t already, charge your Magic Mouse using a Lightning cable from a power source like a wall outlet or Mac. Unfortunately, the Magic Mouse doesn’t have charging indicators or a display that tells you how much battery life is left. This means that the only way to tell is if it’s successfully connected to your devices. After a few minutes of charging, you can try the steps in the previous section again.

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

If you determine that your Mac is the cause of the problem, you can try turning your Mac on and off, resetting your network settings, or updating your operating system. On the other hand, if you have determined that the problem is with your Magic Mouse, you can contact Apple Support for help via the website or the Support app.

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Now that 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 your Mac’s mouse settings and make them truly your own.

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

2. Select “System Preferences”.

3. Scroll down the left sidebar and click Mouse

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This section lets you make changes to your Magic Mouse’s Point & Click features and set additional gestures. Under Point & Click, you can change the tracking speed (slow to fast), enable or disable natural scrolling, choose what your secondary click should do, or turn Smart Zoom on and off.

On the Gestures tab, on the other hand, you can enable swiping between pages and the gestures required for it (swipe left/right with one finger, swipe left/right with two fingers, or swipe with one or two fingers), swipe between full-screen apps, and get quick access to mission control with a two-finger double tap.

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You can also see how much battery power your mouse has left. Or you can click the Bluetooth icon in the upper right corner of your Mac screen to see the current battery life.