The basic steps to pair your mouse
Your Apple wireless mouse connects to your Mac through Bluetooth, which is a short-range wireless technology built into both devices. The mouse does not need to be plugged in with a cable — it communicates with your Mac over the air once you pair them the first time.
To connect the mouse, you turn it on, then tell your Mac to look for it in System Settings. Your Mac finds the mouse by name and remembers it, so you only do this once. After that, the mouse turns on and connects automatically whenever you use it.
The whole process takes about two minutes and requires no software downloads or cables. If your mouse is brand new, it usually arrives with a small amount of battery already inside, enough to complete the pairing.
Key Takeaways
- Apple wireless mice connect through Bluetooth, a wireless technology that is built into your Mac and does not require any cables or extra hardware.
- You pair the mouse once by turning it on and selecting it from your Mac's Bluetooth settings, then it connects automatically whenever you turn it on.
- A new mouse arrives with enough battery to pair, but you should charge it fully before regular use by connecting the Lightning cable that comes in the box.
- If your mouse does not appear in Bluetooth settings, restart both the mouse and your Mac, then try again.
Turn on the mouse and charge it first
Before you pair, your mouse needs power. Locate the power switch on the bottom of the mouse — it is a small slider or button. Slide it to the On position. You should see a light on the mouse turn on or blink, which means it has battery.
If the mouse is brand new, it has enough charge to pair with your Mac. However, before you use it regularly, charge it fully. Apple wireless mice charge through a Lightning cable, which is the same cable that charges iPhones and iPads. Plug the cable into the port on the bottom of the mouse and the other end into a power adapter or your Mac's USB port. Leave it plugged in for at least one hour, or until the light on the mouse stops blinking and stays solid.
If your mouse is older and the light does not turn on when you flip the switch, the battery is dead. Charge it for at least two hours before trying to pair.
Open Bluetooth settings on your Mac
On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select System Settings (on newer Macs running Monterey or later) or System Preferences (on older Macs). Both names refer to the same place where you control how your Mac works.
Once System Settings opens, look for Bluetooth in the left sidebar. Click it. Your Mac will show a list of Bluetooth devices it can see. At the top of the window, make sure Bluetooth is turned On — you should see a toggle switch that is blue or green, not gray.
Leave this window open. Your Mac is now listening for your mouse.
Select your mouse from the list
Your mouse should appear in the Bluetooth list within a few seconds. It will show the name of the mouse — usually something like "Magic Mouse" or "Magic Mouse 2" — followed by the word "Not Connected" in gray text.
Click on your mouse's name. Your Mac will begin pairing with it. You may see a brief message asking you to confirm, or the mouse name may straightforward change from "Not Connected" to "Connected" with a green dot next to it. This usually happens within 10 to 15 seconds.
Once you see "Connected" next to your mouse's name, the pairing is complete. You can close System Settings and start using the mouse right away.
What to do if the mouse does not appear
If your mouse does not show up in the Bluetooth list after 30 seconds, the connection between the two devices has not started. This usually means the mouse is not in pairing mode or does not have enough battery.
First, turn the mouse off by sliding the power switch to Off. Wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. This resets the mouse and puts it back into pairing mode. Check the Bluetooth settings window again — the mouse should appear within a few seconds.
If it still does not appear, restart your Mac. Click the Apple menu, select Restart, and wait for your Mac to turn back on. Once it is running again, open Bluetooth settings and try pairing the mouse again. Restarting clears temporary problems that sometimes prevent Bluetooth from working.
If the mouse still does not appear after restarting both devices, charge the mouse for at least two hours. A mouse with very low battery sometimes cannot be seen by your Mac.
Reconnecting the mouse after it goes to sleep
Once your mouse is paired, it remembers your Mac. When you turn the mouse on again later, it connects automatically — you do not need to go back to Bluetooth settings.
If your mouse has been off for a long time or the battery has drained completely, you may need to charge it and turn it on again. It should reconnect on its own within a few seconds. If it does not, turn the mouse off and on again, or restart your Mac.
Your Mac keeps the pairing information even if you restart, so you will never need to pair the mouse a second time unless you want to use it with a different Mac.
Using your mouse with multiple Macs
An Apple wireless mouse can be paired with more than one Mac, but it can only connect to one Mac at a time. If you want to use the same mouse with two different Macs, you pair it with the first Mac, then pair it with the second Mac using the same steps above.
When you turn the mouse on, it will connect to whichever Mac it was last paired with. To switch the mouse to a different Mac, turn it off, then turn it on while the other Mac is nearby with Bluetooth on. The mouse will connect to that Mac instead.
If the mouse does not connect to the second Mac automatically, open Bluetooth settings on that Mac and click the mouse name to connect it manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my mouse keep disconnecting from my Mac?
Disconnections usually happen because the battery is low or the mouse is too far from your Mac. Apple wireless mice work best within about 30 feet. Try charging the mouse fully, then moving it closer to your Mac. If disconnections continue, restart both devices. Occasionally, a Mac's Bluetooth radio needs to be reset, which a restart fixes.
Can I use an Apple wireless mouse with a Windows computer?
Apple wireless mice are designed for Mac and will not work with Windows computers. They use Bluetooth, but the software that makes them function is built for macOS only. If you need a wireless mouse for Windows, you will need a mouse designed for Windows.
How long does the battery last in an Apple wireless mouse?
Battery life varies by model, but most Apple wireless mice run for one to two months on a full charge with regular daily use. Your Mac will notify you when the battery is low. Charge the mouse when you see this message, or if you notice the cursor moving slowly or jumping.
Do I need to unpair my mouse before I sell my Mac?
Yes, you should remove the mouse from your Bluetooth settings before selling or giving away your Mac. Open Bluetooth settings, find the mouse name, and click the X or Remove button next to it. This erases the pairing from your Mac so the new owner can pair their own devices without interference.
What if my mouse is not an Apple brand?
Third-party wireless mice that support Bluetooth can often pair with a Mac using the same steps — turn on the mouse, open Bluetooth settings, and select it from the list. However, some non-Apple mice have their own pairing buttons or software. Check the manual that came with your mouse for specific instructions, as the process may differ slightly.