The basic steps to connect your Magic Mouse
A Magic Mouse is Apple's wireless mouse that works with Mac computers and iPads. To connect it, you turn on the mouse, hold down the power button until a green light appears, then go to your device's Bluetooth settings and select the mouse from the list. The whole process takes about two minutes.
The mouse arrives with a low battery. Before you start, plug the USB-C charging cable (included in the box) into the bottom of the mouse and into a power source for about two minutes. You'll see a green light appear on the bottom — that means it's charged enough to pair.
Once charged, hold the power button on the bottom of the mouse for about three seconds until the green light blinks. This puts the mouse into pairing mode. Your device will now search for it automatically.
Key Takeaways
- Charge your Magic Mouse for two minutes using the included USB-C cable before pairing it for the first time.
- Hold the power button until the green light blinks, which puts the mouse into pairing mode.
- On Mac, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and click the mouse name; on iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the mouse name.
- Once paired, the mouse remembers your device and connects automatically when you turn it on.
- If the mouse won't pair, restart Bluetooth on your device or restart the mouse by holding the power button for ten seconds.
Pairing on a Mac computer
On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings. Look for Bluetooth in the left sidebar and click it. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on — you'll see a toggle switch at the top.
Your Mac will show a list of available devices. Find your Magic Mouse in that list — it will show the name "Magic Mouse" or "Magic Mouse 2" depending on which model you have. Click it once, and your Mac will connect automatically. You should see "Connected" appear next to the mouse name.
Once connected, your mouse is ready to use. Move it around on your desk and you should see the cursor move on your screen. If nothing happens, the battery may be too low — plug it in for another minute and try again.
Pairing on an iPad
On your iPad, open the Settings app (the gray gear icon). Scroll down and tap Bluetooth. Make sure the Bluetooth toggle at the top is turned on — it will be blue when active.
Your iPad will show a list of available devices. Tap your Magic Mouse in that list. The iPad will connect within a few seconds, and you'll see "Connected" appear below the mouse name. Your cursor will now appear on your iPad screen.
Magic Mouse works on iPad with iPadOS 16.1 or newer. If your iPad is older than that, the mouse won't pair. You can check your iPad's version by going to Settings > General > About and looking at the iPadOS number.
What to do if the mouse won't pair
If your device doesn't show the Magic Mouse in the Bluetooth list, the mouse may not be in pairing mode. Hold the power button for three seconds again — you should see the green light blink. Wait ten seconds and check your device's Bluetooth list again.
If the mouse still doesn't appear, restart Bluetooth on your device. On Mac, click the Bluetooth icon in the top menu bar and select "Turn Bluetooth Off," wait five seconds, then turn it back on. On iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off and on.
If restarting Bluetooth doesn't work, restart the mouse itself. Hold the power button for ten seconds — the green light will turn off. Wait five seconds, then hold the power button again for three seconds until the green light blinks. Now try pairing again.
Charging and battery life
The Magic Mouse charges through a USB-C port on the bottom. Plug the included cable into the mouse and into any USB-C power source — a computer, phone charger, or power bank all work. A full charge takes about two hours and lasts about one month of normal use.
You can use the mouse while it's charging. The green light on the bottom tells you the battery status: solid green means fully charged, and blinking green means it's charging. If the light is off, the battery is very low and you should charge it right away.
Your Mac or iPad will also warn you when the battery is low. You'll see a notification on your screen saying the mouse battery is at 10 percent or less. Plug it in at that point — you don't need to wait until it stops working.
Using your Magic Mouse after it's paired
Once your Magic Mouse is paired, it connects automatically every time you turn it on. You don't need to pair it again unless you want to use it with a different device.
The mouse has a power button on the bottom. Turn it on by sliding the button toward the front of the mouse. A green light will appear briefly. Turn it off by sliding the button toward the back. When off, the mouse uses no battery.
If you want to use the same mouse with both a Mac and an iPad, you can pair it to both devices. However, it only connects to one device at a time. To switch, turn the mouse off, then turn it back on near the other device. It will reconnect to whichever device is closest.
Unpairing your Magic Mouse
If you want to remove the mouse from your device — for example, to pair it with a different computer — go to your device's Bluetooth settings. On Mac, click System Settings > Bluetooth, find the mouse in the list, and click the X button next to it. On iPad, go to Settings > Bluetooth, find the mouse, and tap the info icon, then tap "Forget This Device."
Once you've removed it, the mouse is no longer paired. To use it again with that device, you'll need to pair it again by holding the power button until the green light blinks and selecting it from the Bluetooth list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Magic Mouse with a Windows computer?
No. Magic Mouse only works with Mac computers and iPads. It uses Apple's proprietary pairing technology and won't connect to Windows PCs, Android devices, or other non-Apple products. If you need a wireless mouse for Windows, you'll need a different model designed for that system.
Why does my Magic Mouse keep disconnecting?
The most common cause is a low battery. Charge the mouse for a few minutes and see if the disconnections stop. If the battery is fine, move closer to your device — Bluetooth has a range of about 30 feet, but obstacles like walls or metal can reduce that. Restarting Bluetooth on your device also fixes most disconnection problems.
Do I need to charge the Magic Mouse every day?
No. A full charge lasts about one month with normal use. Most people charge it once a month or less. You'll get a low battery warning on your screen when it's time to plug it in, so you won't be caught off guard.
Can I pair the Magic Mouse to multiple devices at once?
The mouse can be paired to multiple devices, but it only connects to one at a time. To switch between devices, turn the mouse off and back on near the device you want to use. It will reconnect to whichever device is closest or most recently used.
What if I lost the charging cable?
Any USB-C cable will charge the Magic Mouse — you don't need the original cable. USB-C cables are inexpensive and widely available at electronics stores, online retailers, and many grocery stores. The mouse charges with any standard USB-C power source, including phone chargers and computer ports.