The basic steps to pair your Magic Mouse

A Magic Mouse is Apple's wireless mouse that connects to your Mac or iPad without a cable. To connect it, you turn on the mouse, hold down the power button until a green light appears, then go into your device's Bluetooth settings and select the mouse from the list. The whole process takes about two minutes.

The mouse uses Bluetooth, which is the same wireless technology that connects headphones and speakers to your phone. Unlike older wireless mice that needed a separate receiver plugged into your computer, the Magic Mouse talks directly to your device through Bluetooth that's already built in.

Before you start, make sure your Magic Mouse has a charged battery. A new mouse comes with some charge, but if it's been sitting unused, plug the Lightning cable into the bottom for a few minutes. You'll know it's charged when you see the green light.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on the Magic Mouse by sliding the power switch on the bottom, then hold the power button until you see a green light.
  • Open System Settings on Mac or Settings on iPad, go to Bluetooth, and select your Magic Mouse from the list of available devices.
  • If the mouse doesn't appear in Bluetooth settings, restart it by sliding the power switch off and back on, then try again.
  • Once connected, the mouse will remember your device and reconnect automatically the next time you turn it on.

Turning on the Magic Mouse for the first time

Look at the bottom of your Magic Mouse. You'll see a small power switch near the edge. Slide it toward the front of the mouse (the direction the cursor moves). You should see a green light appear on the bottom of the mouse, though it may be faint depending on the lighting in your room.

If you don't see a green light after sliding the switch, the battery may be too low. Plug the Lightning cable (the same cable that charges an iPhone) into the port on the bottom of the mouse and wait five minutes, then try again. The light should appear within a few seconds of turning the mouse back on.

Finding your Magic Mouse in Bluetooth settings on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On older Macs running Monterey or earlier, this is called System Preferences instead. Look for Bluetooth in the left sidebar and click it.

You should see a list of devices under "Available Devices." Your Magic Mouse will appear with that exact name. Click it once, and your Mac will connect automatically. You may see a brief message saying "Connecting" followed by "Connected." Once it says Connected, you can start using the mouse right away.

If your Magic Mouse doesn't appear in the list, make sure the power switch is on and the green light is visible. If it still doesn't show up after 30 seconds, turn the mouse off and back on, then check the list again.

Connecting to an iPad or iPhone

On an iPad or iPhone, open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on (the toggle switch should be green). Your Magic Mouse will appear under "Other Devices" once the green light is visible on the bottom.

Tap the Magic Mouse name to connect. You'll see "Connecting" briefly, then "Connected" once it's done. Unlike a Mac, an iPad or iPhone will show a small keyboard icon next to the device name once it's paired, which just means it's ready to use.

The Magic Mouse works the same way on an iPad as it does on a Mac — you can click, scroll, and swipe with the same gestures. If you switch between devices, the mouse will remember both connections and automatically switch to whichever device you're using.

What to do if the mouse won't connect

If the Magic Mouse appears in your Bluetooth list but won't stay connected, or if it connects and then disconnects, the battery is usually the problem. Plug it in for at least 15 minutes using the Lightning cable. A low battery can cause the connection to drop even if the green light is still visible.

If charging doesn't fix it, restart the pairing. Go back to your Bluetooth settings and click the information icon (a small "i" in a circle) next to the Magic Mouse name. Select "Forget This Device," then turn the mouse off and back on. Go back to Bluetooth settings and select it again from the Available Devices list.

On rare occasions, restarting your device helps. Shut down your Mac completely or restart your iPad, then turn the Magic Mouse back on and try connecting again. This clears out any temporary glitches in the Bluetooth connection.

Using your Magic Mouse once it's connected

Once your Magic Mouse is connected, you can click, scroll, and swipe just like you would on a trackpad. The top surface is touch-sensitive, so you can swipe up with two fingers to show all open windows, or swipe left and right to move between full-screen apps on a Mac.

The mouse will stay connected as long as it's turned on and within about 30 feet of your device. When you turn it off, it disconnects automatically. The next time you turn it on, it will reconnect to the last device it was paired with, so you don't have to go through the Bluetooth settings again.

If you want to use the same Magic Mouse with multiple devices, you can pair it with each one separately. The mouse will remember all of them and switch between devices automatically depending on which one you're actively using.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Magic Mouse is charged?

A green light on the bottom of the mouse means it has a good charge. If the light is red or orange, the battery is low and you should plug it in. If there's no light at all, the battery is completely dead — plug it in for at least 30 minutes before trying to use it.

Can I use a Magic Mouse with a Windows computer?

No. The Magic Mouse is designed for Apple devices only and will not work with Windows computers. 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 reason is a low battery. Charge the mouse for 15 minutes and try again. If it still disconnects, restart the pairing by forgetting the device in Bluetooth settings and reconnecting it. If the problem continues, there may be interference from other wireless devices — try moving the mouse closer to your device.

Do I need to pair the Magic Mouse every time I use it?

No. Once you pair it the first time, it remembers your device. Just turn the mouse on and it will connect automatically. You only need to go back to Bluetooth settings if you want to pair it with a different device or if the connection stops working.

What's the difference between the Magic Mouse and a regular mouse?

The Magic Mouse has a touch-sensitive surface that lets you swipe and scroll with gestures, similar to a trackpad. A regular mouse has physical buttons and a scroll wheel. The Magic Mouse is wireless and designed specifically for Apple devices, while regular mice work with any computer.