How to use the mouse test
- Move the pointer into the box. Inside it, right click won't open a menu and the side buttons won't take you back a page.
- Press every button once. Each part of the mouse picture turns green when it has worked and fills in while held down.
- Click the left button slowly, about 20 times, then the right button. Any single click that arrives as two is counted as an unwanted double click.
- Scroll slowly in one direction, then the other. Any step in the wrong direction is counted as a jump.
Double click test: is your mouse clicking twice?
A mouse that double clicks on its own is one of the most common faults, especially on older gaming mice. Under each button sits a small switch; as its metal contact wears, it bounces and sends two clicks a few milliseconds apart. A person can't double click that fast, so the test flags any two presses of the same button closer than the threshold, 80 ms by default. Faulty switches typically show gaps of 5–50 ms.
| Gap between clicks | What it means |
|---|---|
| Under 50 ms | Almost certainly switch bounce – a hardware fault |
| 50–100 ms | Very fast; could be bounce or an extremely quick intentional double click |
| Over 100 ms | A normal human double click |
Fixes: some mouse software has a "debounce time" setting; raising it can hide mild bounce. Otherwise the reliable fixes are warranty, replacing the switch if you can solder, or a new mouse. Compressed air rarely helps for long.
Scroll wheel test: jumping or skipping
If the page jumps up for a moment while you scroll down, the wheel's encoder is misreading the rotation. Scroll slowly in one direction here: a healthy wheel only counts steps one way, a worn or dirty one shows jumps. Try blowing compressed air into the gap around the wheel and spinning it fast in both directions, then test again. If the wheel also tilts left and right, the Tilt counter shows those presses.
Side buttons and polling rate
Back and forward buttons show up as their own counters. Buttons that your mouse software has remapped to keyboard shortcuts or macros won't register as mouse buttons, so reset them to default if they stay grey.
The polling rate is how often the mouse reports its position: 125 Hz for basic mice, 500–1000 Hz for most gaming mice, and higher for some new models. Move the mouse quickly to get a reading. Browsers, wireless power saving and USB hubs can make it read lower than the setting, so treat it as a quick mouse polling rate test rather than an exact measurement.
Checking a laptop or keyboard instead? The touch screen test covers touch displays, and the reaction time test shows how fast you click.
How we tested this tool
In a desktop browser we sent simulated mouse events and checked that each button (left, middle, right, back, forward) lit up and was counted, that two presses 20 ms apart were flagged while presses 300 ms apart were not, that a single reversed wheel step in the middle of steady scrolling was counted as one jump, and that movement samples at a known rate gave the matching polling rate. We also checked the layout at a 375 px phone width.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my mouse double click when I click once?
Usually the switch under the button is wearing out. Its contacts bounce and send two clicks a few milliseconds apart. The double click test shows these as very short gaps, often under 50 ms. Cleaning rarely fixes it for good; the fix is warranty, a replacement switch or a new mouse.
Why does my scroll wheel jump the wrong way?
The wheel's encoder reads the rotation. Dust or wear makes it miss or reverse a step, so the page jumps back while you scroll. Blowing compressed air into the wheel gap and spinning the wheel quickly in both directions often helps.
Can a website test my mouse's side buttons?
Yes, most browsers report the back and forward buttons. This test blocks them inside the box so you don't leave the page. Extra buttons that your mouse software remaps to keys or macros won't show up as mouse buttons.
Is the polling rate reading exact?
It's a good estimate of how often your browser receives mouse movement. It can read lower than the mouse's setting because of the browser, power saving on wireless mice or the USB port, so compare it with the rate set in your mouse software.
Does this mouse test work with a laptop touchpad?
Partly. Tapping and two-finger scrolling are reported, but touchpads send many small scroll steps instead of wheel ticks, so the scroll wheel test is meant for real mouse wheels.