Mouse Scroll Wheel Not Working

• Restart your computer/Restart mouse if needed: Restarting your mouse can sometimes fix temporary glitches or clear out any temporary files that might cause issues. Be sure to shut down your computer completely, turn your mouse off, and remove the batteries to ensure the mouse can fully power cycle.
• Replace your mouse's batteries: If you're using a wireless mouse, check to see if the battery is low or close to being depleted.
• Check system resources: If you have a program taking up an absurd amount of memory or CPU power, then this can cause your mouse to move slower than normal. Open your system's Task Manager or Activity Monitor to see if any programs are taking up a large amount of your system's resources.
• Install pending updates. Install the pending updates. Vendors frequently release patches or updates to software to enhance its responsiveness and reduce resource consumption. Windows updates can be found in Settings > Updates and Security.
• Try recreating the issue on a different computer: Try seeing if the issue is persistent between devices. If the issue is persistent, then the issue is likely with the mouse.

Accumulated dust and debris can become jammed around your scroll wheel, and can prevent it from rotating in its housing, or prevent the scroll wheel sensor from registering movement.

• Cleaning your Mouse: Cleaning your mouse involves using compressed air or a soft brush, and 90% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol, paying special attention to the area around the scroll wheel.
• Deep Cleaning your Mouse: If the problem persists, you can open the mouse and clean its internal components more thoroughly as shown in the AW610M Scroll Wheel Replacement Guide.

Similar to the cursor, scroll wheel sensitivity is a setting that allows a user to either increase or decrease the speed at which the computer registers scroll wheel movements. If the sensitivity is accidentally reduced significantly, then this can result in slow movement.

• On Windows, open Settings and open Bluetooth & Devices, then Mouse.
• Under the the Scrolling Sectio,n make sure that Multiple lines at a time Under the "Roll the mouse wheel to scroll" section, select Multiple lines at a time is selected for the Roll the mouse wheel to scroll.
• You might also need to adjust the number of lines that the wheel scrolls by. In the Mouse section, scroll down and click Additional mouse settings, and choose the Wheel tab. Underneath the Roll the wheel one notch to scroll the section, adjust the Following number of lines at a time. By default, it will be set to a value of 3, so you might need to increase it.

• On macOS, open System Settings, then click Mouse from the sidebar.
• Click Scrolling Speed, then drag the slider to your desired speed.

An outdated or corrupted mouse driver or system driver (USB or Bluetooth adapter) impacts how your mouse interprets movements. This can also apply to the scroll wheel.

• MacOS and Linux operating systems will use a generic driver for mice; however, if your mouse's manufacturer has drivers available through their website, then try downloading the latest driver software from the manufacturer's site.
• Windows 10 and 11 will automatically search for new drivers; however, you might need to prompt the operating system to install the latest drivers. Hit the Windows Key and I to launch the settings application, and choose Windows Update from the left menu. From there, simply select the Advanced options and Optional updates, then Driver Updates to search for the driver for your mouse.

If your mouse is connected to your computer via a USB hub, the problem might be a bandwidth shortage. USB hubs can introduce latency or slow down data transfer, especially when other high-bandwidth devices like external hard drives are simultaneously plugged in.

• Try plugging your mouse directly into your computer. If your computer uses USB-C while your mouse uses USB-A, then you might need to invest in a USB-C to USB-A adapter.
• If not using the dongle isn't optional, then try removing any storage devices or any devices that might be drawing power. This should increase bandwidth and reduce any sluggishness of your mouse.

If none of the above helps and the mouse behaves the same on another computer, the mouse itself may be faulty.

• Dissassemble the mouse and look for any burnt or damaged components: Check for any signs of burnt or water-damaged components. Make sure that the Scroll Wheel's axle hasn't become broken or otherwise damaged. If you observe any visible damage, the mouse's mainboard should be replaced.
• Check if the mouse wheel is damaged: If the mouse wheel itself has become warped, cracked, or damaged, then this can impact the mouse wheel's performance. Inspect your mouse wheel carefully, and if you find any damage, then try replacing your mouse wheel.
• Check if the encoder is damaged: Mice use a sensor known as a rotary encoder to detect when the mouse wheel is moved. Cleaning the encoder should be your first step; however, if the encoder itself is damaged in any way, then it should be replaced.
  • Optical encoders use an infrared light source and a disk with slots to detect the wheel’s rotation. To ensure proper functioning, try using compressed air to blow out any dust from the encoder. Additionally, you can apply a small amount of aerosol contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol into the gaps of the encoder to help the cleaner penetrate the internal components and remove oxidation and debris. Rotate the encoder shaft back and forth several times to facilitate this process.
  • Mechanical encoders, which rely on physical contact with a rigid surface and a follower to register steps and are more common in older mice. To ensure proper functioning, try using compressed air to blow out any dust from the encoder. You can also use Specialist WD-40 to remove any oil or dirt that might have worked its way into the encoder, but use it sparingly and be sure to allow it to dry completely before reassembling your mouse.
• Check for any main board damage: If all of the above solutions haven’t addressed your issue, the main board of your mouse is likely the cause. These can fail if the mouse has been exposed to excessive heat, moisture, or if the mouse has been dropped, thrown, or otherwise slammed during that one vexing match of Siege. If you find the motherboard has been damaged, then it needs to be replaced.