Solution to Dirty Trackball on Mighty Mouse -- NO DISASSEMBLY REQUIRED!

I too have been plagued by the dirty trackball on the Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse. Although I love the mouse, cleaning the trackball as per Apple's instructions had done nothing. I have found a simple way to remove the lint/dirt etc... from inside the trackball WITHOUT disassembly of the mouse!
First, clean the mouse and trackball as according to Apple's instructions.
Next, take a piece of bright white paper, turn the mouse upside down on it, firmly press down on the ball, and vigorously run the mouse quickly up and down, left and right, AND in circles over the paper. After a while (it took me about 1-2 minutes), the lint and dirt that's been building up will break free of the sensors and when you take the mouse off the paper, you'll see everything that you cleaned on the paper -- and the scroll ball will work just like new.
I finished by cleaning it again with a damp, lent-free cloth.
Let me know how this works for you!

I've been lucky so far and only had to blast it with compressed co2. It's worked for me twice.

Similar Messages

  • Middle-clicking woes in X11 Apps using a mighty mouse

    Hi,
    This has been a frustrating issue ever since I got my new work computer (it's been over a year and a half) and I've just suffered through it. While middle-clicking a half dozen times today until it worked, I finally decided to ask to see if there's a solution other than scrapping the mighty mouse.
    The problem is that when I use XEmacs (an X-windows app I use for coding), I like to use the middle click to paste, but I almost always manage to make the scroll-ball scroll inadvertently which causes the middle-click to not work and hence, nothing gets pasted. I know that there are other methods I could utilize, like setting up option-left-click or by command-c/command-v, or by using menus, but that's not what I want. I just want to highlight and middle-click. I want to have a middle-click that works with one try every time. I use all the clicking surfaces, so I don't want to map middle click to some other button. Is there a way I can tell X11 to ignore the scroll and middle-click anyway? Can someone give me a pointer on how to middle click better? This is crazy.
    Thanks,
    Rob

    Have you tried an alternate Mouse driver?
    USB Overdrive
    <http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/13443>
    SteerMouse
    <http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/27620>
    I think they have demo modes.
    Personally, I use a Logitech mouse with about 9 buttons. My scroll wheel can be pushed left or right. Left is configured to Copy and Right is configured for Paste. Via USB Overdrive it does Command-C/Command-V for Mac applications, and the correct thing for X11 applications. That is to say, I can have the buttons do different things for different applications.

  • Possible Mighty Mouse solution?

    Myself along with what seems alot of people have had problems with the scroll wheel on the mighty mouse. My first one, which I bought for my eMac, was fine for the first few days, then one day, the vertical (down) scrolling gave out. It almost is like there is a "gear" out of place, because when i would scroll left, i would be able to scroll down for a short amount of time, but then it would stop working. So far the MM I got with my intel iMac has been great, but I still wanted to find a way to fix the one on my eMac. I just recently read a topic that said to try alcohol on a cotton ball, but that did no good. I saw a website that suggested either scrolling on the mouse while it was upside down, or use a needle to clean underneath the ball. Well, I was frustrated, so I flipped the mouse over, and using my palm, I violently rubbed on the ball for a few seconds. I put it back on my desk, and to my amazement, it worked just like when I bought it. I'm not sure how long this remedy will last, but for now it seems to work perfectly, so if you are at your wit's end trying to fix that little ball, give this a try and hopefully you will have the same results I did.

    The scrollball problem is just built-up dirt and sweat and oil from your fingers. It can very from person to person depending on how sweaty and oily your hands get. If you notice the MM's white outer shell getting dirty spots where your fingers rest while using it, you can well imagine the same thing is happening on the internal working surface of the scrollball.
    When I sense the scrollball faltering, I flip it upside down on my jeans and run it around a bit roughly. I also wash my hands before sitting down at the computer for a time of use.
    I wouldn't ever recommend poking around blindly inside a MM with a sewing needle or anything else.

  • Mighty Mouse/Mice "Freezes" On Windows 7 w/ iMac... Solutions?

    Hi.
    I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit on a Mac OSX 10.7 using Bootcamp 3.0.
    I'm using an iMac 21.5" Late 2009 model.
    There seems to be some connectivity issues with Mighty Mouse's Bluetooth and Windows 7.
    As I tend to move the mouse, it begins to "glitch up" and freeze... this happens randomly
    at any given moment for a couple of seconds.Sort of a jerkiness motion. Before it would make
    a "BEEP" sound.
    I've already taken some measures to solving this issue.
    1. Through services.msc, I set "connectivity" to Automatic
    2. Through the Bluetooth settings on system tray, it does NOT alert for connectivity.
    Despite these resolution attempts it still doesn't seem to work.
    Does anyone have a solution to make the Mighty Mice work properly?
    Thanks for your help.

    There is a Boot Camp forum, because your issue only seems to be with in Win 7 I'd recommend reposting there.

  • A strange problem about mighty mouse's trackball

    My mighty mouse's trackball works very well on OSX, but it failed to work on Windows, it worked very well on Windows XP and 2008 previously, what is the problem? Thanks!

    Solved the problem myself. It's weird that the bluetooth caused the problem, I installed the bootcamp correctly, and my mouse work properly except trackball, and I found that the bluetooth driver is not properly installed. But how come my mouse could still work? Hate Windows...
    Message was edited by: JohnShu

  • Mighty Mouse Trackball won't track

    I have a Mighty Mouse whose trackball all of a sudden won’t track ”UP“… down YES but UP No!
    This Mouse worked just fine for about 6 months, then no UP.
    How Come???
    Model Number: A1152
    P/N: KY556018MVU3MC
    Is there any way of cleaning them inside without doing any damage? How do you get them open?

    Re: Mighty Mouse Trackball won’t track… Now it does!!!!! and just fine.
    What I did was to get some ”Electrical Contact Cleaner“ and spray some directly inside the mouse by spraying past the little mouse ball on top. Upside down, right side up, tilting in all directions and turning the ball back and forth vigorously. Well low and behold it started to move the pointer in both directions. Slowly at first then with more and more responsiveness the pointer came back to life. Then it quit for awhile! This I have determined to be caused by excess cleaner making the rollers a little slippery. But in 5 minutes the excess fluid had evaporated and the mouse now works perfectly! End of story except to quote the ”Electrical Contact Cleaner“ label. It reads as follows…,Removes oil & other films from electrical contacts, connectors & switches. Leaves no residue. Safe on most plastics. End of quote.
    So there you have it. Thanks to all who responded and I hope this helps the rest of you who are having trouble with your mouse balls.
    TTFN
    G5   Mac OS X (10.4.10)  

  • Cleaning scrollball on a mighty mouse -EUREKA! i've found an easy solution

    gotta hand it to a clerk at my local apple store, this tip is right on the money.
    i had problems with the mighty mouse scrollball sticking...not wanting to scroll down. i tried lots of tips i'd read online. i flipped it over, blew on it, wet the ball with a damp rag, ran it upside down on a piece of paper, and could never manage to keep it fixed for more than a few minutes. until this.
    take a paper towel and fold it lengthwise one or two times. apply a line of basic rubbing alcohol to the paper towel. unplug the mouse and hold it upside down. using a moderate pressure, roll the scrollball along the moisened area of the paper towel - back and forth and then side to side. in my case, i could see dark streaks of dirt appear on the paper towel. after drying the scrollball off with a clean paper towel, it was good as new. it hasn't scrolled so effortlessly since it was first new.
    i'm told any computer-type alcohol wipes will do the trick. this was cheap, easy and for me, effective.
    just wanted to pass it along

    Hello drandall
    Most likely that Apple Store clerk found that trick here in the Discussion Forum! I not trying to crash your party, but the ol' Rubbing Alcohol Trick® has been around here a long time!
    Have a look at the Forum Search below:
    http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?threadID=&q=rubbingalcohol+to+clean+scrollball&objID=c189&dateRange=all&userID=&numResults=15
    Dennis

  • Mighty mouse scroll ball dirty

    Does anyone know how to open the mighty mouse, so as to clean a gunked up scroll ball? (sounds awful, doesn't it)

    Hi, HV.
    See "How to clean your Mighty Mouse."
    Good luck!
    Dr. Smoke
    Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

  • Mighty Mouse Won't Scroll Down - Solution

    My iMac's mighty mouse wouldn't scroll down even after furious cleaning with a damp cloth and all that this discussion site advised.
    I took the mouse into the new Cabot Circus Apple Store here in Bristol, UK. Five minutes later I was out again with a fully restored mighty mouse scroll ball.
    The 'genius' used a isopropyl alcohol Prep Pad, as used by your doctor to sterile your arm before using a hypodermic needle. You can probably buy these down your local Chemists/Pharmacy. He gave me a strip of these sachets marked "Medium - Alcohol Prep Pad" manufactured by Dynarex Corporation. They seem to be selling for about £1.25 for 200. Cheap as chips even in this day and age.
    http://www.quickmedical.com/dynarex/disposable-wipes/alcohol-wipes.html
    He then advised me to clean my mouse this way once a week to keep it in tip-top condition.
    I'm sure I read somewhere that one wasn't supposed to use anything other than a damp cloth on these devices. Oh well, there you go.
    Hope this helps anyone else who have found their mouse tracker ball has stopped working.

    srojtas wrote:
    I just move the scroll ball on my mouse on piece of paper rapidly in all directions,
    and it works (and its free). I do this when my mouse won't scroll down.
    I think you have missed the point.
    Try asking yourself, what would you do if rubbing your mouse on paper was no longer enough? That's the situation I was in.

  • How to wired mighty mouse in windows 7

    i am using an old apple mighty mouse with my windows notebook. the trackball doesn't work and the configuration panel in Windows 7 doesn't config mighty mouse button. is there any solution to config mighty mouse in Windows 7? thank you.

    There is no need for additional drivers.
    Why?
    If you have a Wireless Mighty Mouse you have to turn your computer visible for other devices in the Bluetooth preferences - then simply search for Bluetooth devices, connect - done!
    To configure the Mighty Mouse's buttons, you might want to have a look at a tool called X-Mouse Button Control (http://www.highrez.co.uk/downloads/XMouseButtonControl.htm).

  • Wired Mighty Mouse vs. Wireless Mighty Mouse

    Hey, my wired Mighty Mouse track ball just crapped out on me (I can't scroll down anymore) so I guess I am looking to buy another one.
    Does anyone have any experience and/or opinions on the Wireless Mighty Mouse track balls being any more reliable or longer-lasting than the Wired Mighty Mouse track balls? Or are they both pretty much the same quality-wise?
    Many thanks.

    Trust me, copelander, a mighty mouse that will not scroll in one direction is almost always simply dirty. I have two (one BT one wired) each of which I bought very soon after they first came out. Essentially failure to scroll in one direction means that one of the four directional sensors that it relies on has got clogged.
    Cheby (above) describes the usual solution very well. Simply disconnect the mouse, hold it upside down, and rub the ball vigorously in all directions on a clean piece of paper. Try to avoid "running over" any of the tiny black specs that will probably appear on the paper , as the ball is good at picking them up again.
    If things have progressed beyond the this, the tip of something like the plastic toothpick that comes with swiss army knives, or a cable tie, worked gently in around the edge of the ball, can help, but be gentle so you don't damage the mechanism. Some people also use a dab of isopropyl alcohol on a clean cloth applied to the ball.
    To keep your MM running smoothly for a long period, clean it using the "rubbing on paper" trick AS SOON AS you get the slightest sign of bad scrolling, or every few days, whichever comes sooner. Once you have done this for a while you will find that the problem becomes much less frequent, as the internals get rid of any accumalated residual gunk.
    People who smoke, and those whose hands get oily or grubby for one reason or another, seem to have more problems with this issue, and might want to think about a regular 'wheel" mouse instead, but I've found that a minute of preventative maintenance every few days keeps my MM's scrolling beautifully in all directions. I haven't noticed any difference in the behaviour of the wireless or wired models in this respect. They both use the same scroll ball mechanism, so this isn't surprising.
    As far as choosing between a wired and a wireless one goes for use with an MBP the wired one is lighter, and probably uses less battery than having bluetooth running all the time. On the other hand, the BT one can be handy if you are working in cramped quarters, and don't want a jumble of wire to deal with.
    Cheers
    Rod
    Message was edited by: Rod Hagen

  • Mighty Mouse problems - dead click

    Recently purchased a Apple Mighty Mouse. Works fine until the click is no longer read by the computer. Usually when switching apps. The cursor moves fine and it causes the dock to appear and react correcly when moved over it but nothing can be clicked or activated.
    Even if I have another input source plugged in (Wacom, trackball) these no longer react to clicks eaither. Most of the time I'm running without them.
    The keyboard also seems to be in-active at that time.
    Is this a known problem or conflict of some type? The only solution seems to a full power reset since the I can't bring up force quit with keyboard.
    Thanks.

    Hi Scott
    I bought a mighty mouse shortly after they were released and I found after a while, that if I used Button 4 [the squeeze button on the side] as the Application switcher then the left and right click wouldn't be recognised until the computer was restarted.
    The only soultion I have is to not use Button 4 for anything and stick to Command & Tab for using Application Switcher.
    Hope this helps
    LG

  • Mighty Mouse Won't Scroll Down...

    ...even after I cleaned the wheel with a lightly-watered lint-free cloth. Obviously, I either didn't clean it right or something else is the problem. I also tried spinning the scroll wheel with the Mighty Mouse upside down. What could cause this to happen? What other things should I try?

    Aaron don't be afraid to vigorously clean the trackball. It can take it. I turn the MM upside down on my jeans and run it around in all directions when it gets dirty inside. Also, some of the guys here are using alcohol, rather that water to clean it. You can also press your lips around the trackball and blow to get some of the lint buildup to dislodge.
    I've actually taken my out-of-warranty MM apart to clean it (Operation Mouse......). It has tiny rollers that get gummed up with dirt, sweat, dead skin cells, body oils and that is what makes it stop working. The trackball slips instead of turning the rollers when they get dirty.

  • Mighty mouse alternative for OSX and XP

    Just ordered a Mac Pro - upgrading from G5 Powermac. I got the mighty mouse with the G5 and of course the MP comes with the same. I have gotten used to the mighty mouse to a point but part of the reason for getting the MP is for Windows and gaming. For this I think another mouse with 'real' buttons might be better. What are your recommendations for a quality wired multi-purpose mouse (XP and OSX) and are there any mouses (mice/moose/meece) that have a scroll wheel similar to the might mouse one (very useful in PS etc). I'm not keen on trackball types btw.
    Thanks

    The Logitech MX510. Love it w/ Mac and Windows.
    I'm a QA engineer w/ Avid and purchased this mouse for multi-button assignment mouse testing on mac and pc. I have one at home now too, it's the cat's meow. (sorry bad joke).
    I just couldn't get use to the mighty mouse. Don't dig the "Touch-sensitive top shell".
    15" 1.67 PowerBook, 2GB Ram, 100GB drive   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   ruthband.com

  • Mighty Mouse no longer working properly

    The Mighty Mouse has been irritating me quite a bit because the scrollbar frequently stops working. Usually, the cleaning method provides a temporary solution (very temporary considering I've lost count of the number of times this has happened) but now, something different has happened. While trying to use the cleaning methods suggested, nothing worked. I kept on trying and now, not only does the scrollbar not work but the buttons don't work, either. Whenever I try to left- or right-click, my dashboard keeps popping up.
    Maybe if Mac could make a mouse that we could open up and fix, this wouldn't be a problem...

    Well there you go then.
    Contact Apple with regards to a replacement as I do believe the mouse has a 1 year warranty.
    Luck-
    -DP

Maybe you are looking for