How to Fix Inverted Mouse in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

Have you ever moved your mouse up only to see the cursor go down, or pushed it left and it went right? That’s called an inverted mouse issue. While some people (especially gamers) intentionally use inverted controls, most Windows 11 users find it confusing and frustrating.

If your mouse feels “backward” and you’re struggling to navigate, don’t worry. In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to fix an inverted mouse in Windows 11, explain why it happens, and give you several solutions depending on whether you’re using a wired mouse, wireless mouse, or a touchpad.

Table of Contents

Why Is My Mouse Inverted on Windows 11?

Before we jump into fixes, it’s important to know why this happens. Common reasons include:

Driver issues – Outdated or corrupted mouse drivers can flip movement controls.
System settings – Incorrect mouse or touchpad settings may cause inverted scrolling or movement.
Third-party apps – Some software, especially games, change mouse input behavior.
Hardware glitches – A faulty or misconfigured mouse can cause inverted movement.
Touchpad gestures – On laptops, inverted scrolling often happens because of gesture settings.

Step 1: Restart Your Computer First

It might sound too simple, but a quick restart can reset driver glitches and temporary bugs.

Click the Start menu.
Select Power > Restart.
Test your mouse again.

If the problem persists, move on to the next steps.

Step 2: Check Mouse Orientation

Sometimes the issue is as basic as using the mouse upside down or with its sensor covered. Make sure:

The mouse is placed correctly.
The surface isn’t too reflective (use a mouse pad if possible).

Step 3: Update or Reinstall Mouse Drivers

Mouse drivers are often the culprit.

Update Drivers

Press Win + X and select Device Manager.
Expand Mice and other pointing devices.
Right-click your mouse → Update driver.
Choose Search automatically for drivers.

Reinstall Drivers

In Device Manager, right-click your mouse.
Select Uninstall device.
Restart your PC—Windows will reinstall drivers automatically.

Step 4: Adjust Mouse Settings in Windows 11

If the cursor moves normally but scrolling feels inverted, you need to tweak scroll settings.

Press Win + I to open Settings.
Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
Look for Scroll direction.
Switch between Down motion scrolls up or Down motion scrolls down until it feels right.

This fixes inverted scrolling.

Step 5: Fix Inverted Touchpad (Laptop Users)

If you’re on a laptop, the touchpad often has its own inversion settings.

Open Settings with Win + I.
Go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
Expand Scroll & zoom.
Toggle Drag two fingers to scroll and check the direction.

You can switch between natural scrolling (like on smartphones) and the traditional method.

Step 6: Disable Conflicting Apps or Drivers

Some third-party apps (like AutoHotkey scripts, joystick software, or gaming overlays) can cause inverted movement.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Go to Startup apps.
Disable suspicious programs and restart.

Step 7: Use Registry Editor to Fix Mouse Behavior

If normal settings don’t help, you can edit the registry. ⚠️ (Be careful—mistakes here can affect your system.)

Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.
Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\HID
Expand folders until you find your mouse device.
Look for settings related to FlipFlopWheel or FlipFlopHScroll.
Double-click and set the value to 0.
Restart your PC.

This forces Windows to respect your chosen scroll direction.

Step 8: Run Windows Troubleshooter

Windows has built-in troubleshooters that can auto-fix problems.

Open Settings (Win + I).
Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
Find Hardware and Devices, then click Run.

Follow the prompts and apply fixes.

Step 9: Test Mouse on Another Device

Before blaming Windows 11, test your mouse on another PC.

If it’s still inverted, the mouse hardware is faulty.
If it works fine elsewhere, the problem is in your Windows settings.

Step 10: Reset Windows Settings (Last Resort)

If nothing works, resetting Windows mouse settings may help.

Go to Settings > Devices > Mouse.
Click Additional mouse settings.
Hit Restore Defaults.

As a last resort, you can use System Restore to roll back your PC to a time when the mouse worked normally.

Tips to Prevent Inverted Mouse Issues

Keep drivers updated.
Avoid installing unknown mouse-related apps.
Regularly clean your mouse sensor and surface.
Use a quality mouse pad for better tracking.

Conclusion

An inverted mouse on Windows 11 can be annoying, but it’s usually an easy fix. Whether it’s driver issues, wrong settings, or conflicting apps, you now have several step-by-step solutions to get your mouse back to normal.

From simple tweaks in Settings to advanced fixes like Registry Editor, you can choose the method that best suits your situation. And remember, if the issue persists, always test the mouse on another PC to rule out hardware problems.

FAQs

Q1. Why is my mouse inverted all of a sudden?
It usually happens due to driver corruption, system updates, or changed settings.

Q2. How do I fix inverted scrolling on a touchpad?
Go to Settings > Touchpad > Scroll & zoom and adjust the scroll direction.

Q3. Does reinstalling Windows fix inverted mouse issues?
Yes, but it’s overkill. Usually, updating drivers or tweaking settings is enough.

Q4. Can games cause mouse inversion on Windows 11?
Yes, some games change mouse behavior. Check in-game settings to disable inversion.

Q5. What if my mouse still doesn’t work after all fixes?
Try another mouse. If the problem disappears, your old mouse is faulty.