Have you ever paired your Apple Magic Mouse with a Windows 11 PC, only to find out that scrolling doesn’t work at all? The cursor moves, the clicks register… but the smooth scrolling feature, the entire reason people love the Magic Mouse, simply refuses to show up. Frustrating, right?
Don’t worry — you’re not alone, and you’re definitely not stuck!
In this complete step-by-step guide, we’ll show you exactly how to enable scrolling, swipe gestures, and smooth multi-touch functionality for the Apple Magic Mouse on Windows 11. We’ll walk through fixes, drivers, troubleshooting, customization, and even show alternatives if things don’t go as planned.
Let’s make your Magic Mouse truly magical again — even on Windows!
✅ Why Scrolling Doesn’t Work on Magic Mouse by Default in Windows 11
Apple designed the Magic Mouse primarily for macOS.
Windows recognizes it as a generic Bluetooth mouse — which means:
| Feature | Works on Windows by Default | Requires Drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Click Left/Right | ✅ | ❌ |
| Basic Pointer Movement | ✅ | ❌ |
| Smooth Vertical Scrolling | ❌ | ✅ |
| Swipe Gestures | ❌ | ✅ |
| Middle Click / Touch Features | ❌ | ✅ |
So scrolling isn’t broken — Windows just doesn’t know how to read the multi-touch input.
That’s exactly what this guide fixes.
🔧 What You’ll Need Before Starting
Make sure you have:
✔ Apple Magic Mouse (Magic Mouse 1 or Magic Mouse 2)
✔ A Windows 11 computer with Bluetooth
✔ Administrator access to install drivers
✔ A USB cable (for Magic Mouse 2 pairing if needed)
✔ Internet connection (for driver downloads)
Optional but helpful:
• Bluetooth 5.0 USB dongle — improves performance and range
• Patience (some drivers take trial and error!)
🌀 Step 1: Connect (Pair) Magic Mouse to Windows 11
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Turn on the Magic Mouse
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Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices
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Click Add device → Bluetooth
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Select Magic Mouse from the list
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Wait for the “Connected” confirmation
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Test clicking and moving the cursor
If clicking works — Bluetooth pairing was successful.
If scrolling still doesn’t work — that’s normal.
Now let’s unlock the real features.
🚀 Step 2: Install Drivers to Enable Scrolling
This is the most important part.
There are two effective methods:
✅ Method A — Install Apple Boot Camp Drivers (Free)
Boot Camp drivers contain the official Apple scrolling driver for Magic Mouse.
Here’s how to get it installed:
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Download Boot Camp driver files (use any safe method)
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Extract the downloaded ZIP folder
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Open the folder and navigate to:
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Run:
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Wait for driver installation to finish
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Restart your computer
Try scrolling — swipe one finger up/down on the mouse surface.
🎉 If scrolling works: Congrats! You’re done with the hardest part.
If not… don’t panic — try Method B.
✅ Method B — Use Magic Mouse Driver Utilities (Fastest Solution)
If Boot Camp isn’t compatible with your hardware, third-party drivers fix everything:
Features include:
✔ Smooth scrolling
✔ Natural scroll direction toggle
✔ Middle-click assignment
✔ Gesture customization
✔ Automatic connection
After installing, simply reboot and scroll should work instantly.
If you want the best results without hassle, this method is for you.
🔄 Step 3: Enable Scrolling Settings in Windows 11
Once drivers are installed:
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Go to Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse
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Enable:
✅ “Scroll inactive windows when hovering”
✅ “Enhance pointer precision” (optional)
Adjust scroll speed and behavior to your preference.
🖐 Step 4: Enable Multi-Touch Gestures (Optional)
Magic Mouse can do more than scroll!
With proper drivers, you can enable:
| Gesture | Action in Windows |
|---|---|
| Swipe Left/Right | Go back/forward in apps |
| Double Tap | Middle click |
| Two-finger swipe | Switch desktops (with software) |
| Tap and swipe diagonally | App navigation shortcuts |
These can typically be set within the driver utility settings.
🎯 Step 5: Customize Scroll Speed & Direction
If scrolling feels off, adjust these settings:
Change Scroll Direction:
-
“Natural scrolling” (like macOS):
Swipe down → page scrolls DOWN -
Traditional Windows scrolling:
Swipe down → page scrolls UP
Whichever feels right to YOU — choose it!
🛠 Troubleshooting When Scrolling Still Doesn’t Work
Even with the correct driver, issues can happen.
Here’s how to solve the most common ones:
❌ Problem 1: Magic Mouse connects but scrolling does nothing
✅ Fixes:
-
Reinstall Apple Wireless Mouse Driver
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Unpair → restart → pair again
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Disable duplicate “HID-compliant mouse” in Device Manager
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Update Bluetooth official drivers from your PC manufacturer
🐢 Problem 2: Scrolling works but is slow / laggy
✅ Fixes:
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Move closer to Bluetooth receiver
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Turn off nearby wireless interference devices
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Increase scroll speed in settings
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Replace/update USB Bluetooth dongle
A good dongle = better Magic Mouse experience.
😒 Problem 3: Gestures work in browser but not in apps
✅ Fixes:
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Relaunch the app
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Enable “scroll inactive windows”
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Update the app (older software struggles with gesture input)
Legacy programs simply may not support touch-scroll.
🔋 Problem 4: Scroll works, but mouse keeps disconnecting
✅ Fixes:
-
Replace batteries (Magic Mouse 1)
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Charge the mouse (Magic Mouse 2)
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Disable USB selective suspend:
Go to:
Disable suspend under USB settings.
🧠 Extra Tricks for a Better Magic Mouse Experience
| Tip | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Use a high-quality mouse pad | Improves tracking precision |
| Keep the surface clean | Touch sensors respond better |
| Turn off “tap to click” if accidental clicks | Prevent frustration |
| Sync with iCloud control on Mac | Automatically keeps gesture settings |
Special Bonus:
Assign middle-click to open new browser tabs — game changer!
🆚 Magic Mouse vs Regular Windows Mouse — Which Is Better?
| Feature | Magic Mouse | Windows Mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-touch gestures | ✅ | ❌ |
| Custom scroll direction | ✅ | ✅ |
| Plug-and-play scrolling | ❌ | ✅ |
| Comfort & ergonomics | ⚠ Some users complain | ✅ |
| Aesthetics | ✨ Stylish | Varies |
| Price | High | Low-Medium |
Verdict:
-
Use Magic Mouse if you love touch-based control and minimalist Apple design
-
Use a native Windows mouse if you want instant scroll + best compatibility
🧩 Magic Mouse 1 vs Magic Mouse 2 on Windows 11
| Feature | Magic Mouse 1 | Magic Mouse 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery type | Replaceable | Built-in rechargeable |
| Bluetooth pairing | Easier with dongle | Sometimes requires cable |
| Scroll support | Good with drivers | Best with utilities |
| Gestures | Supported | Supported |
Both work great once drivers are installed!
🎯 Who Should Use Magic Mouse with Windows 11?
✅ You switch between macOS and Windows
✅ You enjoy gesture-based navigation
✅ You prefer sleek wireless setups
✅ You don’t mind installing drivers
Not ideal if you:
❌ Need ergonomic comfort for long hours
❌ Hate troubleshooting
❌ Want instant plug-and-play gestures
✅ Conclusion — Yes, You CAN Scroll with Magic Mouse on Windows 11
Let’s recap the key steps:
1️⃣ Pair the Magic Mouse in Windows Bluetooth settings
2️⃣ Install Boot Camp or Magic Mouse drivers
3️⃣ Restart PC → scrolling should now work
4️⃣ Enable gesture and scroll settings
5️⃣ Troubleshoot if needed
6️⃣ Customize speed, direction, and gestures for best performance
Once set up, scrolling becomes buttery smooth — just like using a Mac.
Magic Mouse + Windows 11 = ✅ Compatibility success
(With a little help, of course!)
❓ FAQs — How-to-Scroll-With-Magic-Mouse-on-Windows-11
1️⃣ Why doesn’t my Magic Mouse scroll after pairing?
Windows installs a generic mouse driver that does not support touch scrolling. Special drivers are required.
2️⃣ Do I need Boot Camp to make scrolling work?
Not always — but Boot Camp drivers are the free option that usually works.
3️⃣ Can I enable horizontal scrolling too?
Yes! It works automatically when drivers are installed.
4️⃣ Is a Magic Mouse a good choice for Windows gaming?
Not really — lack of dedicated scroll wheel and shape fatigue make it less ideal for gaming.
5️⃣ Can I use gestures like swipe to go back in browser?
Yes — with driver utilities, swipe gestures work in all major browsers and apps.
📌 Summary — Key Takeaways
✅ Magic Mouse works on Windows 11 but needs drivers for scrolling
✅ Boot Camp = free solution, utilities = easiest/full feature support
✅ You can enable gestures, middle-click, natural scrolling
✅ Troubleshooting handles lag, disconnects, and app issues
✅ Great for productivity — not ideal for gaming or long-session ergonomics