Mouse Button Tester

The button tester checks that every button on your mouse registers a press. Each button lights up on the screen when the browser detects it, so you can quickly find a button that is dead, sticky or not being reported.

How to use the Button Tester

Click inside the test area with the left button and check that it lights up.
Repeat for the middle (wheel) button and the right button.
If your mouse has side buttons, press Back and Forward as well.
Note any button that never lights up and test it again.

Understanding your results

A button that stays dark can mean a worn switch, a wiring problem, a driver remap or a button the browser does not report. The right-click menu is suppressed here so right clicks register cleanly.

If one button fails consistently across several browsers and another computer, the hardware is the likely cause.

Worked example: what a healthy and a faulty test look like

A healthy mouse lights up the left, middle and right areas as you press each button. Side buttons may also light up, depending on your browser and driver.

Now suppose the right button lights up only one press in three. Test it in another browser and on another USB port. If it still misses presses, then try the mouse on a different computer. If the problem follows the mouse, the switch is the likely cause. If it only happens in one browser, the problem is software, not hardware.

A different pattern is a button that lights up when you did not press it, or lights up twice for one press. That points to a worn or dirty switch, and the double-click tester can measure how close together the repeated clicks are.

Troubleshooting a button that does not register

Check for remapping. Mouse software can assign a button to a macro or another function, so the browser never sees the original press. Reset the profile or close the software and test again.
Test wired and wireless separately. A low battery or weak wireless signal can drop presses. Try a fresh battery or plug the receiver in closer.
Try another browser. Back and Forward buttons are often handled by the browser before the page can see them, so a dark side button is not always a fault.
Clean the area around the button. Dust and debris can stop a switch from closing cleanly.
Check the warranty. A switch that fails on more than one computer is usually a hardware fault that the manufacturer may cover.

If the mouse works but the pointer feels wrong, check your settings with the DPI checking guide instead.

Button Tester FAQ

Why does my Back button not light up?

Browsers and drivers often handle Back and Forward themselves. Try the manufacturer software or another browser.