Is your device's display scrolling up or down automatically without you touching the mouse or touchpad? Most of the time, you experience this issue because of a problem with your mouse's hardware. In some cases, software issues or misconfigured mouse settings can also cause the problem.

So, how do you fix WIndows when it scrolls by itself? Let's explore the solutions you can try.

What Causes Windows to Scroll By Itself?

Person using a mouse

If you're experiencing automatic scrolling on your Windows PC, these might be the reasons:

  • A hardware issue with your mouse scroll wheel is causing the display to scroll uncontrollably in one direction.
  • Multiple mouse devices are connected to your device simultaneously, or ghost mouse devices appear connected to your system, even after they have been disconnected.
  • The USB port to which you connected your mouse is faulty, hindering data communication between your computer and your mouse.
  • You haven't updated the mouse drivers in a long time.
  • Either intentionally or unintentionally, you have messed up the mouse settings.
  • If you're experiencing this issue on a laptop, the touchpad may have a problem.

Now that you know the reasons behind this issue, let's discuss how to fix it.

How to Fix Automatic Scrolling on Windows

Let's apply the above solutions to fix this strange auto scroll issue.

1. First, Perform Some Preliminary Checks

If you start with a few basic checks, you may fix the issue without performing any major fixes:

  • Disconnect and reconnect your mouse to your PC.
  • Examine the mouse wheel to ensure it's not clogged with dirt or dust.
  • Connect your mouse to a different USB port to see if the port itself causes the problem.
  • If you're using a touchscreen monitor or laptop, make sure it is clean.
  • If the issue only occurs in one app, reset that app's settings.
  • Do you have multiple mouse devices connected to your device at once? If so, you should disconnect others except for the one you intend to use.
  • Is your Xbox controller connected to your device? If so, remove it.
  • Disconnect any other pointing device currently connected to your device.
  • If you keep Windows automatic updates turned off, check for and install recent OS updates manually.
  • If the End key on your keyboard remains pressed down for some reason, it will cause your windows to scroll down. Inspect your End key for anything holding it down, or disconnect your keyboard and see if that fixes the problem.

If the above basic checks don't help, apply the remaining fixes.

2. Check for Hardware Issues

Person Unmounting the Screws to Disassemble the Mouse Casing
Image Credit: TechClub/YouTube
 

Next, check for potential hardware problems. By checking them first, you can save yourself from the unnecessary labor of applying software fixes.

Disconnect the mouse from your device. If disconnecting the mouse fixes the problem, the auto-scrolling issue is likely caused by the mouse. To confirm your assumption, use the same mouse on another device. If you experience this issue on the other device, the problem is likely with your mouse hardware. So,

  • Ensure the scroll wheel isn't too loose, which could lead to incorrect input.
  • Have a technician inspect your mouse.

However, if the problem persists after you disconnect the mouse, or you don't encounter it on another device, it is probably a software problem. Before proceeding to software solutions, ensure your mousepad does not have problems.

3. Check for Touchpad Issues

Man Using Touchpad on Laptop

If you think the touchpad is causing the problem, disable it to find out. If disabling the touchpad stops auto-scrolling, the problem is originating from it. So, you can keep it turned off to avoid encountering the same problem. If the problem persists after disabling the touchpad, some software issues might be the culprit.

If you are unfamiliar with the process, check out our guides on disabling the touchpad on Windows 10 (or Windows 11).

4. Remove or Uninstall Ghost Devices

Ghost devices are devices that Windows OS detects as connected even after you have disconnected them. Detection of these extra devices by your Windows operating system can also cause auto-scroll, so you'll need to remove them. Follow these steps to do that:

  1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Device Manager.
  2. Go to the View tab and click Show hidden devices. If you see a checkmark next to this option, hidden devices are already visible. So, there is no need to click on this option since doing so will disable it again.
    Clicking on the Show Hidden Devices Option in the View Tab of Device Manager
  3. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices category.
  4. If too many mouse devices are installed here, uninstall them all. Then, unplug the mouse and connect it back, and Windows will automatically install the driver.
    Uninstalling Unwanted Devices From the Mice and Other Pointing Devices Category in Windows Device Manager

If you use a touchscreen, you should disable the touchscreen driver too. Sometimes, uninstalling this driver also fixes display problems.

5. Change Your Mouse Settings

Have you recently tweaked your mouse settings? If you have made any changes, the settings may have been misconfigured. Therefore, make sure that the mouse scroll settings are set correctly. To do that, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Settings.
  2. Select Bluetooth and devices from the left sidebar.
  3. In the right pane, click Mouse.
    Going to the Mouse Settings in Windows Settings App
  4. Turn off the toggle next to Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them.
  5. Ensure the Multiple lines at a time option is selected in the Roll the mouse wheel to scroll dropdown menu.
  6. Make sure the Lines to scroll at a time slider isn't set too high.
    Changing the Mouse Settings in the Windows Settings App
  7. After that, click on the Additional mouse settings link.
    Opening Additional Mouse Settings in the Windows Settings App
  8. Make sure Vertical Scrolling and Horizontal Scrolling values aren't set too high in the Mouse Properties window.
    Changing the Vertical and Horizontal Scrolling Values in Mouse Properties Window

Auto-Scrolling on Windows, Fixed

When Windows starts to scroll down its display automatically, it gets challenging to click on a single item accurately. We hope the fixes covered in the article fix the auto-scrolling issue on Windows and keep your display stable. Thus, you'll be able to restore your device to its normal state.