Is your mouse double-clicking when you perform a single click in Windows? It can lead to many problems when simple actions like clicking to select, dragging files, and more don't behave like you expect them to.
We'll show you how to fix a mouse that is double-clicking on a single click so you can figure out what's causing the problem and resolve it. We'll also see how to fix related issues with your mouse double-clicking when it shouldn't.
1. Review Your Double-Click Setting
A common reason for a double-clicking mouse is that you've changed a simple setting in Windows. You may have enabled this by mistake, so it's worth checking first as a simple solution.
To have a look at this, open a File Explorer window. If you're on Windows 10, on the View tab, click Options on the right side. On Windows 11, click the three-dot button and choose Options from there.
In the resulting window, on the General tab, you'll see a header titled Click items as follows.
Under this, the default behavior is Double-click to open an item (single-click to select). If you have Single-click to open an item (point to select) chosen, you don't need to double-click to select items in File Explorer. With this setting, you only need to click a folder once to open it, as simply mousing over a folder or file with your cursor will select it.
While this can help you reduce the number of clicks you make in a day, it's confusing if you're used to the default behavior. And with this option flipped, you might think your mouse is physically double-clicking when it's really a software option. Change this back and see if it fixes your double-clicking mouse.
2. Change the Mouse Double-Click Speed
The click speed is another Windows option that you can change to fix a double-clicking mouse problem. For most people, the default double-click threshold is manageable, but you might have changed it by mistake. It's also possible that someone else set it to a level where Windows won't properly recognize your clicks.
To change your double-click speed on Windows 10, go to Settings > Devices > Mouse and click Additional mouse options in the right sidebar. If you don't see this, drag the Settings window horizontally to make it wider.
On Windows 11, you can open the mouse properties window by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings.
When you click this, a new Mouse Properties Control Panel window will appear. On its Buttons tab, you'll find a Double-click speed option.
Move the slider per your preference; you can double-click the folder icon to the right to test it. The closer to Fast you place the slider, the less time Windows allows between clicks to register a double-click. If it's too close to Slow, Windows might register two single clicks as a double-click. Play around with the bar and see if double-clicking feels more like you expect afterward.
While you're in this menu, make sure you don't have the Turn on ClickLock box checked. This lets you drag the cursor without holding down the mouse button, which can also result in unwanted mouse behavior.
3. Clean Your Mouse
After ruling out the above two options, it's likely that the issue lies with your mouse hardware. You should next take a look at your mouse, especially around the top buttons where you click, and see if there's dirt or other crud built up there.
Any excessive build-up may interfere with your mouse's internals and cause it to keep double-clicking or otherwise click incorrectly. Give it a clean using cotton swabs, compressed air, and similar tools to remove any grime present. Follow our guide to cleaning a dirty mouse if you need some tips.
Once it's clean, see if your double-clicking issue subsides.
4. Check Your Mouse Battery and Interference
Another cause of a mouse double-clicking on a single click is poor communication between your mouse and computer. This usually happens for one of two reasons: a dying battery or interference. These are both problems unique to wireless mice.
If your mouse uses batteries, try replacing them, as any device can misbehave when the power runs low. Similarly, for a rechargeable mouse, you should plug it in and give it some time to regain battery power.
If the batteries aren't an issue, your mouse might have trouble communicating with your computer wirelessly. Try bringing your mouse closer to the computer if it's far away. Also, if your mouse uses a USB dongle, make sure that the receiver (and ideally the mouse) is not close to metal or other materials that block wireless signals.
You should also unpair the mouse from any other computers you might use it with; only connect it to one machine at a time for best results.
While wired mice aren't susceptible to wireless interference, you can still take a few steps to improve the connection between a wired mouse and your PC. If your mouse is plugged into a USB extender or hub, unplug it and try connecting it directly to a USB port on your PC. Also, try several USB ports on your computer to ensure you don't have a dead USB port.
5. Try Another Mouse
If you've walked through all the above steps and your mouse is still double-clicking all the time, it may be faulty. To test this, try either plugging your current mouse into another computer, or connecting a different mouse to your current computer.
Should your mouse continue to misbehave on a different computer, it's most likely defective. If you try another mouse on your PC and don't have any issues, that's another sign your original mouse is defective.
However, if the original mouse works fine on the second computer, or a second mouse has the same problem on your original computer, you may have a piece of software or something else interfering with your mouse's normal operation. Open any installed software from your mouse's manufacturer, such as Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse, and check the mouse settings inside.
As another test, try booting into Safe Mode, where third-party software won't run at startup. If your mouse works properly there, have a look through your installed software at Settings > Apps > Apps & features and uninstall anything you don't recognize or that has to do with mouse control.
At this point, resetting your Windows mouse options to default is also worth a try.
6. Reinstall Mouse Drivers
As a final troubleshooting step, it's worth a try to remove your current mouse driver and let Windows reinstall it. To do this, right-click the Start button (or press Win + X) and choose Device Manager.
Expand the Mice and other pointing devices category and right-click your mouse's name. Choose Uninstall device, confirm the prompt, then restart your PC. If you have multiple devices listed here, uninstall them one by one until your cursor stops moving with your mouse.
Note that you'll have to navigate your computer without a mouse to reach the restart command after you do so. Thankfully, this isn't too tough. First, tap the Windows key, then press Tab until the selection box focuses on the group of icons containing the power icon (on Windows 11, this is your profile picture). Use your arrow keys to reach the power icon and hit Enter, then use the arrows and Enter again to choose Restart.
If you have trouble with this, you can also press Win + R to open the Run dialog and enter shutdown /r into it to restart. Upon rebooting, Windows should reinstall your mouse driver and hopefully solve the double-click problem.
For more serious problems, we've looked at other ways to troubleshoot your mouse in Windows.
Fixes When One Click Becomes a Double-Click
Hopefully, one or more of the above methods fixed your double-clicking mouse. If nothing worked, it's likely that your mouse is not functioning properly. You may be able to fix it by opening it up and repairing the mechanics, but this probably isn't worth your time unless you have an expensive mouse and feel comfortable with the process. Otherwise, it's time for a new mouse.