If your pointer moves but Windows 10 ignores clicks, do not reinstall Windows immediately. The cause may be a stalled Windows Explorer shell, a frozen application, a failed mouse or touchpad, a USB/Bluetooth or graphics driver, conflicting startup software, or damaged system files. First test the keyboard, then restart Explorer, check the pointing device, and only escalate to Safe Mode and repair tools if the simpler steps fail.
First, identify what is actually failing
The symptom “I can’t click anything” describes several different faults. Note which of these matches your PC:
- The pointer does not move at all.
- The pointer moves, but left-click does nothing.
- Right-click works while left-click fails.
- Clicks fail everywhere, including the desktop, taskbar, Start menu and folders.
- Only one application ignores clicks.
- The screen is black or blank but the pointer remains visible.
- The keyboard works, or keyboard shortcuts fail as well.
- The problem started after an update, driver, peripheral or application installation.
These distinctions matter. A dead mouse needs a hardware check; an unresponsive taskbar often needs an Explorer restart; a problem that disappears in Safe Mode points toward a nonessential driver, service or startup program.
Use the keyboard before forcing a shutdown
Try these controls in order, allowing a few seconds after each one:
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- Press Alt+Tab to see whether another application has focus.
- Press Alt+F4 to close the apparently frozen application. Save work if Windows gives you the opportunity.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager.
- If Task Manager does not open, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete. The security screen can provide access to Task Manager and the power controls.
- Use Tab, Shift+Tab, the arrow keys, Enter and the spacebar to navigate controls without a mouse.
If neither keyboard nor mouse responds, Windows may be completely frozen, or there may be a power, USB or hardware failure. A forced shutdown is a last resort because it can discard unsaved work. Microsoft’s blank-screen guidance says to hold the physical power button for about 10 seconds when normal recovery is impossible: Microsoft’s blank-screen troubleshooting.
Fastest fix: restart Windows Explorer
When the desktop, taskbar, Start menu, folders and icons stop responding while the keyboard still works, the Windows shell may have stalled. Restarting Explorer reloads that shell; it does not repair a defective mouse.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc.
- If Task Manager is in compact view, press Tab until More details is selected and press Enter.
- Use the process list to select Windows Explorer.
- Press Shift+F10 (or the context-menu key), choose Restart, and press Enter.
The taskbar and desktop may disappear briefly and then return. If Windows Explorer is not listed, open File in Task Manager, choose Run new task, type explorer.exe, and press Enter. Microsoft documents both approaches at Troubleshooting blank screens in Windows.
Restart Windows normally
A normal restart reloads drivers and the shell without the repeated filesystem risk of hard power-offs.
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- Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
- Press Tab until the power icon is selected, choose Restart, and press Enter.
Alternatively, press Windows+R, enter shutdown /r /t 0, and press Enter.
Check the mouse, touchpad or touchscreen
If keyboard controls work but clicks do not, isolate the pointing-device path before repairing Windows.
USB mouse
- Unplug and reconnect it directly to the PC.
- Try another USB port, avoiding a hub or docking station for the test.
- Inspect the cable and sensor for damage or dirt.
- Test a second mouse on this PC, then test the suspect mouse on another computer.
Wireless or Bluetooth mouse
- Replace or recharge the batteries.
- Toggle the device’s power or reset switch.
- For Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth off and on, then remove and pair the device again.
Touchpad or touchscreen
- Try the laptop’s touchpad when an external mouse fails, or an external mouse when the touchpad fails.
- Check the laptop’s touchpad function-key toggle.
- If touchscreen taps fail while a mouse works, inspect touchscreen entries under Human Interface Devices in Device Manager.
Microsoft’s hardware checklist covers USB ports, hubs, cables, batteries, sensors and wireless resets: Mouse and keyboard problems in Windows.
Use the symptom to choose the next step
| Symptom | More likely direction | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Pointer does not move | Mouse, touchpad, Bluetooth, USB or input driver | Reconnect, change port and test another device |
| Pointer moves but every click fails | Explorer, input driver, overlay or system freeze | Open Task Manager and restart Explorer |
| Only one application ignores clicks | Application freeze | Use Alt+F4 or end that app in Task Manager |
| Taskbar, Start menu and folders fail | Explorer shell | Restart explorer.exe |
| Mouse works at sign-in but not after login | Startup software, shell extension or user-profile issue | Test Safe Mode, then perform a clean boot |
| Problem began after a driver or update | Regression caused by that change | Roll back the driver or use System Restore |
| Keyboard and mouse both fail | Full freeze, power problem or hardware failure | Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete; force power-off only if necessary |
Check drivers and recent hardware changes
If the issue began after adding a mouse, dock, graphics card, touchpad driver or other hardware, open Device Manager with the keyboard:
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- Press Windows+R.
- Enter
devmgmt.mscand press Enter. - Inspect Mice and other pointing devices, Human Interface Devices, Bluetooth, Universal Serial Bus controllers and Display adapters.
- Look for a warning icon. For the suspected device, use Update driver, Roll Back Driver, Disable device or Uninstall device only when appropriate, then restart.
Use Windows Update or the computer/device manufacturer’s official support page rather than third-party “driver updater” utilities. Microsoft’s Device Manager guidance is included in Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop-code errors.
If a display-driver change left a blank screen, press Windows+Ctrl+Shift+B to reset the graphics driver; a brief flash or beep can occur. You can also use Startup Settings’ low-resolution video option.
Test Windows 10 in Safe Mode
Safe Mode loads a limited set of drivers and services. If clicking works there, a third-party component becomes more likely, but Safe Mode does not prove which component is responsible.
From a working Windows session
- Press Windows+R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Open the Boot tab, select Safe boot and choose Minimal.
- Select Apply, then OK, and restart.
After testing, open msconfig again, clear Safe boot, apply the change and restart, or Windows may continue starting in Safe Mode. Microsoft’s Startup Settings instructions are at Windows Startup Settings.
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Through Windows Recovery Environment
- When normal Windows cannot be used, hold the power button for about 10 seconds to shut down, then repeat interrupted starts until Recovery Mode appears.
- Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
- Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
See Windows Recovery Environment for the recovery entry points.
Use a clean boot to find a conflicting startup program
If the problem disappears in Safe Mode, a clean boot lets you isolate startup software while retaining more normal Windows functionality.
- Sign in with an administrator account and open
msconfig. - On Services, select Hide all Microsoft services first, then select Disable all.
- Open the Startup tab and select Open Task Manager.
- Disable each enabled startup item, close Task Manager, select OK in System Configuration, and restart.
- If clicking works, re-enable services and startup items in batches until the conflict returns.
- When finished, restore Normal startup in System Configuration.
Do not disable Microsoft services indiscriminately, and change only the documented settings; incorrect advanced boot changes can make a PC unusable. Microsoft’s procedure is at How to perform a clean boot in Windows.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Repair damaged Windows files
These commands can repair component-store and protected-system-file problems. They cannot fix a physically defective mouse, failing USB controller, damaged storage device or incompatible third-party driver.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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- Press Windows+R, type
cmd, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to request an elevated Command Prompt. - Approve User Account Control with the keyboard.
- Run this command and wait for it to finish:
DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth - Then run:
sfc /scannow - Leave the window open until verification reaches 100%, then restart.
Microsoft recommends DISM before SFC because DISM can repair the component source used by System File Checker: Using System File Checker in Windows.
- No integrity violations: SFC found no protected-file corruption.
- Found and successfully repaired corrupt files: restart and test again.
- Found corrupt files but could not fix some: continue with recovery options or run SFC in Safe Mode.
- Could not perform the requested operation: Microsoft recommends trying the scan in Safe Mode; see Use the System File Checker tool.
Use System Restore for a recent change
Choose System Restore when the failure began after a driver, application, update or system-setting change. In Windows Recovery Environment, use Troubleshoot → Advanced options → System Restore, then select a restore point dated before the problem.
System Restore is designed to revert system settings and installed components without intentionally deleting personal files. Applications, drivers and updates installed after the selected restore point may be removed, so review the affected-program list when Windows offers it. Microsoft compares this option with other recovery choices at Recovery options in Windows.
Reset or reinstall only after protecting your files
- Back up documents, photos, browser data and other personal files first if Windows is usable.
- Use Reset this PC when Windows remains recoverable but persistently unstable; read whether the selected option keeps or removes personal files.
- Use a recovery drive or Windows installation media when Windows will not boot or built-in recovery tools fail.
- Before a destructive reinstall, gather application installers, license information and a backup.
A reset or reinstall will not cure a failing motherboard, storage device, USB controller or mouse. Microsoft’s recovery decision guide is at Recovery options in Windows.
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When hardware is the likely cause
Arrange professional diagnosis when several known-good mice fail, the keyboard and mouse fail outside Windows, the problem occurs in BIOS/UEFI or at the sign-in screen, the PC freezes under load, or you see USB disconnects, display artifacts, disk errors or unexpected shutdowns. A problem that survives Safe Mode, a clean boot, file repair and a reset is more likely to involve hardware, firmware or storage than Explorer.
Windows 10 support status
Windows 10 reached the end of free Microsoft support on October 14, 2025. The PC can continue running, but Microsoft no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance or security fixes for the operating system. After restoring control, evaluate whether the hardware supports Windows 11 or another currently supported operating system. An upgrade may improve support coverage, but it will not by itself repair a defective mouse or failing hardware.
The Bottom Line
Start with the keyboard: close a frozen app, restart Windows Explorer, check the mouse or touchpad, and restart normally. If the fault persists, use Safe Mode and a clean boot to isolate software, then run DISM followed by SFC. Protect your files before System Restore, Reset or reinstalling Windows, and treat failures that occur outside Windows as probable hardware problems.
Quick Recap
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