Having a wireless mouse means no clutter of wires strewn across your desk.
So everything is nice and neat.
Except when your mouse runs out of juice…at the worst possible time.
Usually at 2am when you have no replacement batteries, and every store in a 5 mile radius is closed.
Aarrghhhh!
So what type of batteries should you get for your wireless mouse to help prevent the above scenario?
A typical mouse will use a pair of AA or AAA batteries. Where possible you should buy either high-performance lithium AA/AAA batteries or a set of rechargeable Nickel Metal-Hydride (NiMH) batteries rated at 2800mAh for AA and 1100mAh for AAA. Basically aim for Duracell-quality batteries and not Dollar Store brand.
But maybe you’re changing your batteries more often than you need to?
Let’s find out.
How long should batteries last in a wireless mouse?
This is usually the first question people ask.
Especially if they find themselves changing the batteries in their mouse once per month.
It basically comes down to usage.
Using your mouse for more hours per day reduces the lifespan of the battery powering it.
With that said a mouse doesn’t actually use a lot of power – usually no more than 0.5W when plugged into a USB port.
But even if you actively use your mouse for several hours per day you shouldn’t need to replace its batteries for up to six months.
So you know you have a problem with either battery quality or a technical glitch if you have to change them more often than that.
How do I know if my mouse needs a new battery?
The first signs that your batteries are failing is erratic mouse behavior.
It might connects and then disconnect.
Or take longer to respond to hand movements than normal.
Sometimes it’s really obvious – the mouse stops working, and when you flip it over the optical sensor is dark.
Sometimes it’s not so obvious, so you have to make a best guesstimate that something isn’t quite right.
But you can always keep an eye on your mouse battery level in Windows by doing the following:
Click on Start -> Type ‘Run’ -> Type “main.cpl” and press ‘Enter”.
This brings you to the mouse properties dialog box in Windows:
You can check the battery level here so you have advance warning of when it might need to be replaced.
But you should always keep a spare set of batteries on hand.
Life is just easier that way.
Can you save battery life on a wireless mouse?
You sure can.
And the most obvious way to do this simply to switch your wireless mouse off when you’re done.
The “Off” switch is usually on the underside of your mouse.
That’s the quickest way to massively extend the lifespan of your mouse batteries.
But not every wireless mouse has a physical “Off” switch.
So, failing that your mouse should enter “Idle” mode when it’s not in use.
But that doesn’t always happen because sometimes the mouse optical sensor is “tricked” into staying active.
Which obviously drains your battery.
The alleged “fix” for this is to use a light-colored mouse pad.
Which is weird considering most mouse mats are either black or dark blue.
So I’m not sure how valid this “tip” is.
You can test it though by using your mouse on a light-colored surface for a few weeks and then see if your batteries last longer.
Consider using rechargeable batteries
If you’re like me you remember the first rechargeable batteries that appeared on the market.
You’d charge them for 12 hours, put them in something to power it and they’d stop working after 5 hours.
So you spent more time charging these batteries than actually using them.
But rechargeable batteries have come a long way and are now easily as reliable as regular Lithium or Alkaline batteries.
The type of rechargeable battery you’re looking for are low-discharge Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) models.
They can also be recharged for several years before you need to dispose of them.
So you’re driving down your expenses and doing your bit to help the Earth.
Your wireless mouse need a pair of recharged batteries, so have a minimum of 6 rechargeable batteries – in your preferred size – on hand at any one time.
One charged pair ready to go.
And the other set you meant to recharge last week…but forgot.
