How to Connect a Bluetooth Mouse to a Mac

While the built-in trackpad on a MacBook is universally praised for its precision and multi-touch gestures, a dedicated physical mouse is still vastly superior for tasks that demand pixel-perfect accuracy, such as photo editing, 3D modelling, or intense spreadsheet management.

macOS supports almost every Bluetooth mouse on the market, from Apple’s own Magic Mouse to third-party peripherals manufactured by Logitech or Microsoft. The pairing process is managed entirely through the System Settings app and takes only a few seconds.

How to Pair a Third-Party Bluetooth Mouse

If you are connecting a non-Apple mouse (like a Logitech MX Master), you must first put the mouse into pairing mode. Turn the mouse on, and press and hold the dedicated Bluetooth button on the underside of the device until the small LED light begins blinking rapidly.

1. Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of your Mac’s screen.
2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS).
3. In the left-hand sidebar, click on Bluetooth.
4. Ensure the Bluetooth toggle switch at the top of the window is turned On.
5. Look under the “Other Devices” section at the bottom of the window. Your Mac will actively scan the room for available devices.
6. When your mouse’s name appears in the list, hover your cursor over it and click the Connect button.

Within three seconds, the status will change to “Connected,” and your mouse cursor will instantly begin responding to your physical movements.

How to Pair an Apple Magic Mouse

If you have purchased a brand new Apple Magic Mouse, the process is incredibly streamlined, assuming your Mac is running a modern version of macOS.

Apple includes a physical Lightning (or USB-C) cable in the box.

1. Turn the Magic Mouse on using the small physical switch on the bottom (a green background will become visible behind the switch).
2. Plug one end of the included charging cable into your Mac.
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the port on the bottom of the Magic Mouse.

macOS will instantly detect the hardware connection and automatically pair the mouse via Bluetooth in the background. A small notification will appear in the top-right corner of your screen confirming the mouse is paired. You can immediately unplug the cable and begin using the mouse wirelessly.

How to Customize Mouse Speed and Scrolling

Unlike Windows, macOS has a very distinct scrolling philosophy. By default, scrolling down on the physical scroll wheel pushes the digital webpage UP. Apple calls this “Natural Scrolling,” as it mimics pushing a piece of paper on a touchscreen.

If you prefer traditional scrolling, or if the mouse cursor is moving too slowly across the screen, you must adjust the settings.

1. Open System Settings.
2. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Mouse.
3. To fix the scroll direction, look under the “Scrolling” section and turn the Natural scrolling toggle switch Off.
4. To make the cursor move faster, drag the Tracking speed slider toward the “Fast” side of the scale.