How to Connect an Apple Magic Mouse to Mac

If you have an Apple Magic Mouse, we'll show you how to connect your mouse to a Mac. We'll go over how to connect a Mac mouse to any Mac, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and desktop Macs.

Related: How to Update Mac to Get New Features & Fix Bugs

Jump To:

• How to Connect an Apple Magic Mouse 2 to Mac
• How to Connect an Apple Magic Mouse to Mac
• How to Reconnect an Apple Magic Mouse to Mac

Apple makes a Bluetooth mouse for Mac, and you can even connect a Bluetooth mouse to your iPad or iPhone. But, you may be wondering how to connect an Apple wireless mouse to a Mac. We'll show you how to connect the Magic Mouse 2 and the original Magic Mouse to your Mac, as well as how to reconnect a Magic Mouse. For more great Bluetooth accessory and Mac tutorials, check out our free Tip of the Day. 

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

How to Connect an Apple Magic Mouse 2 to Mac

Magic Mouse 2 has a Lightning port for charging rather than replaceable batteries. If you have a Magic Mouse 2, connect it with a Lightning to USB cable to the Mac you'd like to pair your Apple wireless mouse with. Then turn it on by flipping the switch on the underside of the Magic Mouse 2. You may need an adapter, depending on which Mac you're connecting the Magic Mouse to. 

1. Once the Magic Mouse is paired, you'll see the Bluetooth menu that includes your mouse.
   
   
2. You'll see a second notification that shows your wireless Bluetooth mouse is now wirelessly connected.
   
   
3. You won't be able to use the Bluetooth mouse until you've disconnected the cable. 

How to Connect an Apple Magic Mouse to Mac

If you have an original Magic Mouse, the one with batteries rather than a charging port, you'll need to first make sure that the batteries are charged and properly inserted into the wireless mouse, and that the mouse is turned on. Now you're ready to decide how to connect your Magic Mouse.

A lot of people wonder, "how do I connect my mouse without another mouse already connected?" It's easy to connect a Magic Mouse if you have a Mac laptop with a trackpad like a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. This is because you can right-click on the trackpad to click the menu options. If you're using a desktop Mac, you'll either need to use a different mouse that's already connected to your Mac to pair your Magic Mouse or use these keyboard shortcuts:

1. On your keyboard, hold the Command key, then press the space bar.
2. This will open Spotlight Search; type Bluetooth into the Search field.
3. Use the down arrow key to highlight Bluetooth File Exchange, then press Enter or Return.
   
   
4. Press Enter or Return again
5. Be sure your Bluetooth mouse is turned on, and physically click it one time to make it discoverable.
6. A menu of connected and unconnected devices will appear. 
7. Use the arrow keys to highlight the Magic Mouse you want to connect, then tap Enter or Return.
   
   
    
8. Tap Enter or Return to choose Connect.
   
   

I had to do this process twice to get it to work, so don't get panicked or frustrated! Just try again if your mouse didn't connect the first time. 

If you're using a mouse that's already connected to your Mac, here are the steps to connect your Magic Mouse to your Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu.
2. Click System Preferences.
   
   
3. Click Bluetooth.
   
   
4. Choose your Magic Mouse from the list, then click Connect.
   
   

How to Reconnect an Apple Magic Mouse to Mac

If you've already connected your Apple wireless mouse to your Mac, you may be wondering, "how do I resync my wireless mouse to my Mac?" You usually need to reconnect after you charge or replace the batteries in your Magic Mouse. To reconnect your Bluetooth mouse:

1. Make sure your mouse is turned on, then click the mouse and wait a moment for it to connect.
2. You'll see a notification that your mouse is connected. 
   
   

If you liked this tutorial, you may also want to check out how to connect an Apple Pencil to an iPad.