Did you recently upgrade from your 4+ year old Microsoft “Miscellaneous” or Logitech “Whatever” mouse for something advertised as the “weapon of choice” for gamers? I did. If you have, than you and I might have experienced the same thing. The very second you’ve plugged your optical or laser weapon (laser sounds cooler) into your Mac OS powered machine, you might have noticed something almost immediately – something isn’t right.
With the new mouse, very single movement is a pain, it takes at least 5 clicks to open Safari, and you’ve already restarted about 10 times. Is it the mouse? No, it’s Mac OS.
After feeling extremely frustrated that my newly purchased mouse (it was a Logitech G500 by the way) was reluctant to work with my Mac, I turned to Google for some answers (using the trackpad of course).
Mac OS’s Mouse Acceleration Issue
X-Mouse Button Control by Phillip Gibbons (Highresolution Enterprises) is a free application that can help you customize the functionality of your mouse buttons (set new functions to mouse buttons). Sadly, there is no version of X-Mouse Button Control for Mac available for download, but there are other tools that can help you change the.
A few Google searches will tell you that Mac OS has an issue with mouse acceleration with high DPI mice, AKA “gaming mice”. To add insult to injury, some of the companies who manufacture these mice are, to put it politely, rather lacking in terms of support drivers for Mac OS.
How to Fix the Mouse Acceleration Issue for Mac OS
Unfortunately, the above default mouse settings won’t help your top-of-the-line 1800 dpi weapon too much. Until Apple gets their team on this ridiculous issue, the current most popular solution is to use 3rd party software: SteerMouse or USB Overdrive.
Both of these are shareware ($20.00 USD for a license) that work to customize and tweak mouse button preferences, wheels settings, and most importantly, mouse acceleration.
SteerMouse Settings
Download SteerMouse
Open “SteerMouse” via “System Settings” or “Spotlight”.
1. Click on “Cursor”.
2. Turn the “Tracking Speed” dial all the way down to 0.0.3. Increase sensitivity – I’d start with 100.
At this point, I’d test the mouse movement. If it feels a little stiff, increase the sensitivity a bit more, but keep the “Tracking Speed” (aka. acceleration) down. Depending on what mouse you have and what drivers you have installed, you can increase the “Tracking Speed” a little bit.
USB Overdrive Settings
Download USB Overdrive
Open “USB Overdrive” via “System Settings” or “Spotlight”.
1. Click on “Settings” (it should be automatically selected).
2. Turn the “Acceleration” dial all the way down.3. Increase “Speed” – I’d start off with it maximized.
Similar to the process with SteerMouse, test your mouse movement and adjust the “Speed” and possibly the “Acceleration” if necessary.
Personally, I use SteerMouse because it I feel like it works better – the magic word is “feel”, as everyone has different preferences in terms of sensitivity. I’d highly recommend installing both and try them out with your mouse – one at a time of course.
Using SteerMouse or USB Overdrive with Gaming Mice
Almost all of the modern gaming mice have the ability to change sensitivity “on-the-fly”, which, without a doubt, is essential for getting headshots and so forth. Personally, I’d recommend centralizing or neutralizing the mouse’s “on-the-fly” sensitivity level before tweaking the settings on SteerMouse or USB Overdrive. That way, you’ll be able to have the most effective range for increasing or decreasing sensitivity.
Above, you can see the sensitivity levels being neutralized on the Razer DeathAdder mouse.
If you’re fortunate enough to have purchased a mouse with Mac friendly drivers, then you get even more versatility for sensitivity tweaking. I’ve tried using the mouse’s drivers only without the aid of SteerMouse or USB Overdrive, but it simply isn’t the same. Movement isn’t natural, and I find myself thinking more on how to move my mouse vs. where to move my mouse.
Is SteerMouse or USB Overdrive Worth it?
SteerMouse has a limited trail period (I believe for about 1 month), and USB Overdrive has that incredibly annoying 10 second count-down window any time you open the application (as seen above). Even though both applications are noticeably different feature-wise, they both have a price tag of $20.00 USD.
Whether or not these applications is worth it is debatable as everyone has different needs and preferences. Personally, after one week of using SteerMouse, I purchased a license via PayPal. I need ultra smooth and sharp precision because I use my mouse primarily to do graphics and illustration, I also game from time to time, so it definitely helps out in that perspective. The default mouse settings just didn’t cut it for me, and I found the Razer drivers (albeit handy) were lacking.
Hopefully you found this article somewhat helpful in your quest for perfect pin-point mouse precision. It still saddens me that Apple doesn’t have proper native support for high DPI mice, and the lack of Mac OS support from the companies themselves makes matters even worse. Fortunately, there are 3rd party software that will help take care of things, but they come with an annoying and arguably unnecessary price tag. At the end of the day, gamers, especially serious ones, need the best stuff and the best stuff rarely comes cheap.
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BestWireless Mouse for MaciMore2020
I've used both wired and wireless mice in my computing lifetime. Since I switched to wireless, however, I've been much happier. I'm not worried about the length of my cord, getting tangled with my other peripherals, or using up precious USB ports. My best investment was Apple's Magic Mouse, which is designed specifically for Mac and works like a mini trackpad. There are other great options out there, too. If you don't like the flat design of the Magic Mouse, check out the rest of our favorites below.
Perfect for most: Logitech M720
Staff favoriteAlso known as the Triathalon Mouse, Logitech's low-cost, high-powered wireless mouse is a great mid-range product. It's called the Triathalon Mouse because it has three Bluetooth device connections. You can use it with your iMac Pro at home, your MacBook Pro on the go, and your PC at work.
Ergonomic design: Logitech MX Ergo
The MX Ergo is very comfortable and allows you to navigate your Mac without having to move your hand or wrist around on a mousepad all day. It is a fantastic mouse for those looking for something with an ergonomic design.
$100 at AmazonAmbidextrous: Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse
Lefties and Righties can use this trackball mouse with aplomb. It's perfect for video editors, and the circular scroll wheel makes it easy to scan multiple pages or frames. The ergonomic design helps with wrist pain, and the additional padding ensures you're holding your arm at the proper angle.
$100 at AmazonBest for wrist pain: Logitech MX Vertical
This vertical mouse has been specifically designed to relieve pain caused by resting your hand incorrectly on a traditional mouse. Its design positions your arm in its natural resting angle to improve comfort and help correct bad computer posture.
Elite gaming mouse: Logitech G604 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
Logitech's G604 is the best wireless mouse for clicking with the speed and efficiency needed to get through the toughest dungeon, beat the baddest boss, or out-skill the most talented sporting opponent.
Gamer's delight: SteelSeries Rival 650
SteelSeries makes an impeccable gaming mouse with nearly zero lag, pinpoint accurate crosshair placement, and the lowest lift-off detection around. Its buttons and weight balance is highly customizable for even the pickiest gamer.
$120 at AmazonBudget option: Amazon Basics Wireless Mouse
If you're looking for a basic mouse with no bells and whistles, and you don't want to pay a lot for it, Amazon makes a reliable, simple mouse with no frills in your choice of fun colors. It also costs less than a large pizza.
From $16 at AmazonTriple productivity: Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse
If you're a multiple computer/multiple platform user, this is the mouse you need. It supports three different devices and is cross-platform compatible with Mac and PC. The 4000dpi Darkfield sensor also ensures that it works on any surface, including glass.
$60 at AmazonTwo Button Mac Mouse
Apple's own: Apple Magic Mouse
Apple designed the Magic Mouse to work seamlessly with the Mac. Its multitouch surface lets you perform gestures like swiping to move between pages or scroll through websites, double-tapping with one finger to zoom, double-tapping with two fingers to call up Mission Control, and more.
From $74 at AmazonUltra fast: Logitech MX Master 3 Advanced Wireless Mouse
Mouse Button Box Mac Sam Software Free
Another winner from Logitech, this wireless mouse is built for speed. The electromagnetic magspeed wheel is not only ultra-fast; it's precise (down to the pixel) and quiet. Set up app-specific customizations and work seamlessly on three computers or devices at once.
Our recommendations
There are all different types of mice on the market for every kind of user. Now that a lot of us from working from home, we need the proper accessories to get the job done. I find the MX720 to be the most well-rounded with great features at a great price, supporting up to three Bluetooth connections at once, letting you quickly switch between multiple devices at the touch of a button.
Mac Mouse Button Not Working
Apple's own Magic Mouse is genuinely perfect for gesture-based mousing around on the Mac, having been made by Apple to blend a traditional mouse with multitouch gestures. We just wish it had a less cumbersome charging method.
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