Open the mouse test, press every button on the Buttons tab, run a timed CPS session, click twice quickly on the Double-click tab, and roll the wheel on the Scroll tab. Dead buttons, worn switches, and sticky wheels typically appear within a few minutes.
A browser test cannot repair hardware, but it can show whether a problem is the mouse, a driver setting, or a failing switch.
What you can verify
- Registration — does every button press produce feedback?
- Click speed — clicks per second (CPS) you can sustain
- Double-click and chatter — presses register once, or the switch bounces
- Scroll wheel — smooth response in both directions
- Side buttons — back and forward reach the browser
Run the test
Open the mouse test on the machine whose mouse you are evaluating. The tool works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari with no download or account.
Recommended order
- Buttons — press left, right, middle, back, and forward one at a time; watch each light up with a live count.
- CPS — choose a five-second window (a common gaming benchmark) and click the pad as quickly as you can. About 8+ CPS is fast; 10+ is very fast.
- Double-click — click twice quickly. Intervals under roughly 80 ms without a deliberate second click usually indicate switch chatter.
- Scroll — hover over the pad and roll the wheel up and down; check direction, delta, and tick count.
Reading the results
- 5–7 CPS is typical for most users; 8–10 is fast; 10+ is very fast.
- A healthy double-click usually falls between about 80 and 500 ms. Below ~80 ms is often bounce, not an intentional double-click.
- The scroll wheel should register every notch in the direction you roll. Skips, reversed direction, or missing ticks suggest dirt or a failing encoder.
What a browser cannot measure
- Polling rate and DPI are estimates from event timing — use manufacturer software for firmware values.
- Extra gaming buttons beyond Back/Forward often never reach the page; test those in vendor software.
- Trackpads work for primary clicks and CPS, but side buttons and wheel tilt often do not.
When to replace the mouse
If a button never registers, the wheel skips ticks, or chatter persists with a fresh battery and clean drivers, the switch or encoder is likely worn. Repairable mice can receive new switches; otherwise plan a replacement.
Pair with other input and display checks
Mice share the desk with keyboards and touch surfaces — and display QA catches panel issues that feel like pointer problems:
- Keyboard test — rollover and stuck keys on the same machine.
- Touch screen test — digitizer grid on tablets and touch laptops.
- CPS test — dedicated click-speed benchmark with saved scores.
- DPI test — ruler-based check when cursor distance feels wrong (also used in gaming sensitivity tuning).
- Fullscreen color test guide — rule out display tint before blaming the sensor.
Keep learning: Gaming sensitivity & eDPI guide · How to test touchscreen · All input tools
