The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Or you could get a paper towel, some rubbing alcohol and just gently rub it on the mighty mouse scroll ball until it starts to work nicely again. And if you really feel lazy take the mouse to the genius bar and have them clean it, takes about 2 minutes at most and works fine.

Reply

↓↑report

I despise the Mighty Mouse on a level which I can not describe in text.

Reply

↓↑report

what i find works well is using a can of air at a slight angle close to the ball. it will spin a little and shake loose anything disrupting it's use. I like the mouse because it works so well w/ tiger but if there was a more durable mouse out there that worked well with expose, dashboard and right-click I would buy. If anyone has ideas i will check back to see.

Reply

↓↑report

Why do you "despise" the mighty mouse? I have 3 and I love them all but especially the bluetooth one. They are fantastic.

Reply

↓↑report

@3 - That works well for a while, but eventually, my first Mighty Mouse scroll ball froze up for good, and I had to disassemble it (using these very instructions via Google).

It's not that hard (this idiot managed to do it), but I'd just say be carefull when supergluing the ring back on. Mine was a hair off, and as a result the front (ball side) of the mouse is slightly taller than the back.

I've been curious what the Apple Faithful think of the Mighty Mouse now that it's been standard for a while. I remember the uproar when it was first introduced, and I swore I wouldn't use one. Well, a year (?) later, I couldn't think of mousing with anything else. Like most of Apple's "questionable" gear, I've grown to love it.

Reply

↓↑report

you know . . . if they mice bigger to conform for different size hands, that would be friggin genius . . .

Reply

↓↑report

Glad he had better luck than I did. I tried to create this tutorial a few months back and it was a disaster. http://www.digmo.co.uk/software/when-tutorials-go-wrong/

Reply

↓↑report

I was an early adopter of the Mighty Mouse (thought it was no big deal until I used one, had to get that scroll ball).

I returned it once, as the ball stopped functioning. Second time (a few months later) I ripped it apart, figuring I would have to replace it anyways - why not try to fix it?

I broke my outer ring on the mouse - it still works fine without it, even if it does look a bit junkyard. Taking it apart & cleaning was easy enough, but getting those little rollers back into place takes some patience for sure.

I just cleaned it for the second time a few weeks ago. Forget the Apple line of "rub with a damp cloth" or whatever they say - these things pick up lint & gunk just like the old roller mouse balls did. In fact, the scroll ball is the same thing, on a smaller scale.

I am hoping Apple has addressed this in more recent models, but I bet not. Kinda silly to have the whole mouse stop working due to some gunk.

Sad thing is I have tried other mice and just can't stay away from the scroll ball, and the weight & glide of the Mighty Mouse. Even picked up the Logitech Revolution everyone raves about, and forgot how much I hate the speed of the Logitech pointer tracking (yeah yeah, I installed the drivers and tweaked things). And the scroll wheel is clunky and imprecise.

I'll clean out my Mighty Mouse twice a year instead, or at least until something as good or better comes along. Or just use the Wacom tablet, which in most cases trumps all input devices.

Reply

↓↑report

You only need a knife and a screwdriver to cut the mouse open?
Optical mice took us out of the dark ages of having to clean a mouse to keep it going, and it seems Apple are doing their best to take us back in the most awkward manner possible.

Reply

↓↑report

Ugh ... you have to super glue it back together?

Come on! Am I the only one who is totally amazed that Apple can't figure out how to build a decent mouse? A teeny trackball I can't clean and touch sensitive buttons that require me to lift up my left finger so I can right-click? ... and don't get me started on that hockey puck mouse ...

Reply

↓↑report

The sad thing is that Apple HAD a decent mouse. All the Pro Mouse needs is a scroll wheel, not a scroll ball, and you've got a mouse which would be a vast improvement on the current Mighty Mouse.

Reply

↓↑report

Ugh. I too detest the Mighty Mouse. What a horrid piece of hardware. Even with new ones, the scroll wheel constantly freezes up. And don't tell me I need to wash my hands every time I use the computer. I do wash my hands several times a day.

But the computer is not in an operating room. It shouldn't require a "perfect" environment to work.

Reply

↓↑report

I also love the Bluetooth MM since the scroll ball is quite smooth...when it works. Here's a cleaning technique I use when my MM's ball is stuck (mine almost always sticks in the "scroll-up" direction). Locate a microfiber cloth, like one used to clean your glasses. Place it on a flat surface; I use a mouse pad or a hardback book. Hold it taut with your thumb and fore finger. Turn your mouse over and angle it so that the ball is flat against the cloth. Finally, rub the mouse vigorously back and forth in the clogged direction. I'll often have a large web page or some document on screen. When the ball unclogs you'll see the window scroll in both directions.

BTW, don't do this on a surface that could be dented by the mouse!

As an aside, Smart Scroll X is a wonderful System Preference that gives the MM accelerated and coasting scrolling. It's available at www.marcmoini.com (not me :) )

Reply

↓↑report

Anyone got any good recommendations for a new mouse? I just ruined my MM doing this.

Do not do this unless you are willing to risk losing your MM.

Reply

↓↑report

just use some cleaning foam like the ones on sale at office depot. i used to open the mm, but not anymore since i use the cleaning foam.

Reply

↓↑report

I've cleaned the Mighty Mouse ball by rubbing it with the sticky side of office tape for a minute but it was only a temporary fix. I just replaced the Mighty Mouse with a Logitech MX Revolution wireless mouse and it is superior to any prior mouse I have owned.

Reply

↓↑report

last time I complained about my crappy mighty mouse I was told my hands were filthy, filthy things. I don't work in a clean room, but this ball is so delicate, the engineering so tight, that they can pretty easily get stuck to scroll UP only, if at all. I know, some of you love it, it's perfect, never has a problem, etc. Do you have dry hands?

Fact is the thing is silly. They used a ball where a wheel suffices, all in the name of being "different." Sometimes Steve makes mistakes.

I would much rather see them implement the patent they had for a touchwheel, in-between the 2 "buttons" that allows you to use a finger on a nonmoving surface. The less mechanical, the better. Probably cost an extra $5 to do that, and testing said people weren't willing to pay $199 for a mouse with a touch pad. Thus, the Nipple of Death.

Reply

↓↑report

This take apart guide is only for desperate situations - usually just using the rubbing alcohol on a paper towel method will work.

I really looked forward to the idea of the cordless mighty mouse, but the reality was a huge let down. Besides having to clean the ball about once a week, the right button doesn't work right, and the 2 side buttons are so useless that they're a joke. Looking for somethinng similar that actually works? Try the logitech 270 - small, bluetooth, never needs cleaning, works the way it's supposed to work. And a lot cheaper too!

Reply

↓↑report

I use a lint roller (the sticky kind). Simply roll the mouse back and forth along several axes, and the dirt gets stuck to the lint roller. The mouse then maneuvers like new.

Reply

↓↑report

What does this have to do with iPhone?

Oh, it doesn't. Hooray!!! :)

Reply

↓↑report