If you have a Magic Mouse 2, pairing is very simple, just connect it to your computer with the supplied Lightning cable, and it will automatically pair and connect. For the original Magic Mouse, you can turn it on, wait for the LED to blink, and connect it through “Bluetooth” in “System Settings”.
My name is Eric, and I love computers and technology devices. I have worked with them since I was a kid in the late 1970s. The Magic Mouse and Magic Mouse 2 are pretty cool devices, and I can show you how to put them in pairing mode so that you can connect them to your computer.
Keep reading if you would like to hear some more details about how to pair both the Magic Mouse and the Magic Mouse 2. I will cover how to do this for each one below and also show you how to connect them to your Mac.
Magic Mouse or Magic Mouse 2
There are two versions of the Magic Mouse available. The Magic Mouse is the original, and the Magic Mouse 2 is the latest. Each has a different method for pairing, and I will explain them below.
I will start with the Magic Mouse 2 since that is the current and most popular version, but if your Magic Mouse came in the box with your new Mac, it will already be paired to your computer. All you need to do is turn the device on, and you will be good to go.
If your mouse is bundled with your Mac, it should be a Magic Mouse 2, and the on/off switch is on the bottom side. When you switch it on, you will see a green light underneath it.
Pairing the Magic Mouse 2
Pairing the Magic Mouse 2 is very straightforward, as you will see. Just follow the steps below, and you can use your new mouse in no time at all.
Step 1: Turn on your Mac
Ensure your Mac is turned on, booted up, and logged in.
Step 2: Connect the Magic Mouse 2 to your Mac
Your Magic Mouse 2 comes with a cable. It should have a USB-C connector on one end and a Lightning connector on the other end. Connect the Lightning connector to the mouse. The port is located on the bottom side of the Mouse.
If you don’t see a Lightning port on the bottom side of the mouse, you have an original Magic Mouse and can use the steps provided in the next section for the original Magic Mouse.
Plug the other USB-C end of the cable into your Mac. If your Mac does not have a USB-C port, you must get a converter to convert to USB or Lightning port, whichever your Mac has. You can also use a cable with the Lightning connector on one end and whatever type of connector you need for the Mac side of your cable.
Step 3: Turn on the Magic Mouse 2
Use the switch on the bottom side of the Magic Mouse 2 to turn it on. Once turned on, you will see a green led illuminate behind the switch, as shown in the picture in the previous section.
Step 4: Confirm the Connection
Once plugged in, the Magic Mouse 2 will automatically pair and connect to your Mac. You may see a message in a popup indicating that it has been connected. From the Apple menu, you can go to System Settings and then select Bluetooth, and you should see the Magic Mouse 2 in the list of Bluetooth devices.
Step 5: Let it Charge
When you check to see if your Magic Mouse 2 is connected, you will also notice that it shows the device’s charge level.
If your charge level is low, you may want to let it charge for a while before you start using it. It typically takes the Magic Mouse 2 about 2 hours to fully charge from 0%.
Step 5: Go Wireless!
Once charged, you are ready to go. Unplug the cable from your Magic Mouse 2 and your Mac. You should now be able to use the mouse wirelessly.
Original Magic Mouse
If you have an original Magic Mouse, the pairing process is slightly different. There’s no cable to plug in. You pair it just like almost any other Bluetooth device you want to connect to your Mac. Take a look at the steps below.
Step 1: Check your batteries
Before you start, ensure that you have fresh batteries in your Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse uses disposable/replaceable batteries, and you want to make sure they are working before you start.
If you turn the Magic Mouse on and you do not see the LED light up, your batteries are probably dead or have a battery connection issue. The Magic Mouse is known to have battery connection issues, so you want to check it to make sure it is working ok.
Step 2: Turn on the Magic Mouse
Make sure you have the Magic Mouse turned on. If you see the LED blinking, it is ready to be paired. If the light just comes on quickly and then turns off, it means it is paired to another computer, and you will need to go on that computer and disconnect it.
To disconnect it from another computer, go to that computer’s System Settings and then to Bluetooth. Find the mouse in the Bluetooth devices, select it, and click on Forget This Device. Turn the mouse off and then back on again, and the LED should now be blinking.
Step 3: Go to Bluetooth settings
Go to your Mac’s System Settings and then Bluetooth.
Step 4: Connect your Magic Mouse
When your Mouse appears under the Bluetooth settings, click on the Connect button.
Step 5: Enter the passcode
You may be asked for a code to pair and connect the mouse. If so, use 0000 for the code, and it should connect and be ready to go.
FAQs
Below are some frequent questions about how to pair and connect a Magic Mouse to your Mac.
How can I tell if my Magic Mouse 2 is charging?
You can usually tell if it is charging by looking at the mouse under your Bluetooth settings. Take a look here for more information on how to tell if yours is charging.
Does a Magic Mouse 2 Need Batteries?
The quick answer is no, the Magic Mouse 2 does not need batteries, but you can find out more about the Magic Mouse 2 and its batteries here.
Can I connect and use my Magic Mouse with an iPad?
You certainly can. Check out this link if you would like to find out how to connect your Magic Mouse to your iPad.
Conclusion
The steps to put a Magic Mouse into pairing mode differ depending on your type of Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse 2 needs to be connected with a Lightning cable, but the original Magic Mouse just needs to be disconnected from any other devices and turned on.
I hope the detailed steps above have helped you to pair and connect your Magic Mouse to your Mac. As usual, let me know if you have any questions or comments. I would love to hear from you!
Ichim
Hi, if you buy an Original Magic Mouse that is already paired to the seller’s computer, and he didn’t unpaired it, is there any way to connect it to the new computer?
Eric
Hi Ichim,
This is a great question. As long as you are not near the seller’s computer, the mouse should not be able to detect it and should go into pairing mode when you turn it on and are near your computer. If this is not the case, try taking the batteries out of the Magic Mouse and then putting them back in. Hopefully, this will reset the mouse and put it back into pairing mode. Good luck, I hope that this helps.