How often should a wireless Mouse be turn off to save the battery?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Recently bought a new LogiTech Wireless mouse.

I use the dongle. The mouse can also connect with Bluetooth.

I’ve used a wired mouse for a few years. I reverted back to wired because I was fed up with dead batteries and a dead Mouse.

I’m now fed up with untangling computer wires. Giving wireless another try.

To conserve power, should I turn off the mouse with the slide-switch anytime I shut down?

Or every night regardless if the PC is on?

Never?

I remember the sick feeling of powering-up my laptop after being turned off for three weeks.

The mouse battery was always dead.

The slide-switch on the bottom of the mouse is flimsy. I’m not sure it can survive being turned on every morning and off at night..

2

It really varies among the model of mouse.

Rechargeable I’d say every 48-72 hours (again…depends on many things like RGB and polling rate). Disposable batteries can go for some time longer but now you are buying batteries for it every month or two or so.

You really just need to test out the one you have to get a sense for how long it will run and then put a reminder in your phone calendar to charge the phone or replace the battery (and if replaceable, make sure you always have some spare batteries on hand).

If the mouse also has an option to run wired to the PC for power then that helps a lot.

I am not convinced turning it off makes much difference but it might. If the mouse has no RGB then I think it is not using much power when idle but I suppose it is more than nothing since the radio will keep looking for a signal and the sensor is waiting for movement. The mouse will go into a sleep mode to save power but while battery use is minimal it is not zero.

I find dealing with wireless mice a hassle so I only ever use a wired mouse. YMMV of course.

3

I bought the LogiTech M550 L and it uses one AA. IIRC my last wireless mouse used 2 AA. That provides more battery power and shoild last longer.

I’m thinking about buying Panasonic Eneloop rechargeable AA. I have a panasonic charger.

4

This claims up to a 24-month battery life which is remarkable. I think that is more marketing and a best-case scenario but still…you should get 12-18 months out of it which is not bad at all. Kinda surprised by it.

That assumes you are using Bluetooth Low Energy or Logi Bolt USB receiver to connect (per that page).

5

I would be shocked at that battery life unless the slide-switch is used to turn-off the mouse when it’s not being used.

The dongle has always worked well on pc’s at work.

Except that one time. The USB port was on the front of the pc.

I was removing the pc back. Quickly grabbed the rear and balanced it on the front cover to remove screws.

Well, it didn’t balance with that dongle sticking out 3/4 inch. Broke the usb port and the dongle

Oops

Fortunately that usb plugged into the motherboard with a cable. Purchased a bracket with the port and cable was less than $20.

6

I asked my AI and it told me turning off the mouse will save some power but really not a lot. Their sleep mode uses very little power. You will extend its battery life some but probably not enough to really care to fuss with remembering to turn it on and off. Up to you, of course.

7

Yeah, they dont’ use much power when they aren’t being moved. They go to a sleep mode that just detects general movement. The battery lasts long enough that I usually forget it can run down until it finally does.

Keyboard batteries last even longer, though.

8

That slide-switch doesn’t look like it’s intended to be used much.

A fingernail is needed to catch the button and slide it.

Green tape showing means on.

Red tape Off.

Thanks Everyone :wink:

9

I’d turn it off if I was leaving for a week (or more) on some trip and not using it. I would not bother for day-to-day use.

10

That was my thought too.

Leave it on if I’m using the laptop every day.

Mouse Off if the laptop is off for 5 or 6 dsys or more.

I’ll try that. The worst that happens is replacing a AA battery earlier than expected.

I have 2 packs of AA in a drawer for home electronics gadgets.

I agree with @Whack-a-Mole.

A Wireless mouse is nice until you notice sluggish respone. Weak battery.

A mouse with a wire always works. It never dies wanting a battery.

But, I hate untanging cords.

11

They turn themselves off when not in use. My 2AAA mice last years between new batteries.

We’re not in the 1990s now. The computer inside that new mouse has more smarts than your 1990s PC did. And spends most of it stretching battery life.

12

I don’t think I’ve ever turned off a mouse. I change the battery, I would guess, every six months or so.

Both the cost and effort of changing the battery are trivial.

mmm

13

I have an M185 Wireless Logitech Mouse. I think Logitech calls it a ‘laptop mouse’ due to its smallish size. I use a desktop. It came paired with a wireless keyboard. I’ve used similar Logitechs for years. It’s one of the least expensive models and just happens to be my preferred - I like the small size.
The single AAA battery lasts forever. OK, not quite forever, but long enough that I can’t accurately tell you how many months because it’s not worth keeping track of. I’d guess at around 1 year. Don’t know if I’ve ever replaced the keyboard battery.
I work a lot on the computer so I’m probably using it easily 4-5 hours/day minimum. I also always have spare batteries on hand. I will add that over the years the newer mouse/keyboards have greatly extended battery life over say 15-20 years ago.
My concern for how long the battery in my mouse lasts would be well down my list of things to worry about. Where greatest concern about what goes on in my life is #1, battery life in mouse would be somewhere around #10,000.

14

The smartboards at school have wireless mice and keyboards. I don’t use it often (I mostly use the touchscreen), but I’ve never gone to use it and found it dead, nor ever changed or charged the batteries. It might be that tech is going around and replacing the batteries on some sort of schedule, but I kind of doubt that (or at least, not on any schedule shorter than every year).

15

I’ve got a Lenovo keyboard/mouse set with dongle. I never turn them off and I can’t even tell you when I last changed the batteries, I’m guessing at least a year ago.

If I was putting mouse in my laptop bag, I would turn it off.

16

All of my wireless rechargeable mice have been able to do this. I just run them until they stop working, then plug in the charger and carry on with a wired mouse for a little while. Same with the wireless rechargeable keyboard.

I hate replacing batteries, which is why I use rechargeable models.

I also no longer buy Logitech, just because they are more expensive and don’t seem to last as long as the off-brand ones. My keyboard brand this time is “nulea” and my mouse is “iclever.

17

I’ll keep a rechargeable mouse in mind for my next purchase.

Meanwhile buying a rechargeable Panasonic Eneloop accomplishes the same thing.

I double-checked. My model M550 uses a single AA.

Intead of 2 AAA found in other models.

18

I have a Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse for my desktop. Uses 1 alkaline battery in the mouse and (I believe) 2 in the keyboard. I buy those batteries at the Dollar Tree.

I use them everyday. Last time I changed the batteries was November of '24. Not bad.

19

Same with my computer at work. I use it continuously for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I’ve never turned off the mouse or keyboard.

I change batteries less than once a year.

20

I’ve been reading your comments. Manufacturer’s made big improvements in battery drain

I abandoned wireless for the more dependable wired mouse quite a few years ago.

Good to know that the battery drain is improved.