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A mouse that stutters, stops responding, or misses clicks in VALORANT can be caused by a failing peripheral, a USB receiver, corrupted game controls, graphics or Windows software, or a network problem that only feels like input lag. Start by classifying the symptom, then test the mouse outside VALORANT and with a second device. After that, follow Riot’s driver, configuration, performance, and log-collection steps. Raw Input Buffer is not a switch you can change anymore: since Patch 11.06 on September 16, 2025, Riot says it is permanently enabled on PC.
The order matters. A second mouse can identify defective hardware in minutes, while deleting VALORANT files will not repair a bad cable, receiver, USB port, or system-wide driver.
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How do I tell whether the problem is stuttering, low FPS, a freeze, or network lag?
Watch what fails and how long it lasts. Riot treats a brief hitch, consistently low frame rate, a complete lock-up, and network rubber-banding as different problems with different fixes.
| What you notice | Most likely path | First check |
|---|---|---|
| The cursor or aim pauses for a fraction of a second, then recovers | Performance, drivers, USB polling, or a software conflict | Test another mouse, then apply the performance and driver steps below |
| Frames remain low all the time | Graphics settings, drivers, power mode, or system load | Use Best Performance power mode and update graphics software |
| The game stays completely unresponsive | Game or system freeze | Close the client if possible, reboot, and continue with configuration and system-file checks |
| Movement arrives late, players snap backward, or you disconnect | Network path rather than mouse hardware | Check ping, use wired networking, and remove VPN or competing traffic |
| Clicks fail only on one binding or menu | Controls configuration | Inspect Settings > Controls before changing Windows settings |
What should I test outside VALORANT first?
Do the hardware isolation tests before deleting files or reinstalling anything. They establish whether VALORANT is actually the source of the failure.
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Move the pointer in Windows
Exit VALORANT and move the pointer across the desktop, drag a window, and click in another application. If the pointer also freezes or clicks fail in Windows, the game is unlikely to be the only cause. Try a different USB port and, if available, test the mouse on another computer; Microsoft advises that a device that fails on a second PC may need replacement.
Connect a second mouse
Riot specifically recommends connecting another mouse or keyboard. Use the second device in the same VALORANT match, with the same sensitivity and bindings. If the replacement works normally, concentrate on the original mouse, its cable, receiver, firmware, or driver rather than changing game files.
Reset a wireless receiver
For a wireless mouse, unplug its USB receiver, wait about 10 seconds, and reconnect it. This reset is a Microsoft-recommended step for USB wireless devices. Re-seat the receiver directly in the computer rather than through an unpowered hub, then test the mouse in Windows and VALORANT again. If the receiver is damaged or intermittently disconnects, replacing the receiver or the mouse is more appropriate than adjusting in-game sensitivity.
How do I update the mouse, Windows, and graphics drivers?
Riot lists outdated or missing device drivers and an outdated Windows installation as possible contributors to input failures. Microsoft’s standard update paths are the safest starting point.
Update the mouse driver
- Right-click the Windows Start button and open Device Manager.
- Expand Mice and other pointing devices and identify the mouse.
- Right-click it, choose Update driver, and let Windows search automatically. If the device is listed with an error, uninstalling it and restarting Windows can force detection again.
- Reconnect the mouse and test desktop clicks before opening VALORANT.
Gaming mice may also use a manufacturer utility for firmware or polling-rate changes. Install only the software intended for your exact device and close unnecessary overlays or macro utilities while testing; a clean test prevents a background utility from masking the result.
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Run Windows Update and update graphics software
Open Settings > Windows Update, install available updates, and restart. Then update the driver for your graphics card from its official support channel. Riot notes that outdated graphics software or DirectX components can interfere with hardware interaction and cause keyboard or mouse inputs not to register.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow do I check VALORANT controls and reset a broken configuration?
When the mouse works in Windows and another device behaves the same way in VALORANT, inspect the game’s control data before more invasive troubleshooting.
Verify bindings
- Launch VALORANT and open Settings.
- Select Controls.
- Check that primary fire, alternate fire, abilities, and any mouse-button actions have the expected bindings.
- Apply the changes, enter a short custom game, and test movement and clicks.
A binding that disappeared or moved to another action can look like a dead mouse even when the hardware is healthy.
Reset the configuration files
If controls remain broken, Riot’s recovery procedure is to close both VALORANT and Riot Client, then remove the files in the configuration folder. The documented Windows location is C:Users%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalVALORANTSavedConfig. Relaunch the client and game so fresh files are created, then test in a short custom game before rebuilding your preferred settings.
Deleting this folder resets local control data. Riot warns that Agent Profiles must be recreated afterward, so record any custom bindings or profiles you need before removing the files.
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How do I fix brief mouse hitches that recover by themselves?
A split-second pause that clears without disconnecting is usually treated as a performance or software-interference issue, not as a permanently dead input device. Apply Riot’s performance checklist in this order so each change is testable.
- Open Windows power settings and select Best performance (the exact label can vary by Windows edition).
- Run Riot Client as administrator for a test session.
- Update Windows and your graphics driver if you have not already done so.
- Perform a clean boot to prevent nonessential startup services from injecting overlays, monitoring hooks, or device filters. Re-enable services afterward in groups so you can identify a conflict.
- Open an elevated Command Prompt and run
sfc /scannow. If Windows reports component-store corruption or cannot repair files, use the DISM repair commands recommended for your Windows installation, then restart and run SFC again.
Record whether the hitch happens only when firing, while turning rapidly, after alt-tabbing, or at regular intervals. A repeatable trigger is useful when you later provide logs to Riot, even if none of these steps resolves it.
Could graphics or DirectX problems make mouse clicks fail?
Yes. Riot states that outdated DirectX or graphics software can interfere with hardware interaction, including keyboard and mouse input registration. This is why a current graphics driver and Windows installation belong in the input troubleshooting path even when the cursor appears normal on the desktop.
After updating, test with overlays disabled and with VALORANT running on the intended display and GPU. If the issue began immediately after a driver change, use the graphics vendor’s supported rollback option rather than downloading an unrelated driver package. Do not interpret a graphics-related hitch as proof that the mouse itself is defective until the second-device test has been completed.
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Network delay can make movement and shooting appear to occur after your click, but it does not make the Windows pointer stop. High ping, disconnections, delayed movement, and characters snapping backward point to the connection path.
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- Use a wired network connection for a comparison test.
- Pause downloads, streaming, cloud synchronization, and other traffic competing for bandwidth.
- Disable VPNs and proxies while testing.
- Check that your firewall permits VALORANT and its required services.
If a wired, low-traffic session removes the delay while the same mouse still works in Windows, continue investigating the network rather than repeatedly changing mouse drivers.
What is Raw Input Buffer, and can I turn it off?
Not on current PC builds. Riot introduced Raw Input Buffer in Patch 3.07 as a beta setting intended to improve input-device processing. Riot described a minor improvement for standard devices and a major performance improvement for mice with an 8000 Hz polling rate.
Patch 11.06, released September 16, 2025, removed the setting from the interface. Riot’s note says: “The RawInputBuffer setting has been removed and is no longer configurable. The setting will be enabled at all times for players because it is more performant.” Current guides that tell you to switch Raw Input Buffer on or off are outdated. Treat a stutter as a hardware, driver, performance, configuration, or network diagnosis instead.
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Replacement becomes reasonable when the fault follows the device across computers or when a second mouse consistently works in the same setup. If only the receiver fails but the mouse passes a cross-device test, a compatible replacement receiver may solve the problem; verify exact compatibility and return terms before buying.
| Replacement check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Wired or wireless connection | Determines whether cable damage, radio interference, battery condition, or receiver pairing can be involved. |
| USB connector and receiver compatibility | A physically matching connector is not enough; a wireless receiver must support the specific mouse. |
| Sensor reliability | Erratic tracking can feel like a game hitch even when clicks work. |
| Driver and software support | Current Windows support and firmware tools reduce compatibility risks. |
| Polling-rate options | Higher rates can increase processing load; confirm that the setting is stable on your system. |
| Return policy | Useful if the replacement reproduces the same symptom or does not fit your USB setup. |
| Test on another PC | Separates a defective device from a VALORANT or Windows installation problem. |
Do not buy a replacement solely because an online guide claims a particular model fixes VALORANT. The diagnostic result—especially whether the fault follows the mouse—is stronger evidence than a product label.
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How do I report a persistent VALORANT mouse problem to Riot?
Escalate after the hardware, controls, driver, performance, and network checks have been completed. Riot directs players to submit a Player Support ticket and attach logs when the official steps do not resolve the issue.
In the ticket, include your Windows version, mouse connection type, whether a second mouse works, whether the problem appears outside VALORANT, when it began, and which steps changed the behavior. Describe the symptom precisely—brief hitch, unregistered click, full freeze, or network rubber-banding—and attach the requested logs without editing them. This gives support a reproducible path instead of a general report that the mouse “feels slow.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a high polling rate make VALORANT stutter?
It can expose processing or compatibility problems, particularly on 8000 Hz devices, although the game’s current Raw Input Buffer setting is always enabled. Temporarily testing a lower polling rate in the mouse’s own software can isolate load, but it is a diagnostic comparison rather than a VALORANT toggle.
Will reinstalling VALORANT fix a mouse that stops registering clicks?
A reinstall is not the first-line fix when the mouse also fails in Windows or on another computer. Verify the peripheral, update drivers, and reset the VALORANT configuration first; reinstall only after those checks suggest damaged game files and you have preserved any settings you need.
Why does my mouse work in menus but not during a match?
That pattern can result from a control binding, an overlay conflict, or a performance hitch triggered under load. Check Settings > Controls, test with overlays and nonessential startup services disabled, and compare a custom game with another mouse before replacing hardware.
What information should I collect before contacting Riot Support?
Note the exact symptom, match mode, approximate time, Windows and graphics-driver versions, mouse connection type, and whether the fault follows the mouse to another computer. Include the results of the second-peripheral and wireless-receiver tests and attach the logs requested in your support ticket.
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