How To Operate a Mouse Without Its USB Dongle on Linux

Lost your mouse’s USB dongle? Don’t worry—you’re not out of options. Whether it’s because you misplaced it or want to cut down on USB port clutter, there are some tricks to get that wireless mouse working without its dedicated receiver. Especially on Linux, the scene’s a bit mixed — some mice support Bluetooth, which is a lifesaver; others rely on that little RF dongle they came with. Modern Bluetooth support and open-source tools make it way easier to connect wireless mice that just need a Bluetooth connection—no dongle needed. This guide covers practical ways to get your wireless mouse working, whether it’s Bluetooth or RF, after the dongle goes AWOL.

🧠 Figuring Out Your Mouse Type

First, it’s kinda helpful to know what kind of wireless mouse you have, because that decides your game plan:

Bluetooth Mouse – Connects to your PC’s built-in Bluetooth.No dongle needed. This is what you want if your mouse supports Bluetooth.
RF Mouse (2.4GHz) – Uses a specific USB receiver (dongle).More old-school, and unfortunately, these usually *can’t* just pair with Bluetooth or another receiver.

✅ Solution 1: Use Built-in Bluetooth (If Your Mouse Is Bluetooth Compatible)

🔧 Why this helps:

If the mouse was Bluetooth all along, activating Bluetooth on your Linux system can mean just pairing it like any wireless device. It’s a clean way to connect without digging for that missing dongle. Plus, modern Linux distros have decent Bluetooth support, so it’s worth a shot.

This applies if your mouse was actually a Bluetooth one, or if you’re pretty sure it’s Bluetooth-enabled. Expect it to pair relatively quick, with some patience. Sometimes, the pairing feels a little quirky, but once it’s paired, it usually works fine.

Experience varies—on some setups, this just works out of the box, on others, it takes a few tries or restart.

Steps for Bluetooth mice:

Make sure Bluetooth is enabled. Run sudo systemctl start bluetooth and sudo systemctl enable bluetooth in your terminal. Or just toggle Bluetooth in your system settings — depends on your distro.
Open your Bluetooth settings or run:bluetoothctl
Power it up, and put your mouse into pairing mode — usually involves holding a button or toggling a switch.
In bluetoothctl, type: power on and then agent on and scan on
Watch for your mouse to appear (look for its MAC address, like XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX and name).When you see it, type: pair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX then connect XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX and trust XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX. Sometimes it takes a minute, be patient here.
If all goes well, your mouse should now be connected. Test it out.

🧰 Extra Tool: Solaar for Logitech Devices

If it’s a Logitech mouse, Solaar is a handy Linux app for managing and pairing Logitech wireless devices.

Why pick Solaar? Because Logitech mice often shine with Bluetooth, and Solaar can sometimes force pairing even if the system doesn’t do it seamlessly.

🔧 Installing Solar:

sudo apt install solaar

How to pair with Solaar:

Launch it from your application menu — or run solaar in the terminal.
Click “Pair New Device”.
Power on your mouse, press its pairing button if it has one.
Wait for it to appear in Solaar’s list. If detected, it should connect automatically.

Look for the orange star logo (⚙️) on your old dongle or mouse — that’s how you know it’s wired up properly.

❌ What if It’s a 2.4GHz RF Mouse Without Bluetooth?

This is where it gets annoying. These mice rely on a dedicated RF dongle that’s hardware-bound. Without that dongle, you might be out of luck—no pairing, no alternative. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary. If it’s one of these, maybe consider replacing it, or see if an upgraded version supports Bluetooth. Sometimes, you can find generic RF receivers online, but that’s kinda a gamble and depends on the mouse’s chipset.

🔄 Alternative: Use a USB OTG Cable + Mobile App

In a pinch, some folks use apps to control their PC remotely, so your mouse isn’t the bottleneck anymore. And yes, this is kind of a workaround — but it can save you when the hardware is dead.

Download and install apps like “Remote Mouse” or KDE Connect on your smartphone and your Linux PC.
Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
Use these apps to control the mouse functions remotely — not as elegant, but definitely functional.

🧩 Wrap-up

If your mouse is a generic 2.4GHz RF model, you probably won’t get far without that original dongle. But if it’s Bluetooth, chances are, a little setting tweak and some commands can get it up and running again. Sometimes, it’s weird, and the pairing process needs a couple of attempts or reboots, but it usually works in the end.

Summary

Check your mouse’s connectivity type first: Bluetooth or RF.
If Bluetooth, enable Bluetooth, enter bluetoothctl, and pair manually or via Solaar.
If RF and no dongle, it’s probably a lost cause unless you find a compatible replacement.
In a pinch, remote control apps can keep things moving.

Final Wrap-up

Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Wireless mice without their usually companion dongle can be tricky, but with a little tinkering and the right tools, they can still be saved — at least in some cases. Fingers crossed this helps!”