Fixin’ Stuff – Apple Mighty Mouse …
I know I’m not the first, probably won’t be the last to have a problem with the Mighty Mouse.
Almost exactly 2 years ago my lovely sister bought me an Apple Mighty Mouse for my birthday. It was ha been good to me for almost that long. Unfortunately in the past 6 months it’s been acting up. In the past I would just turn upside down and rub it against the my mouse pad to help clean out the scrolling ball. Now that doesn’t work. The scrolling ball is the only thing on this mouse that ever has problems for me.
A quick Google search later I found a great how-to video on the repair:
It’s not too hard a repair except for the first part which is removing that plastic ring that hold the whole thing together.
Here is photo of my Apple Mighty Mouse after I took it apart. Not show in the photo is the trim ring that I had pry off in the first step.
I didn’t use the home made tool as in the video. I used my finger nail and a Swiss Army knife. My trim ring did not crack and can be reinstalled with glue as in the video. Honestly unless I were to sell it I don’t see the need to reinstall it since the mouse stays together and function without it. This also makes it easier to get back in there and clean it again in the future.
This is the opened housing for my little track ball. As you can see it’s filled with lint which was making it nearly non-functional.
A close up of the dirt and lint removed. Also there are little roller that needed to be cleaned with alcohol.
That’s about it, don’t be afraid to fix your own stuff! (or do be afraid if you are prone to injury) 
February 1st, 2009 at 9:22 am
Rollers? Balls in mice? What is this, 1997? A mouse works with lasers… Get a new on already, you cheap bastard,
February 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
That ball is on the TOP of the mouse not the bottom. It does use lasers! The ball replaces what you probably think of as a scroll wheel. But this ball lets you scroll up, down, and side-to-side as well. It’s awesome!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
shit mine only worked for 6 months and it hasn’t worked since. i tearing mine apart tonight! thanks for the inspiration krinkle.net!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
It’s a pretty easy fix, clean the ball and rollers with alcohol. Should be good as new.