Mouse clicks stop working on Windows desktop and taskbar until I launch CMD as administrator

Berkan Atilgan 0 Reputation points
2026-11-06T17:23:32.3133333+00:00

After restarting Windows, I experience an unusual mouse input issue. I can switch between open windows using Alt + Tab, but clicking anywhere inside a window causes it to lose focus. The taskbar also becomes unresponsive to mouse clicks, and hover effects sometimes do not appear at all. Interestingly, desktop icons may still respond to hover, but clicking them does nothing. Restarting Windows Explorer does not fix the issue, and restarting the PC does not resolve it either. However, if I launch Command Prompt as administrator through the Start menu and approve the UAC prompt, mouse functionality immediately returns to normal. Even after closing Command Prompt, everything continues to work properly until the next restart. I have also tried restoring Windows to a previous restore point, but the issue eventually returns.

System Information

OS: Windows 11 Pro Insider Preview

Display Version: 25H2

OS Build: 26200

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500

GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600

Architecture: 64-bit

Note: PowerShell and the Windows Registry incorrectly report the ProductName as "Windows 10 Pro", despite the system running Windows 11 Insider Preview.

Windows Insider program | Windows Insider preview | Input, touch and mouse
0 comments No comments

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.