# TurboTax mouse not working: fixing clicks, cursor and scroll bars Source: https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop/turbotax-mouse-not-working Publisher: Tax Software Desk (taxsoftwaredesk.com), independent editorial site Topic: TurboTax Desktop Problems Last updated: 2026-09-18 > When the TurboTax mouse is not working, the mouse is almost never broken. Either TurboTax is busy and not accepting input, or the window is scaled so buttons and scroll bars sit off screen. Set Windows display scaling to 100%, reset browser zoom for TurboTax Online, confirm the resolution is at least 1024x768, and on a Mac set scroll bars to Always. ## Key facts - Minimum recommended resolution: 1024x768 - Windows scaling to test: 100% - Reset browser zoom (Online): Ctrl+0 or Command+0 - Mac scroll bars setting: Show scroll bars: Always ## Why the TurboTax mouse is not working: match the symptom Before changing settings, confirm the mouse works everywhere else. Move it over the taskbar or another app. If it responds there, the problem is inside TurboTax, and the symptom tells you which fix to use. | What happens | Most likely reason | Fix | | --- | --- | --- | | Cursor spins and no click registers | TurboTax is busy or not responding | Wait, then see the crash steps | | Continue or Done button is off the bottom of the screen | Display scaling or zoom too large | Set scaling to 100%, reset zoom | | Scroll bar missing on a Mac | macOS hides scroll bars until you scroll | Set scroll bars to Always | | Mouse wheel will not scroll a form | Focus is inside a form field | Close and reopen the form, then scroll | | Taps do nothing on a touch screen laptop | Touch input and window scaling conflict | Use a mouse or trackpad; test at 100% | Symptom and fix A cursor that turns into a spinning circle is not an input fault. TurboTax is recalculating, saving or updating. Give it a few minutes; if it never recovers, follow [TurboTax keeps crashing](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop/turbotax-keeps-crashing). ## Can't click in TurboTax: display scaling and resolution The most common reason you can't click in TurboTax is that the button you need has been pushed off the visible screen. Windows scaling of 125% or 150% is the default on many laptops, and it enlarges TurboTax's windows too. A pop-up that is taller than the screen hides its Continue button, so every click seems to do nothing. 1. Close TurboTax. 2. Open Settings, System, Display. 3. Under Scale, choose 100%. 4. Check that Display resolution is set to the value marked Recommended. 5. Sign out of Windows and back in so the change applies everywhere, then open TurboTax. Intuit recommends a monitor of 1024x768 or higher for TurboTax Desktop. A lower resolution, or an old projector or TV used as a screen, can cut off dialog boxes. If text looks too small at 100%, raise it to 125% once you are past the stuck screen. ## TurboTax scroll bar missing On a Mac, a missing scroll bar is usually a macOS setting rather than a TurboTax fault. macOS hides scroll bars until you start scrolling. Open the Apple menu, System Settings, Appearance and set Show scroll bars to Always. The bar then stays visible in TurboTax forms. In Windows Forms mode, users in Intuit's community report that the mouse wheel and Page Down can stop working once you click inside certain forms. Closing the form with the X at its top right, reopening it and scrolling before you click in a field brings scrolling back. ### Keyboard moves that work when the mouse does not - **Tab** moves to the next field or button; **Shift+Tab** moves back. - **Enter** activates the highlighted button, including a Continue button you cannot see. - **Page Down** and **Page Up** scroll the current screen or form. - **Alt+Tab** (Windows) or **Command+Tab** (Mac) brings back a pop-up hidden behind the main window. ## TurboTax cursor not working in TurboTax Online TurboTax Online runs in your browser, so the browser's zoom and add-ons control what you can click. A page zoomed to 150% can hide the Continue button just like Windows scaling does. 1. Press Ctrl+0 on Windows or Command+0 on a Mac to reset zoom to 100%. 2. Open a private or incognito window and sign in there; this runs without most extensions. 3. If clicks work in the private window, turn off ad blockers, password managers and translation extensions one at a time in your normal window. 4. Clear the browser cache and cookies, then sign in again. 5. Try a different, up-to-date browser. If the whole site fails to load, rather than just ignoring clicks, see [TurboTax website not working](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-online/turbotax-website-not-working). ## Graphics driver and touch screen settings If scaling and zoom are fine and TurboTax Desktop still ignores clicks, update the graphics driver. Intuit's Windows troubleshooting list includes updating hardware drivers and running Windows Update. A current display driver rules out drawing problems where a click lands somewhere other than where the button appears. On touch screen laptops, plug in a USB mouse or use the trackpad while you work in TurboTax. If a mouse also fails, save your return and restart the computer before trying again. Still stuck on a Mac where the app also misbehaves at launch? See [TurboTax won't open on Mac](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop/turbotax-wont-open-on-mac). A problem that appeared right after the new edition's updates may be fixed by a later one; [when will TurboTax be updated](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop/when-will-turbotax-be-updated) explains how updates roll out, and [when does TurboTax come out](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop/when-does-turbotax-come-out) covers the next edition. The [TurboTax Desktop troubleshooting hub](https://taxsoftwaredesk.com/turbotax-desktop) lists every other symptom. > **Independent site:** Tax Software Desk is independent and is not affiliated with Intuit, H&R Block, TaxAct, FreeTaxUSA, TaxSlayer, Block Inc. (Cash App Taxes), Wealthsimple, UFile or any other software company. ## Step by step 1. **Check the mouse elsewhere.** Confirm the pointer works outside TurboTax. 2. **Set scaling to 100%.** Settings, System, Display, Scale: 100%; resolution at Recommended. 3. **Reset zoom for Online.** Press Ctrl+0 or Command+0 and test in a private window. 4. **Show scroll bars on Mac.** System Settings, Appearance, Show scroll bars: Always. 5. **Update the graphics driver.** Run Windows Update and install the latest display driver, then restart. ## Common questions ### Why can't I click anything in TurboTax? Either TurboTax is busy and ignoring input, or the button you need sits off screen because of display scaling or zoom. Wait a minute, then set Windows scaling to 100% or reset browser zoom. ### How do I get the scroll bar back in TurboTax? On a Mac, set System Settings, Appearance, Show scroll bars to Always. In Windows Forms mode, close the form, reopen it and scroll before clicking inside a field. ### The Continue button is off my screen in TurboTax. What do I do? Press Tab until the button is highlighted and press Enter, then lower display scaling to 100% so it fits on screen. ### Why does my mouse work everywhere except TurboTax? The program window is not accepting input, usually because it is processing or a hidden pop-up is waiting for an answer. Use Alt+Tab or Command+Tab to find the pop-up. ## Sources - [TurboTax Desktop system requirements](https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/tta-system-requirements/) - [Troubleshoot TurboTax Desktop for Windows issues](https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/uninstall-products/fix-error-code-turbotax-cd-download-2022/L6vET5aNW_US_en_US) - [Troubleshoot installation and running TurboTax for Windows](https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/product-delivery/troubleshoot-installation-running-turbotax-windows/L79TYvMhM_US_en_US)