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Mouse stuttering in Valorant can be frustrating, especially when precise movements are crucial. This issue often disrupts gameplay, causing delays and jittery cursor behavior. Fortunately, most mouse stuttering problems can be fixed with a few straightforward troubleshooting steps.

Whether you’re new to Windows 11 or a seasoned player, understanding the common causes of mouse stutter will help you fix the issue quickly. This guide will walk you through simple to advanced solutions to get your mouse running smoothly again.

Follow the steps carefully, and you’ll be back to enjoying Valorant without interruptions. Let’s dive into the troubleshooting process.

Remember, patience is key—some fixes take a little time to implement but are worth the effort.

Quick Note Before You Start

Before jumping into detailed troubleshooting, here are a few quick checks and prerequisites to ensure your setup is ready:

• Check Mouse Hardware: Make sure your mouse is clean and the sensor is not blocked by dirt or debris.
• Confirm Cable and USB Port: If you use a wired mouse, try a different USB port. For wireless mice, ensure batteries are charged.
• Update Windows: Ensure Windows 11 is up to date as updates often fix compatibility issues.
• Close Background Applications: Some apps can interfere with mouse performance—close unnecessary programs before playing Valorant.

Step 1: Restart Your PC and Valorant

Sometimes, the simplest fix is to restart your computer. This clears temporary glitches and frees up system resources that might cause mouse stuttering.

After restarting your PC, launch Valorant again to see if the problem persists. Restarting the game itself can also resolve minor temporary bugs.

Step 2: Update Mouse Drivers

Outdated or corrupted mouse drivers can cause stuttering. Updating drivers ensures your mouse communicates properly with your system.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section.
3. Right-click your mouse device and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for drivers and follow any prompts.

If Windows doesn’t find new drivers, visit your mouse manufacturer’s website to download the latest version manually.

Step 3: Adjust Mouse Settings in Windows 11

Windows mouse settings can affect responsiveness. Adjusting these can reduce stuttering.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I.
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
3. Turn off Enhance pointer precision. This feature can sometimes cause inconsistent cursor movement.
4. Set the pointer speed to a comfortable level.

Disabling enhanced pointer precision is important because it applies acceleration to your mouse movement, which can feel choppy in fast-paced games like Valorant.

Step 4: Disable Mouse Acceleration in Valorant

Valorant has its own mouse input settings. Disabling mouse acceleration within the game helps ensure smooth and accurate tracking.

1. Launch Valorant and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to the Controls tab.
3. Find the Mouse section and disable any acceleration or smoothing options.

This step prevents the game from modifying your mouse movements, which can create stuttering or lag.

Step 5: Adjust Windows Graphics Settings

Sometimes, graphics settings impact overall performance, including mouse responsiveness. Optimizing these can help reduce stutter.

1. Open Settings and go to System > Display > Graphics.
2. Click Change default graphics settings.
3. Make sure Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling is turned on. This can improve system performance.
4. Apply changes and restart your PC.

Step 6: Check Valorant’s Frame Rate and V-Sync Settings

Low frame rates or V-Sync settings can cause input lag and mouse stuttering.

1. Open Valorant and go to Settings > Video.
2. Set your frame rate limit to match your monitor’s refresh rate or higher.
3. Disable V-Sync to reduce input lag.

Disabling V-Sync prevents the game from syncing frames to your monitor’s refresh rate, which can sometimes cause mouse lag.

Step 7: Disable Full-Screen Optimizations

Windows 11’s full-screen optimizations can interfere with game performance.

1. Close Valorant.
2. Navigate to the Valorant installation folder, typically found at C:Riot GamesVALORANT.
3. Right-click the VALORANT.exe file and select Properties.
4. Go to the Compatibility tab.
5. Check Disable fullscreen optimizations.
6. Click Apply and then OK.
7. Relaunch Valorant and check if the mouse stuttering persists.

Step 8: Update or Reinstall Valorant

Sometimes the game itself may have bugs or corrupted files causing mouse issues.

1. Open the Riot Games client and check for any available updates for Valorant.
2. If the problem continues, consider reinstalling Valorant:
• Uninstall Valorant through Settings > Apps > Apps & features.
• Download the latest version from the official Valorant website.
• Install and test mouse performance again.

Advanced Tips

If the problem still exists after trying the above steps, consider these advanced options:

• Use a Different USB Port: Try connecting your mouse to a USB 2.0 port instead of USB 3.0, as some users report better stability.
• Disable Background Processes: Use Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to end resource-heavy or suspicious processes that might affect mouse performance.
• Adjust Power Settings: Set Windows power mode to High Performance via Settings > System > Power & Battery.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why is my mouse stuttering only in Valorant and not other games?

Valorant uses specific input methods and settings that may conflict with your mouse drivers or Windows settings. Following the troubleshooting steps above usually resolves game-specific issues.

Can outdated graphics drivers cause mouse stuttering?

Yes, outdated GPU drivers can impact overall system performance, including mouse input. Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date.

Does using a wireless mouse cause more stuttering?

Wireless mice can sometimes introduce latency or interference, especially if batteries are low or the signal is weak. Testing with a wired mouse can help diagnose this.

Will lowering graphics settings improve mouse performance?

Lowering graphics settings can improve overall frame rate and reduce input lag, which may help with mouse stuttering.

Is it safe to disable full-screen optimizations?

Yes, disabling full-screen optimizations is safe and often recommended for improving game stability and input responsiveness.

When Nothing Works

If you have tried all the above steps and your mouse still stutters in Valorant, consider the following final options:

• Contact Riot Games Support: Visit the official Valorant support page at https://support-valorant.riotgames.com for personalized help.
• Try Different Hardware: Test with another mouse to rule out hardware failure.
• Check for System Conflicts: Sometimes third-party software like overlays, antivirus, or mouse customization tools can disrupt gameplay. Temporarily disable these to test.
• Consider a Clean Windows Install: As a last resort, a fresh Windows 11 installation can solve deep-rooted system issues.

Conclusion

Mouse stuttering in Valorant on Windows 11 can be caused by many factors, from simple settings to hardware conflicts. Following this step-by-step guide, starting with basic fixes like restarting and updating drivers, and moving to more advanced tweaks, should help you resolve the issue.

Remember to keep your system and game updated, optimize your settings, and test different hardware if necessary. With patience and careful troubleshooting, you can enjoy smooth and responsive gameplay in Valorant once again.