Question:

What could be causing my Windows laptop to randomly select items on the top left corner of the screen?

I have a Windows laptop that has been behaving strangely. Sometimes, when I am typing, it will automatically select one of the three icons on the top left corner of the screen (the minimize, maximize, or close buttons). This interrupts my work and I cannot control it. I have checked my keyboard for any stuck keys, but none of them seem to be the problem. I have also tried restarting my laptop several times, but the issue persists. Here is a video of the problem: https://youtu.be/t0Rd32vh0nk?si=oJt9N1mTXf2wgIkN. How can I fix this?

Answer:

If you have a Windows laptop that is randomly selecting items on the top left corner of the screen, such as the minimize, maximize, or close buttons, you might be wondering what is causing this annoying problem and how to fix it. This issue can interrupt your work and make it hard to use your laptop normally. You might have already tried checking your keyboard for any stuck keys, or restarting your laptop several times, but nothing seems to work. You are not alone, as many other Windows users have reported similar problems on various forums and websites.

There are several possible causes for this issue, such as a faulty mouse, a corrupted driver, a malware infection, or a system setting. In this article, we will explore some of the most common solutions that might help you resolve this problem and restore your laptop’s functionality.

Solution 1: Check your mouse

One of the first things you should do is to check your mouse, whether it is a built-in touchpad or an external device. Sometimes, a faulty mouse can send incorrect signals to the laptop and cause it to select items on the screen randomly. To test this, you can try the following steps:

• Disconnect your external mouse, if you have one, and see if the problem persists with the touchpad only.
• If you have a wireless mouse, try replacing the batteries or using a different USB port for the receiver.
• If you have a wired mouse, try using a different cable or plugging it into a different USB port.
• Try using a different mouse, if you have one, and see if the problem goes away.
• Update the mouse driver, by going to Device Manager, right-clicking on your mouse, and selecting Update driver. You can also download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website and install it manually.
• Disable the mouse, by going to Device Manager, right-clicking on your mouse, and selecting Disable device. This will prevent the mouse from sending any signals to the laptop. You can use the keyboard shortcuts to navigate the laptop, such as Alt+Tab, Windows key, and arrow keys.

If the problem is resolved after checking your mouse, then you have found the culprit and you can either replace it or adjust its settings. If the problem still persists, then you can move on to the next solution.

Solution 2: Run a malware scan

Another possible cause for this issue is a malware infection, which can interfere with your laptop’s normal operation and cause it to behave erratically. Malware can also compromise your security and privacy, so it is important to remove it as soon as possible. To do this, you can use a reliable antivirus or anti-malware program, such as Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or Norton. You can follow these steps to run a malware scan:

• Make sure your antivirus or anti-malware program is up to date, by checking for updates or downloading the latest version from the official website.
• Run a full scan of your laptop, by selecting the option to scan all files and folders, or choosing a custom scan and selecting your entire hard drive.
• Wait for the scan to complete, and follow the instructions to quarantine or delete any detected threats.
• Restart your laptop and see if the problem is fixed.

If the problem is fixed after running a malware scan, then you have successfully removed the infection and restored your laptop’s performance. If the problem still persists, then you can try the next solution.

Solution 3: Change the Snap settings

Another possible cause for this issue is a system setting called Snap, which allows you to quickly arrange windows on your screen by dragging them to the edges or corners. Sometimes, this feature can cause your laptop to select items on the top left corner of the screen, especially if you have a high-resolution display or a touch screen. To change the Snap settings, you can follow these steps:

• Go to Settings, by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon, or pressing Windows key + I.
• Click on System, and then on Multitasking.
• Under Snap windows, toggle off the option that says When I snap a window, show what I can snap next to it.
• Restart your laptop and see if the problem is fixed.

If the problem is fixed after changing the Snap settings, then you have disabled the feature that was causing the issue and improved your laptop’s usability. If the problem still persists, then you can try the last solution.

Solution 4: Reset your laptop

The last resort that you can try is to reset your laptop, which will reinstall Windows and erase all your files and settings. This can be a drastic measure, but it can also be effective in resolving any software issues that might be causing the problem. Before you do this, make sure you back up your important data, such as documents, photos, videos, and music, to an external drive or a cloud service. You can also create a recovery drive, which will allow you to restore your laptop to a previous state in case something goes wrong. To reset your laptop, you can follow these steps:

• Go to Settings, by clicking on the Start menu and selecting the gear icon, or pressing Windows key + I.
• Click on Update & Security, and then on Recovery.
• Under Reset this PC, click on Get started.
• Choose the option that says Remove everything, which will delete all your files and settings and reinstall Windows.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process, which might take some time depending on your laptop’s speed and storage capacity.
• Restart your laptop and see if the problem is fixed.

If the problem is fixed after resetting your laptop, then you have successfully restored your laptop to its original state and eliminated the issue. If the problem still persists, then you might have a hardware problem, such as a faulty keyboard, screen, or motherboard, which will require professional repair or replacement.

We

hope this article has helped you find the cause and solution for your Windows laptop randomly selecting items on the top left corner of the screen. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below. Thank you for reading!