The computer freezes and I can move the mouse cursor but cannot click desktop icons
Problem
The user can move the mouse cursor but cannot click desktop icons.
Cause
1. The external mouse may be faulty.
2. The explorer.exe process ended unexpectedly.
3. Some third-party software is incompatible with the Windows operating system.
Solution
Method 1:
Replace the mouse or use the touchpad.
Method 2:
Restart the explorer.exe process and try again.
To restart the Explorer process, right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the shortcut menu. Go to File > Run new task, enter explorer, and click OK.
Method 3:
If this issue often occurs after you install third-party software, back up your data and then uninstall the software, or update it to the latest version. You can also use other third-party software with the same functions to replace the incompatible software.
Note:
If the issue persists, restart your computer and try again. If the issue persists after you restart the computer multiple times, back up your data, and press and hold F10 or press F10 consecutively during startup to restore your computer to its factory settings.
Restoring your system to the factory settings will clear all your data in the C drive. Back up any important data before you proceed.