Poll of the Day > Why won't my optical mouse work on any new mouse pads?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I have an old mouse pad that I've tried to clean as best I can but it is still quite old and my mouse frequently fails to detect motion.
So, I figured I'd get a new mouse pad...
Well, got one, didn't detect motion AT ALL, returned it...
Got a 2nd from another source, and the same thing. The mouse pointer will not move at all.

What the absolute fuck is going on? The mouse works just fine on my desktop directly. I can even brush my finger across the lens and the pointer responds properly. So it's not a problem with the mouse.
Are modern mouse pads just worthless? I guess I could get a wrist rest on its own... It's the wrist

what do the mouse pads look like? red or reflective/shiny surfaces can sometimes not work with an optical mouse. you want something that contrasts well with red. mousepads are often black or blue for that reason. (I think).

if it's a normal looking mousepad and it doesn't work then I'm definitely curious what it looks like. maybe try to confirm it's not a semi-broken cable or something.

Both I've tried were regular black mouse pads. The finish on top seems slightly glossy, I think that might be the problem. But if it is, why make it like that?

Most recent attempt was this one:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B013WW0B5G

is that one that doesn't work? I would expect low ratings and it doesn't look like it would have problems.

I would try a different mouse. did you try cleaning the mouse? at first I thought you said you did but I guess you said you cleaned the mousepad. often you can get hairs/lint stuck in the optic hole and it interferes with the sensor. maybe also smugged on the lens?

(frustrating to help online cause I can't try anything. normally I would try it out myself and tell the user what I find, and 99% of the time I'd know what it is instantly. online all I can do is blind guess.)

Yeah, that was the new one I bought.

It (mousepad) works w/ my wife's (wireless) mouse.
I could understand it being the mouse, but it works flawlessly on my desktop, and even on the old mousepad w/ dirt I just can't get out, it works for the most part. But put it on a new mousepad and it just won't move at all.
I'll try cleaning the lens on the mouse tomorrow, but it seems pretty damn responsive to literally any surface other than the new mouse pad.