GTA San Andreas Mouse Not Working on Windows 10 and 11: Fixes

The GTA San Andreas mouse stops working on Windows 10 and Windows 11 because the classic PC version from 2005 handles mouse input in a way modern Windows versions do not always support. Installing SilentPatch, the community fix pack, solves it for most players of the classic version. If the mouse still does not respond, run the game in Windows XP SP3 compatibility mode as administrator, or switch to windowed mode.

Which fix applies depends on the version of the game you own, so check that first.

Which version of GTA San Andreas do you have?

If you are not sure, check where you bought the game: copies bought on Steam before late 2021 are the classic version, newer purchases are the Definitive Edition.

Fix 1: install SilentPatch

SilentPatch fixes hundreds of bugs in the classic PC version, including the mouse locking up after leaving the menu on newer systems and the cursor escaping the window on multi-monitor setups. Its developer lists the current build on Silent's blog and on GitHub; download it only from those sources.

1. Download SilentPatch for GTA San Andreas and an ASI loader: Silent's ASI Loader for the 1.0 and Steam versions, Ultimate ASI Loader for the Rockstar Games Launcher version.
2. Open the game folder, the one that contains gta_sa.exe.
3. Extract the ASI loader into the folder, then extract SilentPatch into the same folder.
4. Start the game and test the mouse.

SilentPatch does not change your saves, and you can remove it by deleting its files from the game folder.

Fix 2: dinput8.dll mouse fix

Several community mouse fixes replace the game's mouse input with a dinput8.dll file in the game folder. They can help when SilentPatch alone does not. Only use files from established mod sites, scan them with your antivirus, and remove the file again if the game fails to start, because dinput8.dll is also used by ASI loaders and two copies conflict.

Fix 3: compatibility mode and run as administrator

1. Right-click gta_sa.exe and select Properties.
2. Open the Compatibility tab.
3. Tick Run this program in compatibility mode for and select Windows XP (Service Pack 3).
4. Tick Run this program as an administrator, click Apply and start the game.

Fix 4: windowed mode and display settings

Mouse problems often disappear in windowed mode, where Windows handles the cursor normally. The classic version has no windowed option of its own, so use a windowed-mode mod. Also set your desktop scaling to 100 percent under Settings > System > Display while playing, and disable overlays from Discord, Steam or graphics drivers, which can capture the mouse.

Check the in-game mouse settings

If the mouse works in menus but not in vehicles, the controls are the issue. Open Options > Controller Setup > Mouse Settings, turn on Steer with Mouse and Fly with Mouse if you want mouse control in vehicles, and adjust sensitivity and the invert option there. A connected gamepad can also take over the camera; unplug it to test.

Definitive Edition differences

The Definitive Edition is a separate remaster with its own engine, and classic mods such as SilentPatch do not work with it. Install the latest game update, check the mouse settings in the game's options, and unplug other controllers. Mouse issues in the Definitive Edition are fixed through game updates rather than community patches.

FAQ

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