To read input from a physical USB mouse, your Arduino setup must act as a USB host and handle the mouse’s HID reports. An Arduino Due has a documented USB-host connection for peripherals such as mice; an Uno or another supported board can use a compatible MAX3421E-based USB Host Shield and its library. The Arduino Mouse library does the opposite: it lets a supported board send mouse actions to a computer.
Choose the right connection route
| Route | What it does | Check before proceeding |
|---|---|---|
| Arduino Due host connection | Uses the Due as a USB host for a connected peripheral such as a mouse. | Confirm the intended host port and a suitable HID example for your installed board core. Plan for the required connector and power arrangement. |
| Supported Arduino board plus MAX3421E USB Host Shield | Adds USB host-controller hardware to a compatible board. The USB Host Shield Library documents support for official Arduino AVR boards, including the Uno. | Check the library’s supported-board list, the particular shield’s pinout, power needs, and whether its mouse example handles your mouse’s reports. |
| Arduino Mouse library | Makes a supported Arduino send mouse actions to a connected computer. | This is not the route for reading input from a physical USB mouse. |
Using an Arduino Due
Arduino documents the Due as a USB host for peripherals such as mice connected to its SerialUSB port. This is the most direct board-level option described here if you already have a Due.
Use documentation and examples for the Due’s host connection and the board core installed in your environment. The Due’s native host connection and the MAX3421E shield-library route are separate approaches; the USB Host Shield Library documentation does not list the Due as supported for native USB host use through that library.
Using an Uno or another supported board
For an Uno, the documented accessory route is a compatible USB Host Shield based on the MAX3421E controller, used with the USB Host Shield Library. The project repository includes a USBHIDBootMouse example path to investigate for basic mouse handling.
#1 Best Overall
- USB Host Shield support the Google Android ADK and Android Phone: G1, Nexus One, Nexus S, Motorola Droid X. (Note:Mobile phone system needs to upgrade Android 2.3.4, Tablet PC needs to upgrade to Android 3.1).
- Compatible with following hardware: for Arduino Mega 2560 (Recommended); for Arduino Mega 1280; for Arduino Uno 328; for Arduino Diecimila / Duemilanove 328.
- When achieves the USB HOST function, USB Host Shield can communicate with other USB devices, support USB HUB function as well.
- The USB power pin have the 3.3Vin and 5Vin pins, which needs to be soldered for the shield to work.
- Package Included:1 * USB Host Shield
- Check that your exact Arduino board appears in the library’s supported-board list.
- Check the specific shield’s pinout against your board before attaching it; shield variants should not be assumed to share identical wiring.
- Install and consult the library documentation for your board and shield, then inspect the
USBHIDBootMouseexample. - Connect the mouse through the shield’s USB host connection and test the input your project needs.
- If you need scrolling, extra buttons, or other features, confirm that the example and report parsing support them for your particular mouse.
The library’s board support is not a promise that every shield, mouse, or HID feature will work without adaptation. Arduino lists its official USB Host Shield as a retired product, so current availability of an official unit and equivalence of third-party shields are not established.
Why USB host capability matters
A wired USB mouse is a USB device. In a host connection, the Arduino-side hardware initiates and manages communication with that device, while HID handling interprets the mouse’s reports. A board’s ordinary USB connection to a computer does not, by itself, make it a host for another USB device.
Rank #2
- USB Host Shield for Arduino UNO MEGA 2560
- Support the Google Android ADK
- Compatible with Arduino Uno 328, Arduino Mega 1280
- Compatible with Arduino Diecimila / Duemilanove 328
That direction is easy to confuse with Arduino’s Mouse library. The library controls a computer cursor by having a supported board act as a mouse; it does not, simply by being installed, let the board read a physical mouse plugged into it.
What to verify when the mouse does not work
- Host route: Make sure the chosen board connection or shield actually provides USB host capability.
- Board and shield support: Confirm the exact board is supported by the library and that the shield pinout matches the board.
- Mouse features: A basic boot-mouse example may not cover scroll wheels, extra buttons, or non-boot HID reports. Verify the report handling you need.
- Power and connectors: Confirm the host-side connector and power arrangement for the hardware combination; requirements can vary by board and shield.
- Correct library direction: If the project uses Arduino’s
Mouselibrary to move the cursor on a computer, it is implementing mouse output, not mouse input.
Exact compatibility depends on the board, shield, library, and mouse. Documentation for the Due establishes the host-use option, and the shield library documents broad board support, but neither guarantees compatibility with every mouse model or feature.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- USB Compatibility: Can communicate with other USB devices and support USB HUB function. Whether you need to transfer data or power up your devices, this board's USB functionality has got you covered.
- Diecimila / Duemilanove 328: With support for USB HUB function, this board offers incredible expandability. Connect multiple peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and storage devices to enhance your productivity.
- Perfect for Android Devices: Support Google Android ADK, support Android phones: G1, Nexus One, Nexus S, Motorola Droid X.
- Superior Compatibility: Phone system needs to be upgraded to Android 2.3.4, tablet PCs need to upgrade to Android 3.1
- Convenient and Reliable: This Single Board Computer comes equipped with all the necessary ports, to ensure a hassle-free experience.
Rank #4
- 1PCS USB Host Shield for Arduino UNO MEGA ADK Compatible for Android ADK DIY MAX3421 Electronic Module Board
- Support For Google Android ADK
- Compatible For Arduino Diecimila and Duemilanove 328
- Compatible For Arduino Mega 2560 (recommended)
- Compatible For Arduino Mega 1280
Rank #3
- USB Host Shield for UNO MEGA 2560.
- Support the Google Android ADK.
- Compatible with Uno 328.
- Compatible with Diecimila / Duemilanove 328.
- Compatible with Mega 1280.
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