That rough spot means your mousepad is toast.

Yes, it’s from repeated friction and trapped grit. No, you can’t really fix it.

The cloth or rubber surface in the center gets worn down over time because that’s where your mouse spends most of its life. Dust, skin oils, and tiny particles get ground into the fabric by constant movement, acting like sandpaper. Eventually the texture becomes uneven, rough, and sometimes shiny.

You can try cleaning it with mild soap and water or a microfiber cloth, but if it’s already rough, the damage is physical. The material is physically compressed or abraded. No amount of cleaning will restore the original glide.

Best fix: buy a new one. They’re cheap. If you want it to last longer, consider a hard surface mousepad. They don’t develop rough spots, but some people hate the feel. Your call.

Your mouse deserves a smooth surface.