To change your mouse pointer speed in Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, then drag the Mouse pointer speed slider. In Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse and drag the Cursor speed slider instead.
This guide covers pointer speed, pointer precision, double-click speed, pointer trails, scrolling and a few other mouse settings, with the paths for both versions of Windows. The steps follow Microsoft’s Change mouse settings article.
In this article:
- Change mouse pointer speed
- Make the pointer more accurate
- Change double-click speed
- Add or remove pointer trails
- Change scrolling settings
- Other mouse settings
- Frequently asked questions
How to Change Mouse Pointer Speed
Windows 11
- Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
- Drag the Mouse pointer speed slider left to slow the pointer or right to speed it up.
Windows 10
- Select Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse.
- Drag the Cursor speed slider.
Result: The pointer moves faster or slower across the screen for the same mouse movement. Move the mouse around to test it, and adjust again until it feels right.
If the pointer has disappeared entirely on a laptop, see how to get your cursor back on a laptop in Windows 11.
Change the Mouse’s Actual DPI
The Windows pointer-speed slider changes how far the pointer travels; it does not set your mouse sensor to a particular DPI value. If your mouse supports adjustable DPI, identify its model and check the manufacturer’s instructions. Press its assigned DPI button to cycle through supported levels, or use the manufacturer’s compatible app to choose a numerical DPI setting and save the profile.
For example, Logitech documents the G705’s DPI button below the wheel: it switches among 800, 1600, and 3200 DPI, with custom levels available through G HUB. Those values and controls apply to that model, not every mouse. Record the old level, test the new one in your usual app, and restore the previous profile if needed. A fixed-DPI mouse can still use Windows’ pointer-speed adjustment above.
Find Your Mouse’s DPI Setting
First identify the exact mouse model from its label or manufacturer information. For a supported Logitech G mouse, open the official G HUB app, select the mouse on its Home page, and open its Sensitivity controls to inspect the displayed DPI values for the relevant profile. Logitech’s G HUB interface guide identifies these device and profile controls. Check which stage or profile is in use before treating a listed value as your current setting; opening the page does not require changing it. Other brands use their own supported utility or documented hardware presets. A model’s maximum DPI specification is not necessarily its active DPI. Windows’ pointer-speed slider does not report the sensor’s numerical DPI, and a browser distance test is an estimate affected by the test setup rather than a direct reading of the mouse.
Make the Pointer More Accurate
Microsoft says Enhance pointer precision makes the pointer more accurate when you move the mouse slowly.
- Windows 11: in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse, make sure Enhance pointer precision is on.
- Windows 10: in Settings > Devices > Mouse, select Additional mouse options, open the Pointer Options tab, and under Motion, check Enhance pointer precision.
Result: Small, slow movements are easier to control, which helps when you need to click small targets.
How to Change Double-Click Speed
- Open Mouse settings (Bluetooth & devices > Mouse in Windows 11, or Devices > Mouse in Windows 10).
- Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings (Windows 10: Additional mouse options).
- On the Buttons tab, drag the Speed slider under Double-click speed.
- Select OK.
Result: Windows recognizes a double-click at the speed you set. Slow it down if your double-clicks keep registering as two single clicks.
How to Add or Remove Mouse Pointer Trails
- Open Additional mouse settings as above.
- Open the Pointer Options tab.
- Under Visibility, check or uncheck Display pointer trails. Use the slider to make the trail shorter or longer.
- Select OK.
Result: With trails on, the pointer leaves a short trail as it moves, which makes it easier to follow. On the same tab, Microsoft also lists Hide pointer while typing so the pointer doesn’t block text you’re typing.
Change Scrolling Settings
In Windows 11, scroll settings are on the main Bluetooth & devices > Mouse page under Scrolling:
- Roll the mouse wheel to scroll: choose Multiple lines at a time or One screen at a time.
- Lines to scroll at a time: set how far each notch of the wheel scrolls.
- Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them: scroll a window without clicking it first.
- Scrolling direction: choose Down motion scrolls down or Down motion scrolls up.
Windows 10 has the first three settings on its Devices > Mouse page. For horizontal scrolling, open Additional mouse settings, select the Wheel tab, and enter how many characters to scroll. Microsoft notes that your mouse has to support horizontal scrolling for this to work.
If an Apple Magic Mouse moves and clicks but its touch surface does not scroll on Windows 11, follow our Magic Mouse scrolling guide. It separates Bluetooth pairing from scrolling-driver support and explains compatibility and licensing before installation.
Stop Unexpected Scrolling in Windows 10
On Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse and turn Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them off. Microsoft’s mouse-settings guide documents that control. Test a long page with the pointer over a background window, then click the page and test normal wheel scrolling. This stops hover-based background scrolling; it does not block ordinary scrolling or guarantee a fix for a stuck wheel. Restore the switch if it was useful and was not causing the problem.
If a page moves without deliberate input, release a pressed middle mouse button or press Esc to exit browser autoscroll, check stuck arrow/Page Down keys, and compare another app. With a working alternative input device available, disconnect the suspect mouse or receiver and test whether the movement stops; try a known-good mouse. Check touchpad gestures separately. For an identified driver problem, follow our complete Windows 10 driver update and rollback steps, restart if requested and retest. Change one setting at a time. Smooth-scrolling preferences change how movement is drawn and are not a universal cure for input that keeps arriving; use the affected app’s documented controls when only that app fails.
Reverse Two-Finger Touchpad Scrolling
For a laptop touchpad in Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Scroll & zoom. Under Scrolling direction, select Down motion scrolls up or Down motion scrolls down and test a webpage with two fingers. Microsoft lists these touchpad settings. Record the original choice so you can restore it. Windows 10 uses Settings > Devices > Touchpad on supported hardware. This touchpad control is separate from the Mouse scrolling-direction setting above. If it is absent, consult the laptop or touchpad maker’s supported settings; a generic Device Manager driver Properties screen does not provide a universal scrolling-direction switch.
Other Mouse Settings
- Swap buttons: in Windows 11, use Primary mouse button on the Mouse page to choose Left or Right.
- Find your pointer: on the Pointer Options tab, check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key. Windows circles the pointer when you press Ctrl.
- ClickLock: on the Buttons tab, check Turn on ClickLock to highlight or drag items without holding down the mouse button.
- Snap To: on the Pointer Options tab, Snap To moves the pointer to the default button in dialog boxes. Microsoft notes some apps may not support it.
- Pointer size and style: go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch in Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I find Mouse pointer speed in Windows 10?
Windows 10 calls it Cursor speed, and it’s under Settings > Devices > Mouse rather than Bluetooth & devices.
Does this change touchpad speed too?
These steps are for a mouse. Laptop touchpads have their own settings page. For one common touchpad change, see how to stop right-clicking when you tap the touchpad with two fingers.
Why does my pointer still feel too fast or slow?
Try turning Enhance pointer precision on or off, then adjust the speed slider again. Some mice also have their own speed buttons or software from the manufacturer.
More Windows Guides
You can also change your mouse cursor in Windows 11 to make the pointer bigger or a different color.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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