Select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Under Mouse pointer style, pick white, black, inverted or a custom color, and drag the Size slider to make the pointer bigger. The change happens right away.

Applies to: Windows 11.

Contents hide

1 Change the cursor color and size

2 Change the cursor shape with a pointer scheme

3 Use your own cursor files

4 Find the pointer more easily

5 Make the text cursor easier to see

6 If the cursor won’t change or keeps changing back

7 Frequently asked questions

Change the cursor color and size

Select Start > Settings. There are other ways to open Settings if Start isn’t handy.
Select Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.
Under Mouse pointer style, choose White, Black, Inverted or Custom.
If you chose Custom, pick one of the colors shown, or select Choose another color.
Drag the Size slider to the right to make the pointer bigger.

Windows 11 Mouse pointer and touch settings with the Custom style and a color selected — Choose Custom (1), then pick a color (2). Use the Size slider below to make it bigger.

Inverted changes color to stand out against whatever is behind it. It’s a good choice if you lose the pointer on white and dark pages.

Change the cursor shape with a pointer scheme

Windows includes other pointer sets, such as extra-large and black versions.

Select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings.
Open the Pointers tab.
Choose a set from the Scheme list, then select OK.

Mouse Properties Pointers tab with the Scheme list and the OK button highlighted — Choose a scheme (1), then select OK (2).

To change just one pointer, such as the busy pointer, select it in the Customize list, select Browse, pick a pointer, and select Open. To go back, choose Use Default.

Use your own cursor files

Windows 11 uses two kinds of cursor files: .cur for still pointers and .ani for animated ones.

Save the cursor files to a folder you’ll keep, such as Documents\Cursors. Only download cursors from sites you trust.
In Mouse Properties, open the Pointers tab.
Select each pointer you want to change, select Browse, and pick the matching file.
Select Save As, give your set a name, and select OK. Your set now appears in the Scheme list.

Find the pointer more easily

In Mouse Properties, open the Pointer Options tab. Check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key, then select OK. Now pressing Ctrl shows a circle around the pointer.

Make the text cursor easier to see

The blinking line where you type is the text cursor. To make it thicker or add a colored marker, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor.

If the cursor won’t change or keeps changing back

A theme resets it. Themes can bring their own pointers. On the Pointers tab, clear Allow themes to change mouse pointers, then choose your scheme again.
Your custom color doesn’t show. The color only applies when Mouse pointer style is set to Custom. Select Custom, then pick the color again.
The pointer looks blurry when it’s big. Some older apps scale the pointer up instead of drawing it at full size. It looks sharp again in other apps.
One app shows a different pointer. Games and some design apps use their own cursors. Change it in that app’s settings.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my mouse pointer missing?

Move the mouse or touchpad. If it still doesn’t show, check that the mouse is connected by looking at the connected USB devices in Windows 11.

How do I go back to the normal cursor?

Choose White under Mouse pointer style and move the Size slider back to 1.

Can I hide the pointer while I type?

Yes. In Mouse Properties, open Pointer Options and check Hide pointer while typing. It comes back when you move the mouse.

How do I make the pointer move faster or slower?

Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse and drag the Mouse pointer speed slider. You can also turn on pointer trails on the Pointer Options tab in Mouse Properties to make the pointer easier to follow. Speed that changes with how fast you flick the mouse comes from acceleration, which you can switch off with Enhance pointer precision.

You can also change what the mouse buttons do or check your mouse DPI. Themes, colors and Start have their own settings, covered in customizing Windows 11.

The rest of the mouse options are on Microsoft’s Change mouse settings page.

Matt Jacobs

Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.

His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.