How to Change Mouse Sensitivity: Windows, Mac, Chromebook (2024)

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A beginner's guide to adjusting your cursor speed on a computer

Written byRain Kengly

Last Updated: April 23, 2024Fact Checked

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Using Windows

Using Mac

Using Chromebook

Using a Gaming Mouse

Video

Warnings

Is your mouse moving too quickly? You can easily change how precise your cursor moves from your computer's settings. If you're using a gaming mouse and want to change the DPI, you'll need to download and use the manufacturer's program. Here's how to change your mouse sensitivity using a Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer.

Quick Steps

On Windows, open Settings.
Click Devices.
Click Mouse.
Click Additional mouse options.
Click Pointer Options.
Drag the slider to adjust the speed.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Windows

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1
Open Start
. This is in the bottom-left or bottom-center of the screen.
2
Click
. This is the gear icon.^[1]
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3
Click Devices. It's near the top of the menu next to the speaker and keyboard icon.
- On Windows 11, click Bluetooth & devices in the left column.
4
Click Mouse. It's the third option from the top on the left column under the "Devices" heading. This opens the Mouse settings on the right side of the window.
- On Windows 11, this will be in the right panel.
5
Click Additional mouse options. It's just under the "Related Settings" section of the Mouse options. This opens the Mouse Properties window.
- On Windows 11, this will look like Additional mouse settings. You can find it in the right panel, underneath Related settings.
6
Click Pointer Options. It's a tab at the top of the Mouse window.
7
Adjust your mouse pointer's speed. A fast pointer speed has high mouse sensitivity, while a slow pointer speed has low mouse sensitivity.^[2]
- To increase your mouse sensitivity, click and drag the Motion slider to the right.
- To decrease your mouse sensitivity, click and drag the Motion slider to the left.
- Test out your pointer speed. If the mouse pointer moves too quickly, reduce the Motion slider; if it moves too slowly, increase the Motion slider.
- If you play FPS games, you may want to disable Enhance pointer precision for more consistent movement.
8
Click Apply, then click OK. Both options are at the bottom of the window. Doing so will save your settings and close the Mouse window. Your mouse pointer should now move at your determined speed.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Mac

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1
Open the Apple menu
. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.^[3]
See Also
Best DPI for Gaming: Settings & Equipment Gaming Mice: What is DPI, and why is it important?How to change mouse DPI on Windows and Mac | Digital Trends Change mouse settings - Microsoft Support
2
Click System Settings. It's near the top of the drop-down menu.
- On older devices, this will look like System Preferences.
3
Click Trackpad or Mouse. If you're using a MacBook laptop, you'll click Trackpad, while desktop users will click Mouse.
4
Click and drag the "Tracking speed" slider. This is on the right side.
- Test out your mouse. If it moves too quickly, drag the "Tracking speed" slider to the left; if it's too slow, drag the slider to the right.
- The setting will be saved automatically.
- Pointer acceleration makes the cursor move more quickly with fast movements. To turn this off, click Advanced and toggle it off.
- You can also change the scroll direction on your Mac.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Chromebook

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1
Open the Settings. Click the clock in the bottom-right corner, then click the cog icon.^[4]
2
Click Touchpad. This may also look like Touchpad and mouse. You can find this in the Device section.
3
Drag the "Touchpad speed" slider. This may also look like Mouse speed.
- Your changes will save automatically.
- You can also change the size and color of your cursor.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using a Gaming Mouse

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1
Install the mouse's program on your computer. With most gaming mouses, you'll need to download a separate application to fully customize settings like sensitivity. This can be found on the manufacturer's website.
- Some popular brands include:
2
Open the program and sync your mouse. Some programs will automatically recognize your mouse, while others require the serial number to sync fully. Once it's added to your program, you can adjust the DPI to increase or decrease mouse sensitivity.
3
Change the mouse settings. This should be in a side panel or menu. You'll be able to change the DPI (dots per inch), colors (if you have an RBG model), and the actions of the physical buttons.
- If you have extra physical buttons on your mouse, you can set the buttons to lower or increase your mouse sensitivity.

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Community Q&A

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Question
What program do I use to set mouse sensitivity?
Community Answer
If your mouse came with its own software, install it and use that to control its settings. Otherwise, download the software from the manufacturer or use the Mouse settings in your Control Panel or System Preferences.
Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
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Anker Support
Not Helpful 15Helpful 10
Question
How do I get the cursor to show up on Word documents?
Community Answer
Assuming you're using Windows, open the Mouse and Touchpad Settings (you can search for it in Windows Search and click it in the search results) and click "Additional mouse options." Then go to the "Pointer Options" tab and remove the check from "Hide pointer while typing."
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YesNo
Not Helpful 9Helpful 3
Question
I have Edge with Windows 10. How can I change the "wheel" in front of my pointer?
Community Answer
Open the Mouse and Touchpad Settings (you can search for it in Windows Search and click it in the search results) and click "Additional mouse options." Then go to the "Pointers" tab. Here you'll find various cursor schemes to choose from. You can also change an individual cursor by selecting it from the list and clicking "Browse." All available options will appear in the list.
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Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow
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== Tips ==.

If you are still having difficulty with the mouse after adjusting the sensitivity settings, it could be due to dirt build-up on the bottom of the mouse. You may be able to resolve this issue by cleaning your mouse.

Tips

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Warnings

Attempting to use your mouse on a glass, mirrored, or uneven surface will result in tracking issues.
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References

About This Article

Written by:

Rain Kengly

wikiHow Technology Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Rain Kengly. Rain Kengly is a wikiHow Technology Writer. As a storytelling enthusiast with a penchant for technology, they hope to create long-lasting connections with readers from all around the globe. Rain graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Cinema. This article has been viewed 940,293 times.

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Co-authors: 31

Updated: April 23, 2024

Categories: Computer Mouse Devices

Article SummaryX

On Windows
1. Open the Mouse Menu in Control Panel.
2. Click Pointer Options.
3. Select a pointer speed, and click Apply, then click OK.

On a Mac
1. Open the Mouse or Trackpad Menu in System Preferences.
2. Drag the Tracking Speed slider to "Fast" or "Slow."
3. Close System Preferences.

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FAQs

How to Change Mouse Sensitivity: Windows, Mac, Chromebook? ›

Adjust how quickly your pointer moves: Move the sliders next to "Touchpad speed" or "Mouse speed." Choose type of scrolling: Turn off Reverse (swipe up to move the page up).

Know More ›

How to change Chromebook Mouse sensitivity? ›

Adjust how quickly your pointer moves: Move the sliders next to "Touchpad speed" or "Mouse speed." Choose type of scrolling: Turn off Reverse (swipe up to move the page up).

Discover More Details ›

How to adjust mac Mouse sensitivity? ›

On your Mac, choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Mouse or Trackpad in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.) Drag the “Tracking speed” slider on the right. Tip: As you adjust the slider, try moving the pointer to see the effect of your changes.

How to change Windows Mouse sensitivity? ›

You can adjust your mouse sensitivity through the operating system settings or specific software provided by your mouse. In Windows, for example, you can go to the Control Panel, select "Mouse," and adjust the sensitivity in the "Pointer Options" tab.

Learn More ›

How to change mouse cursor on Chromebook? ›

To change your cursor on Chromebook, go to "Settings" → "Accessibility" → "Manage accessibility features" → "Mouse and touchpad." Click the drop-down menu next to "cursor color" to change the color. Toggle on "Show large mouse cursor" to make it bigger.

Learn More ›

How do I turn off touch sensitivity on Chromebook? ›

Steps

Press the Launcher Key(Everything button) or open a browser tab.
Search for Debugging keyboard shortcuts.
Enable the flag.
Restart Chrome.
Press Search+Shift+T to disable or enable your touchscreen.
Press Search+Shift+P to disable or enable your touchpad/trackpad.

Keep Reading ›

What is the default Mouse sensitivity Mac? ›

Set to 1 (default value)

By default, the mouse movement scale factor is 1x. This setting is listed in the Mouse preference pane as the "Tracking speed" slider. Its ticks give the following values: 0.0 (which surprisingly, does not mean "no movement")

Get More Info Here ›

How do I increase touch sensitivity on Mac? ›

To change the mouse sensitivity on a Mac computer, open the System Preferences, then click the Mouse icon. On the Point & Click tab, move the slider to adjust the tracking speed [1].

How do you fix an overly sensitive mouse? ›

Find the Control Panel by typing it into the Windows search bar. From there, click on Hardware and Sound and then Mouse. In the Mouse Properties window, look for the Pointer Options tab, where you'll find a slider to adjust mouse sensitivity.

Get More Info ›

How do I change the mouse sensitivity on my menu? ›

Quick Steps

On Windows, open Settings.
Click Devices.
Click Mouse.
Click Additional mouse options.
Click Pointer Options.
Drag the slider to adjust the speed.

Apr 23, 2024

Keep Reading ›

How do I reset the cursor on my Chromebook? ›

Pages. What do I do if my cursor disappears or my touchpad stops working on my Chromebook? If your cursor disappears or freezes on your screen, the best solution is to reboot your Chromebook. You can use the touchscreen or you can press SHIFT +CTRL +q +q again to sign out of your account.

Explore More ›

Where are the settings in Chromebook? ›

Navigate your settings in Chromebook

At the bottom right, select the time.
Select Settings . Or press Alt + Shift + s.
At the top, in the search bar, type a keyword, like Wi-Fi. Tip: To go to the search bar, you can also press Ctrl + f.
In the dropdown, select an option.

Know More ›

How do I change the right-click sensitivity on my Mouse? ›

Get More Info Here ›

How do I change the sensitivity of my Mouse pad? ›

Windows Users: In Windows 10, open Settings > Devices > Touchpad and change Touchpad sensitivity in the drop-down menu. For Windows 11, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and open the Taps menu to change touchpad sensitivity.

Discover More Details ›

How do I change the scrolling sensitivity on my Mouse? ›

Type and search [Mouse settings] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. In the Cursor speed field, drag the slider left or right to adjust the mouse cursor speed③. If there is no Cursor speed option in the mouse setting, it might be due to Windows version differences. Click [Additional mouse options]④.

Show Me More ›

How do I change the Keyboard sensitivity on my Chromebook? ›

Select Settings . In the "Device" section, select Keyboard. Under “Built-in keyboard,” select Remap keyboard keys. For the keys listed under “Remap keyboard keys,” choose an action you want it to perform.

How to Change Mouse Sensitivity: Windows, Mac, Chromebook (2024)

Quick Steps

Using Windows

Using Mac

Using Chromebook

Using a Gaming Mouse

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

FAQs

How to Change Mouse Sensitivity: Windows, Mac, Chromebook? ›

How do you fix an overly sensitive mouse? ›