Windows 11 Mouse Acceleration: Turn It Off, Set Speed

Windows 11 mouse acceleration is controlled by a single switch with an unhelpful name: Enhance pointer precision. When it is on, the pointer travels farther when you move the mouse quickly and less far when you move it slowly. That makes fine work easier on a small mouse pad, but it also means the same hand movement does not always land in the same place, which is why many gamers switch it off.

This guide shows where the setting is, when to use it, how to change mouse sensitivity and scrolling, and how the other mouse options fit together. It applies to Windows 11 version 24H2 and 25H2.

Where to find Enhance pointer precision

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I).
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
3. Find Enhance pointer precision and switch it on or off.

On some builds the switch is not on the main Mouse page. In that case select Additional mouse settings under Related settings, open the Pointer Options tab and tick or untick Enhance pointer precision under Motion, then select OK. The change applies immediately.

On or off: which to choose

Use	Suggested setting	Why
Office work, browsing, laptops with small mouse pads	On	Slow movements become more precise; fast flicks cover the screen
First-person and competitive games	Off	Movement stays proportional, so aim relies on muscle memory
Drawing and photo editing with a mouse	Try both	Some prefer the consistency of off
Touchpad	Separate settings	See below

Microsoft’s own advice is to keep it on to make the pointer more accurate when you move the mouse slowly. There is no single right answer: try your choice for a day before deciding. Many games also apply raw input that bypasses this setting, so the in-game sensitivity matters more there. Our Windows 11 gaming guide and Game Mode guide cover the other settings players usually adjust.

Change mouse sensitivity (pointer speed)

Sensitivity in Windows is the Mouse pointer speed slider on the same Mouse page. Move it left for slower, right for faster. A useful test: with your wrist resting, can you reach both edges of the screen without lifting the mouse, while still being able to hit a small close button? Adjust in small steps.

Many mice also have their own DPI setting, often a button under the scroll wheel, and some come with maker software. DPI and the Windows slider multiply each other. If you set a high DPI on the mouse, lower the Windows slider, and vice versa. If the pointer jumps or skips, the cause is more often the surface, a dirty sensor or a weak wireless signal than a setting.

Scrolling settings

Also on the Mouse page:

• Roll the mouse wheel to scroll: multiple lines at a time, or one screen at a time.
• Lines to scroll at a time: how far each notch of the wheel moves.
• Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them: lets you scroll a window without clicking it first.
• Scrolling direction: choose whether a downward motion scrolls down or up.

For horizontal scrolling on mice that support it, open Additional mouse settings and use the Wheel tab.

Buttons, pointer size and visibility

• Primary mouse button: set it to Right to swap the buttons for left-handed use.
• Double-click speed and ClickLock: on the Buttons tab of Additional mouse settings.
• Pointer trails, hide pointer while typing, and show location when you press Ctrl: on the Pointer Options tab.
• Pointer size and colour: Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch, using the Size slider and Mouse pointer style.

A bigger pointer is one of the easiest comfort changes on a high-resolution screen. If everything on screen looks too small, also look at display scaling in Windows 11.

Write down your settings before experimenting

If you share the PC or tune things often, note the slider position and the acceleration setting before you change them. Windows has no reset button for mouse settings, so a note (or a screenshot of the Mouse page) is the quickest way back. Change one thing at a time and use the mouse normally for a while before changing the next; small adjustments feel very different after an hour of use.

No mouse at all? Use Mouse keys

If a mouse breaks or is hard to use, Windows can move the pointer with the numeric keypad. Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse and turn on Mouse keys, then use the number keys to move the pointer and click. It is slow, but it gets you to a working mouse or a driver download.

Touchpads are separate

Laptop touchpads have their own page at Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad, with cursor speed, tap and gesture settings. If the touchpad stops responding, see our touchpad not working guide.

When the mouse feels wrong after changes

• Speed changes by itself. Maker software may be overriding Windows. Open it and check for profiles that switch per app.
• Settings reset after restart. Install the latest mouse software and drivers; our guide to updating drivers in Windows 11 explains safe sources.
• Wireless mouse lags. Move the receiver closer, use a USB extension cable, or check Bluetooth interference as described in Bluetooth not working in Windows 11.
• Back to a neutral start. Turn Enhance pointer precision on and put the speed slider in the middle, then adjust from there.

Other safe, reversible comfort tweaks are collected in our Windows 11 tweaks hub. Registry edits and “mouse fix” files that circulate online are not needed for anything in this guide.