Windows · Accessibility
Resize and recolor the mouse pointer
This page controls the size, color, and style of the mouse pointer and touch indicator, making them easier to see and track across the screen.
How to open Mouse Pointer and Touch
- Open Settings → Accessibility → Mouse pointer and touch
- Adjust the pointer size slider
- Select a pointer style or custom color
- Toggle the touch indicator on if using a touchscreen
What you should know
- Choose pointer size from small to extra-large using a slider
- Select a pointer style, including white, black, inverted, or a custom color
- Enable a visual touch indicator that shows a circle where you tap the screen
- Preview the pointer changes live before applying
Why it matters
A small default pointer can be difficult to spot on large or high-resolution monitors, especially for users with low vision or those who frequently lose track of the cursor while multitasking across several windows. Increasing pointer size and choosing a high-contrast color meaningfully reduces the time and effort needed to locate the cursor. The touch indicator is also valuable for presentations and tutorials on touchscreens, since it visibly shows the audience where a tap occurred. Together these options make pointing devices more usable for a wider range of vision abilities and use cases.
Best practices
- Increase pointer size incrementally and test on your actual monitor setup
- Choose an inverted or custom-color pointer if the default blends into your desktop background
- Enable the touch indicator when giving touchscreen demonstrations or tutorials
- Re-check pointer visibility after switching between light and dark themes
Common problems and fixes
- Pointer reverts to default size in some full-screen games
- Games that use exclusive fullscreen mode with custom cursors can override system pointer settings; this is expected behavior.
- Touch indicator doesn't appear
- Confirm your device has a touchscreen and that the touch indicator toggle is enabled.
- Custom pointer color looks the same as before
- Some apps use their own cursor graphics that ignore system color settings.
Tips and tricks
- Use the largest pointer size temporarily when screen sharing so viewers can follow your cursor easily
- Pair a custom pointer color with contrast themes for the most visible combination
Frequently asked questions
Does this affect touchpad cursor behavior?
No, this only changes the pointer's appearance, not touchpad sensitivity or gestures.
Can I set a custom pointer color?
Yes, Windows 11 lets you pick any color for the pointer, not just the presets.
Will this slow down my PC?
No, pointer size and color changes have no measurable performance impact.
Related settings
- MouseMouse settings control pointer speed, scroll behavior, primary button assignment, and additional pointer options for both wired and Bluetooth mice. This is where you fine-tune how the cursor responds to physical movement and clicks.
- TouchpadTouchpad settings let you adjust sensitivity, enable or disable tap-to-click, and configure multi-finger gestures for switching apps, virtual desktops, and zooming. These options only appear on laptops with a built-in precision touchpad.
- Text CursorText cursor settings let you change the color, size, and indicator of the blinking cursor that appears when typing, making it easier to locate on screen.
More Accessibility guides for Windows
- Language & RegionLanguage & Region settings let you configure your display language, keyboard layouts, regional date/time formats, and add additional languages for typing and speech.
- AccessibilityAccessibility settings (renamed from Ease of Access in earlier Windows versions) bring together vision, hearing, and interaction tools like Magnifier, Narrator, high contrast themes, live captions, and Sticky Keys. These features are designed to make Windows usable regardless of visual, auditory, or mobility needs, but many are genuinely useful for anyone.
- Voice TypingVoice Typing lets you dictate text directly into any text field using your PC's microphone instead of a physical keyboard, powered by online speech recognition. Triggered with Win+H, it includes automatic punctuation, voice commands for corrections, and support for multiple dictation languages.
- NarratorNarrator is the screen reader built into Windows 11 that reads aloud on-screen text, describes buttons and controls, and lets you operate the entire system with the keyboard or touch instead of a mouse.
- Contrast ThemesContrast themes apply high-contrast color combinations across Windows and apps, making text and UI elements easier to distinguish for people with low vision or light sensitivity.
- Text SizeText size lets you enlarge text in most Windows apps and menus independently of overall display scaling, making content easier to read without shrinking the layout of everything else.