How to Change Cursor Size and Color in Windows 10 & 11

Press Win + U, select Mouse pointer and touch, then drag the Size slider and pick a color under Mouse pointer style to change the cursor on Windows 11.

Windows 10 has the same controls under Ease of Access > Mouse pointer, and both versions can also thicken and highlight the blinking text cursor.

How to Change Mouse Cursor Size and Color in Windows 11

Both settings sit on one page in Windows 11. Changes apply the moment you make them, so there is no Save button.

1. Press Win + U, or select Start > Settings > Accessibility.
2. Select Mouse pointer and touch.
3. Under Mouse pointer, drag the Size slider to the right until the pointer is as large as you want.
4. Under Mouse pointer style, choose white, black or inverted, or the colored style.
5. With the colored style selected, pick one of the recommended colors.
6. For any other shade, select Choose another color and pick it from the color picker.

To open this page directly, press Win + R, type ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer and press Enter.

What You Can Change in Windows

Windows treats the mouse pointer and the text cursor as two separate things. The pointer follows your mouse; the text cursor is the blinking bar where typed text appears.

What you want to change	Windows 11	Windows 10
Mouse pointer size	Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch > Size	Ease of Access > Mouse pointer > Change pointer size
Mouse pointer color	Mouse pointer style, then Choose another color for a custom shade	Color tiles, then Pick a custom pointer color for a color wheel
Text cursor thickness	Accessibility > Text cursor > Text cursor thickness	Ease of Access > Text cursor > Change text cursor thickness
Colored marker on the text cursor	Text cursor indicator switch, size and color	Turn on text cursor indicator, size and color
Pointer shape (arrow, hand, busy)	Mouse Properties > Pointers tab	Mouse Properties > Pointers tab

Size and color come from the Settings app. Shape comes from the older Mouse Properties dialog, which both versions still include.

How to Change Mouse Cursor Size and Color in Windows 10

Windows 10 calls the section Ease of Access instead of Accessibility. The labels differ slightly, but the result is the same.

1. Select Start > Settings > Ease of Access.
2. Select Mouse pointer in the left pane.
3. Drag the slider under Change pointer size until the pointer is the size you want.
4. Below the size slider, select the white, black or inverted tile, or the colored tile.
5. With the colored tile selected, pick one of the suggested colors.
6. To use any other color, select Pick a custom pointer color and choose it on the color wheel.

The inverted style flips to the opposite of whatever sits under it, so it stays visible on both light and dark backgrounds.

How to Change the Text Cursor in Windows 10 and 11

A thin text cursor is easy to lose in a long document. Windows can make it thicker and add a colored indicator that marks where you are typing.

1. On Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor. On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Text cursor.
2. Turn on the Text cursor indicator switch (Windows 11) or select Turn on text cursor indicator (Windows 10).
3. Drag the indicator Size slider until it looks right in the preview.
4. Pick one of the recommended colors, or select Choose another color (Windows 11) or Pick a custom color (Windows 10).
5. Drag the Text cursor thickness slider (Windows 11) or Change text cursor thickness slider (Windows 10) until the bar in the preview is easy to see.

The Windows 11 page opens directly with ms-settings:easeofaccess-cursor in the Run box.

How to Use Classic Mouse Pointer Schemes

A scheme restyles every pointer at once: the arrow, the busy circle, the link hand and the text I-beam. Pick one to change the pointer shape rather than just its size and color.

1. On Windows 11, select Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse. On Windows 10, select Start > Settings > Devices > Mouse.
2. Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings (Windows 11) or Additional mouse options (Windows 10).
3. In Mouse Properties, select the Pointers tab.
4. Open the Scheme drop-down and pick a scheme. The Customize list previews every pointer in it.
5. Select Apply to try it, then OK to keep it.

A scheme and the Settings color can clash. If the pointer ignores your Settings color after you apply a scheme, choose the color again in Mouse pointer and touch. Button, wheel and speed options live in the same dialog.

Best Cursor Settings for Different Situations

Match your situation to a row. Each suggestion uses only the built-in controls covered above.

Your situation	Set this	Why
4K or other high-resolution monitor	Raise pointer Size two or three steps	At high pixel density the default arrow looks tiny
Presentations and screen sharing	Colored style in a bright color, plus a larger Size	A colored pointer stands out on slides and on viewers' screens
Low vision or accessibility needs	Large Size, inverted or colored style, and Text cursor indicator on	Both the pointer and the typing position become easy to track
Dark mode users	White or inverted style	A black pointer disappears on dark windows
Mostly writing or coding	Thicker Text cursor thickness and a colored indicator	The typing position matters more than the pointer

How to Find the Pointer Quickly

A bigger pointer is only half the fix on a large or multi-monitor desk. These options show you where it is on demand.

Option	Where to turn it on	What it does
Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key	Mouse Properties > Pointer Options tab	Pressing Ctrl draws a circle around the pointer
Display pointer trails	Mouse Properties > Pointer Options tab	Leaves a short trail behind the moving pointer
PowerToys Find My Mouse	Microsoft PowerToys > Mouse utilities	Press Ctrl twice or shake the mouse to spotlight the pointer
PowerToys Mouse Pointer Crosshairs	Microsoft PowerToys > Mouse utilities	Draws colored crosshairs centered on the pointer
PowerToys Mouse Highlighter	Microsoft PowerToys > Mouse utilities	Shows a colored mark on each click; Win + Shift + H toggles it

PowerToys is a free Microsoft tool. Setup and the spotlight settings are covered in PowerToys Find My Mouse.

Can You Use Custom Cursor Files?

Yes. Windows accepts cursor files in .cur format for static pointers and .ani format for animated ones. Load them one pointer role at a time on the Pointers tab.

1. Open Mouse Properties from Additional mouse settings (Windows 11) or Additional mouse options (Windows 10).
2. Select the Pointers tab.
3. In the Customize list, select the pointer role to replace, such as the normal select arrow.
4. Select Browse, pick the .cur or .ani file and select Open.
5. Repeat for any other roles, then select Apply and OK.

Only use cursor files from a source you trust. To return a single role to its scheme default, pick the scheme again from the Scheme drop-down.

How to check the new cursor size and color took effect

1. Move the mouse across the desktop. The arrow should show your new size and color.
2. Hover over a link in a browser. The hand pointer should use the same size and color.
3. Click into a text box in Notepad. The blinking bar should show your thickness, with the colored indicator if you turned it on.
4. Press Ctrl if you enabled pointer location. A circle should appear around the pointer.

How to Reset the Cursor to Default

The Windows default is the white pointer at the smallest size, with no text cursor indicator.

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch (Windows 11) or Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse pointer (Windows 10).
2. Drag the size slider all the way to the left.
3. Select the white pointer style.
4. Open Text cursor in the same section, turn off the text cursor indicator and drag the thickness slider back to the left.
5. If you applied a scheme or custom files, open Mouse Properties > Pointers, choose the Windows default scheme in Scheme, then select Apply and OK.

What to Do If the Cursor Size or Color Does Not Change

The cursor changes size in some places but not others

Each pointer role (arrow, hand, text I-beam, busy) is a separate image, and some apps draw their own cursor.

1. Check whether the odd pointer appears only in one app, such as a game or design program.
2. If it does, that app is using its own cursor; look for a cursor option in its settings.
3. If it happens everywhere, open Mouse Properties > Pointers and check the Customize list for a role loaded from a custom file.

The pointer color does not change

A scheme or custom cursor file on the Pointers tab supplies its own pointer images.

1. Open Mouse Properties > Pointers and choose the Windows default scheme.
2. Select Apply and OK.
3. Return to Mouse pointer and touch and select the colored style and your color again.

The text cursor still looks thin

Thickness and the indicator are set on the Text cursor page, not on the mouse pointer page.

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor (Windows 11) or Ease of Access > Text cursor (Windows 10).
2. Drag the thickness slider to the right.
3. Turn on the text cursor indicator for a colored marker.

The change does not show in an app that was already open

Some apps keep the cursor they loaded at startup.

1. Close and reopen the app.
2. If the old cursor persists, sign out of Windows and sign back in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change cursor size and color in Windows?

Press Win + U and select Mouse pointer and touch on Windows 11, or Mouse pointer under Ease of Access on Windows 10. Drag the size slider, then pick white, black, inverted or a colored pointer style.

How do I change the colour of my cursor on Windows 11?

Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch, select the colored style under Mouse pointer style and pick a recommended color. Select Choose another color for any other shade. The pointer changes immediately.

How do I increase the size of the cursor?

Drag the Size slider in Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch to the right on Windows 11. On Windows 10, use the Change pointer size slider under Ease of Access > Mouse pointer. Each step makes the pointer larger.

How do I change cursor size in Windows 10?

Select Start > Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse pointer and drag the slider under Change pointer size. The same page changes the pointer color, including a custom color from Pick a custom pointer color.

Why does my cursor change size?

Windows uses a different image for each pointer role, such as the arrow, the link hand and the text I-beam. Some apps and games also draw their own cursor. A mismatched scheme or custom file on the Pointers tab can make one role larger than the rest.

How do I change the cursor size on my computer quickly?

Press Win + U to open Accessibility settings, then select Mouse pointer and touch and drag the Size slider. You can also type ms-settings:easeofaccess-mousepointer in the Run box to open the page directly.

How do I modify the text cursor size?

Open Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor and drag Text cursor thickness to the right. Turn on Text cursor indicator and adjust its Size slider to add a colored marker. Windows 10 has the same controls under Ease of Access > Text cursor.

How do I alter the cursor size back to normal?

Drag the pointer size slider all the way to the left and select the white style. If you applied a pointer scheme, open Mouse Properties > Pointers, choose the Windows default scheme and select OK.