To change mouse speed in Windows 11, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse and drag the Mouse pointer speed slider: left to slow the pointer down, right to speed it up. In Windows 10, the same slider is under Settings > Devices > Mouse as Cursor speed. For finer control, you can also turn pointer acceleration on or off and adjust your mouse’s DPI. Here’s how to do all of it.
Change mouse speed in Windows 11
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices, then Mouse.
- Drag the Mouse pointer speed slider.
- Move the pointer across the screen and click a few small targets to test the new speed.
Change mouse speed in Windows 10
- Press Windows + I to open Settings.
- Select Devices, then Mouse.
- Drag the Cursor speed slider. If you don’t see it, use Mouse Properties (below).
Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, and consumer Extended Security Updates run until October 12, 2027. These settings still work the same way.
Use Mouse Properties for precise control (Windows 10 and 11)
- On the Mouse settings page, select Additional mouse settings (Windows 11) or Additional mouse options (Windows 10). You can also press Windows + R, type main.cpl, and press Enter.
- Open the Pointer Options tab.
- Move the Select a pointer speed slider. The default is the middle notch.
- Check or clear Enhance pointer precision (see below).
- Select Apply, then OK.
Should you turn off “Enhance pointer precision”?
Enhance pointer precision is Windows’ name for mouse acceleration. When it’s on, the pointer travels farther when you move the mouse quickly and less when you move it slowly.
- Leave it on for everyday use, especially on laptops and large or multiple monitors, where it helps you cross the screen with small movements.
- Turn it off for gaming or design work. Without acceleration, the same hand movement always moves the pointer the same distance, which builds muscle memory.
Adjust your mouse’s DPI
DPI (dots per inch) is a hardware setting: how far the mouse reports it moved. Higher DPI means a faster pointer at the same Windows setting.
- Many gaming mice have a DPI button near the scroll wheel that cycles through presets.
- Use the maker’s app, such as Logitech G HUB, Logi Options+, or Razer Synapse, to set exact DPI values and profiles.
- A common approach for games is to set a moderate DPI on the mouse, leave the Windows slider at its default, and tune sensitivity inside each game.
Other speed settings worth changing
- Scroll speed: on the same Mouse settings page, change Lines to scroll at a time (or choose to scroll one screen at a time).
- Double-click speed: in Mouse Properties, on the Buttons tab, adjust Double-click speed and test it on the folder icon.
- Touchpad speed: laptop touchpads have their own slider under Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad (Windows 11) or Devices > Touchpad (Windows 10). See how to change touchpad sensitivity.
Troubleshooting
- The speed resets after a restart: the mouse maker’s software may be overriding Windows. Change the speed in that app, or close it from startup.
- The pointer is jumpy or laggy: try another USB port, replace the batteries, clean the sensor, and use a mouse pad on glossy surfaces. More fixes are in our guide to fixing mouse lag on Windows 11.
- Different mice need different speeds: Windows uses one pointer speed for all mice. Use the makers’ apps to set per-mouse DPI instead.
Related: Check mouse DPI on Windows 11.
Related: Change the cursor in Windows 11.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default mouse speed in Windows?
The middle setting, the 6th notch out of 11 in Mouse Properties and the center of the Settings slider.
Is mouse speed the same as sensitivity?
People use the words interchangeably. In Windows, pointer speed controls sensitivity; DPI is the mouse’s own hardware sensitivity.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.