How to Add or Remove Mouse Keys Icon on Windows 11 Taskbar

This tutorial shows you how to turn the mouse keys icon on or off in the taskbar system tray in Windows 11.

Why would you want to do this? Mouse Keys lets you use the numeric keypad on your keyboard instead of the mouse to move the pointer around your screen.

What happens when you turn on Mouse Keys? You can control your cursor using the number pad. By default, Mouse Keys only works when Num Lock is turned on. You can press Num Lock to turn Mouse Keys active or inactive without completely turning off the feature.

Reference: Use Mouse Keys to move the mouse pointer – Microsoft Support

When Mouse Keys is active, you’ll see a notification icon in your taskbar. This tutorial shows you three ways to show or hide that icon.

Note: The Mouse Keys settings are stored in the Windows registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility\MouseKeys

Option One: Use Settings

The Settings app provides the quickest way to add or remove the Mouse Keys icon on your Windows 11 taskbar. Open Settings by pressing Win+I, navigate to Accessibility > Mouse, then check or uncheck the “Show the mouse keys icon on the taskbar” option to enable or disable the icon display.

1. Open Settings by pressing Win+I.
2. Click Accessibility on the left side, then click Mouse on the right side.
3. Check the box next to Show the mouse keys icon on the taskbar to turn it on. Uncheck the box to turn it off.
4. Note: This setting will be grayed out if Mouse Keys is turned off.
5. You can close Settings now.

Option Two: Use Control Panel

 Open Mouse settings

1. Open Control Panel (in icons view) and click the Ease of Access Center icon.
2. Click Make the mouse easier to use.
3. Click Set up Mouse Keys under “Control the mouse with the keyboard”.
4. Under Other settings, check the box next to Display the Mouse Keys icon on the taskbar to turn it on. Uncheck to turn it off. Then click OK.
5. Click OK again.
6. You can close the Ease of Access Center now.

Option Three: Use the Taskbar Hidden Icon Menu

This method lets you show or hide the Mouse Keys icon in the taskbar’s hidden icons menu (the system tray corner).

1. Open Settings by pressing Win+I.
2. Click Personalization on the left side, then click Taskbar on the right side.
3. Click Other system tray icons to expand that section.
4. Turn On or Off the toggle next to Mouse Keys for what you want.
5. You can close Settings now.

Summary

Mouse Keys is a helpful accessibility feature that lets you move your cursor using your keyboard’s number pad. Windows 11 gives you three easy ways to show or hide the Mouse Keys icon on your taskbar:

• Settings app: Go to Accessibility > Mouse and toggle the mouse keys icon setting.
• Control Panel: Use Ease of Access Center > Set up Mouse Keys and check the display option.
• Taskbar settings: Use Personalization > Taskbar > Other system tray icons to manage the icon.

Choose whichever method you find easiest. All three ways work equally well in Windows 11.

Frequently Asked Questions