Easy Guide: Change Mouse Pointer Style & Size in Windows 11

What Happens When You Change Your Pointer?

When you pick a custom style or color, Windows shows “(None)” in the scheme box. This is normal. It means you are using a custom setup rather than a saved pointer theme. You don’t need to fix it.

Where are these settings saved? Windows stores them per user, so another account on the same PC keeps its own pointer. The locations are:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Accessibility

How to Change Your Mouse Pointer

You change the pointer in the Settings app, under the accessibility menu. There you pick a new style or drag the size slider. Changes apply immediately, so you do not need to sign out or restart. In this guide "cursor" and "pointer" mean the same thing: the arrow that moves with your mouse. The blinking line you see when typing is a separate text cursor with its own settings under Accessibility › Text cursor

These steps change the mouse pointer size and style in Windows 11:

1. Open Settings by pressing Win+I. The Settings window opens.
2. Click Accessibility on the left side. The accessibility categories appear on the right.
3. Click Mouse pointer and touch. You should now see the pointer options.
4. Choose a style under Mouse pointer. The options are White (default), Black, Inverted, or Custom. The pointer changes as soon as you click.
5. Drag the Size slider to the size you want. You can choose from 1 to 15, and the default is 1. Move the mouse over a few windows to check that the size is comfortable.
6. Pick a color if you chose the Custom style. Use one of the three methods below. If you chose White, Black, or Inverted, you are done.

Option A: Select Color from "Recommended colors"

This is the quickest method. Windows offers a row of ready-made colors, so you do not have to mix anything yourself.

1. Select the Custom style first. The Recommended colors section appears only after you do this.
2. Find the Recommended colors section on the same page. It shows a row of color swatches.
3. Click the color you want. The pointer takes on that color right away.

Option B: Choose Another Color

Use this method when none of the recommended colors suits you and you want to pick a shade by eye.

1. Click Choose another color. A color picker opens.
2. Select a base color from the left side of the picker.
3. Use the slider to adjust and customize the color. The preview updates as you move it.
4. Check the color shown on the right side. This is your current selection.
5. Click Done when you're finished. The pointer now uses the new color.

Option C: Specify Custom RGB or HSV Color

Use this method if you need an exact color, for example to match a color you already use elsewhere.

1. Click Choose another color. The color picker opens.
2. Click More. The color value fields appear.
3. Select RGB or HSV from the drop-down menu. Pick whichever color format you want to use.
4. Enter the RGB or HSV values for the custom color you want. The preview shows the result as you type.
5. Click Done when you're finished. The pointer now uses the exact color you entered.

If you can't see the Custom style or the color options, your copy of Windows 11 may be out of date. Run Windows Update, restart if it asks you to, and check this page again.

Summary

Personalizing the mouse pointer in Windows 11 makes the cursor easier to see during daily tasks. There are four core styles: White, Black, Inverted, and Custom. A size slider runs from 1 to 15, and dedicated color pickers let you choose a custom color. If you don't like the result, set the style back to White and the size to 1.