How to Record Mouse Cursor in Windows 11 Games

Method 1Changing the Setting in the Windows Settings App

The Settings ⚙️ app provides the fastest way to control cursor visibility during recordings.

Open Windows Settings

First, open the main Windows Settings ⚙️ app. Pressing Win+I on your keyboard is the quickest way. This opens the Settings ⚙️ window.

Go to Gaming Settings

Click Gaming in the left sidebar.

On the right side, you'll find several gaming options. Select Captures.

Choose How to Capture Your Mouse Cursor

Xbox Game Bar (the built-in Windows tool for recording clips) lets you record mouse cursor movements by changing your capture settings. Open Settings, click Gaming, and select Captures. Find the option labeled 'Capture mouse cursor when recording a game' and turn the switch on. This makes your mouse pointer visible in all future gameplay videos you record.

A switch controls the capture mouse cursor option. Turn this switch On if you want your mouse cursor to appear in your game recordings. This capture mouse cursor option is the default setting on most Windows 11 computers.

To hide your mouse cursor in recordings, turn the switch Off.

Close Settings

The selection to show or hide the mouse cursor during gameplay recording applies immediately. You can close the Settings window now; your choice will take effect the next time you record gameplay in Windows 11.

Method 2Using the Windows Registry Editor

Registry Editor (a database that stores low-level settings for Windows and apps) offers an advanced way to control your video capture options when the main settings app fails. This method requires careful steps because making mistakes in the registry can cause system problems. Always back up your registry before you change any values so you can restore your computer if anything goes wrong.

Before proceeding, it's wise to create a backup of your registry. This allows you to restore your system if any issues arise.

Turning On Mouse Cursor Capture Using the Registry

Registry Editor lets you turn on mouse cursor recording by editing a specific system key value. Press the Windows key plus R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the registry. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Captures and change the capture cursor value to force Windows to include your pointer in every recorded game clip.

Open the Registry Editor

Press Windows key + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter. Click "Yes" if the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears.

Go to the GameDVR Key

In the Registry Editor, navigate to a specific location. In the address bar at the top, carefully type or paste this path and press Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR

If the GameDVR folder doesn't exist within CurrentVersion, you'll need to create it. Right-click on CurrentVersion, select New, then Key, and name it GameDVR.

Create or Change the CursorCaptureEnabled Value

With the GameDVR key selected on the left, examine the right side. You need to create or change a value named CursorCaptureEnabled.

1. Right-click in the empty space on the right side.
2. Select New, then DWORD (32-bit) Value.
3. Name the new value exactly CursorCaptureEnabled.
4. Double-click on the new CursorCaptureEnabled value to change it.
5. In the "Value data" box, type 1.
6. Make sure "Base" is set to Hexadecimal.
7. Click OK.

Setting the CursorCaptureEnabled value to 1 tells Windows to capture your mouse cursor during game recordings.

Close the Registry Editor

You can now close the Registry Editor. The change usually takes effect immediately, but restarting your PC can help ensure all programs recognize the new setting.

To re-enable the capture mouse cursor setting, change its value to '1'. If the capture mouse cursor setting was already on, this action confirms its current state without altering it.

Turning Off Mouse Cursor Capture Using the Registry

Registry Editor allows you to hide your pointer from video files by changing your capture preferences to a zero value. Open the registry by pressing the Windows key plus R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Captures and set the mouse capture value to off so your cursor stays invisible during gameplay recordings.

Open the Registry Editor

As before, press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Grant permission if the UAC prompt appears.

Go to the GameDVR Key

In the Registry Editor's address bar, navigate to this path:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameDVR

Again, confirm the GameDVR key is present. If not, create it by right-clicking CurrentVersion, selecting New, then Key, and naming it GameDVR.

Change the CursorCaptureEnabled Value

In the right pane of the Registry Editor, locate the CursorCaptureEnabled value. If it's missing, create it as a DWORD (32-bit) Value, just as we did when enabling it.

1. Double-click on the CursorCaptureEnabled value.
2. In the "Value data" box, type 0.
3. Make sure "Base" is set to Hexadecimal.
4. Click OK.

Setting the CursorCaptureEnabled value to 0 tells Windows not to capture your mouse cursor during game recordings.

To ensure it's off, verify that the value is set to 0.

Close the Registry Editor

Registry Editor closing completes the change to stop capturing the mouse cursor in game recordings. This change applies immediately, but restarting your computer ensures this mouse cursor capture setting is fully integrated.

Summary

Windows 11 gives you two reliable methods to record mouse cursor visibility during gameplay videos. The Settings app provides the easiest and safest way to turn the feature on or off. The Registry Editor offers an advanced alternative for power users who need direct system control over their game recording preferences.

Remember, the Settings app is the most secure and recommended option for most users. Reserve the Registry Editor for situations where you are confident in your actions and have a backup in place.