How to Enable or Disable Pen Cursor in Windows 11
The pen cursor in Windows 11 shows up as a small dot on your screen whenever you move a stylus close to the display. Turning this visual dot on or off helps you hide distracting marks while you draw or take notes on touch screens.
You can change this setting in a few clicks through the main Windows 11 Settings app without installing extra software. Hiding the dot cleans up your display so you can see your handwriting and artwork much better.
Go to Settings Bluetooth & devices Pen & Windows Ink Expand Additional pen settings and check or uncheck the box next to Show cursor to enable or disable it. This setting controls the visual indicator that appears when your stylus is near the screen.
Enable or Disable Show Pen Cursor in Settings
- Open Settings by pressing
Win+I. - Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Then click on Pen & Windows Ink on the right side. (see screenshot below)
The pen cursor in Windows 11 helps you see exactly where your stylus touches the screen. You can turn this pointer on or off through the main Settings app . Open Settings by pressing the Win plus I, go to Bluetooth & devices, and select Pen & Windows Ink to find the toggle for showing or hiding the cursor.
- Click on Additional pen settings to expand it.
- Check the box (to turn on) or uncheck the box (to turn off) next to Show cursor. What happens? The pen cursor will appear or disappear when you use your pen.
- You can now close Settings.
Option Two
Enable or Disable Show Pen Cursor Using Registry
The Registry Editor (a database for system settings) lets you change the pen cursor behavior if the main settings menu is not working for you. You can update these settings through Windows Terminal using specific commands. Make sure you back up your registry before changing any values, as mistakes can cause system problems.
Open Windows Terminal and run a command to control the pen cursor's behavior. Available commands appear below:
To enable both 'Show visual effects' and 'Show cursor' (default):
This serves as the standard operating system configuration.
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 35 /f
To disable both 'Show visual effects' and 'Show cursor':
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
To disable 'Show visual effects' but keep 'Show cursor' on:
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 32 /f
To enable 'Show visual effects' but turn off 'Show cursor':
Summary
Managing the pen cursor in Windows 11 happens through either the Settings application or the Registry.
How do I change the pen cursor in Windows?
Changing the visual appearance of the pen cursor, such as shape or color, requires Mouse Properties. Open Settings, search for mouse configuration, and select the Pointers tab to browse alternative styles.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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