Skip to content
Follow
Windows

How to Enable or Disable Pen Visual Effects in Windows 11

Richard
Written by
Richard
Mar 29, 2026 Updated Sep 15, 2026 2 min read
How to Enable or Disable Pen Visual Effects in Windows 11
How to Enable or Disable Pen Visual Effects in Windows 11

Pen visual effects in Windows 11 show small circle animations and ripples on your screen whenever your stylus touches the display. These visual cues first arrived in Windows 11 build 22000 to show you exactly where your pen lands.

Advertisement

Turning off these ripples gives you a clean screen when you write or draw. You can switch these visual effects on or off in a few clicks through the main Settings app.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Settings , navigate to Bluetooth & devices, then Pen & Windows Ink. Click Additional pen settings and check or uncheck the “Show visual effects” box to enable or disable them.

Advertisement

Option 1Using Settings

You can turn Windows 11 pen visual effects on or off using the main Settings app . This is the easiest method for most users because it lets you change the setting with a few clicks. Open the Settings app, go to the Bluetooth & devices menu, and find the options for your stylus pen to control visual feedback on your screen.

  1. Open Settings by pressing Win+I on your keyboard.
  2. Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side.
  3. Click on Pen & Windows Ink on the right side.  Open Pen & Windows Ink settings
  4. Click on Additional pen settings to expand the menu.
  5. Look for the Show visual effects option. Check the box to enable it (turn on). Uncheck the box to disable it (turn off).
  6. Close Settings when you’re done.
Windows 11 Pen and Windows Ink settings menu location
Windows 11 Pen & Windows Ink settings page
Show pen visual effects checkbox toggle in Windows 11
Show pen visual effects checkbox toggle in Windows 11

Option 2Using Windows Terminal (Advanced)

Windows Terminal lets you change Windows 11 pen visual effects using command-line tools instead of the graphical menu. This method works well for system administrators who need to update multiple computers quickly. You just open the terminal app and run the specific command for your system to adjust the visual feedback setting instantly.

Command-line changes offer a faster way to adjust settings across more than one computer.

Open Windows Terminal and run one of these commands:

Advertisement

Turn On visual effects and cursor (default setting):

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 35 /f

Turn Off visual effects and cursor:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Turn Off visual effects and keep cursor On:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 32 /f

Turn On visual effects and turn Off cursor:

reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors" /v PenVisualization /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f

Summary

Configuring Windows 11 pen visual effects happens through either graphical menus or command-line scripts. Choosing between these approaches depends entirely on whether personal customization or bulk deployment matters most.

Was this guide helpful?

Tags: #Windows 11
Was this helpful?
Richard

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.

Advertisement

📚 Related Tutorials

How to Open Windows Terminal as Admin Automatically
Windows How to Open Windows Terminal as Admin Automatically
How to Access Settings in Windows 11
Windows How to Access Settings in Windows 11
How to Set Windows Terminal to Open with Command Prompt on Windows 11
Windows How to Set Windows Terminal to Open with Command Prompt on Windows 11
How to Access Control Panel in Windows 11
Windows How to Access Control Panel in Windows 11

No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *