How to Enable or Disable Pen Visual Effects in Windows 11
Pen visual effects in Windows 11 are the small circle animations and ripples that appear on your screen whenever your stylus touches the surface. First added in Windows 11 build 22000, these visual cues show you exactly where your pen lands.
Turning off these ripples gives you a clean screen when you write or draw. You can switch these effects on or off in a few clicks through the main settings app.
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.
Option 1Using Settings
The Settings app provides a graphical interface for managing these preferences. Navigating through the primary configuration menus uncovers the correct toggle without digging through legacy panels.
- Open Settings by pressing
Win+Ion your keyboard. - Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side.
- Click on Pen & Windows Ink on the right side. Open Pen & Windows Ink settings
- Click on Additional pen settings to expand the menu.
- Look for the Show visual effects option. Check the box to enable it (turn on). Uncheck the box to disable it (turn off).
- Close Settings when you’re done.
Option 2Using Windows Terminal (Advanced)
Windows Terminal offers an advanced method for administrators deploying configurations across multiple machines. Shell commands bypass the graphical interface entirely to speed up repetitive tasks. Specific arguments applied in the console switch the behavior 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:
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.
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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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