How to Enable or Disable Pen Visual Effects in Windows 11
Ever tap your screen with a stylus in Windows 11 and see a little ripple effect? This tutorial shows you how to control those visual effects, turning them on or off to suit your workflow.
When you pair your pen with Windows 11 using Bluetooth, you get to decide how it behaves. One of those choices lets you control whether visual effects pop up when you use it.
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
You can quickly turn Windows 11 pen visual effects on or off right from the Settings app.
- 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)
Advanced users can change Windows 11 pen visual effects using commands in Windows Terminal, which is handy for managing multiple PCs.
This method uses commands to change settings directly. Why use this? It’s faster if you need to change settings on multiple computers.
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
Controlling Windows 11 pen visual effects is simple, with a user-friendly Settings option and a faster command-line method for advanced users, letting you choose whether these visual cues help or distract you.
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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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