How to Turn On Mouse Pointer Shadow in Windows 11
Mouse pointer shadow in Windows 11 adds a dark drop shadow beneath your cursor so you can spot it quickly on bright backgrounds or busy screens. Windows 11 hides this visual aid inside the classic Control Panel rather than the main Settings app.
Tracking your cursor on large 4K monitors or multi-display setups gets much easier once you turn on this setting. Follow these steps to locate the pointer shadow option and make your mouse stand out all day.
Enable the mouse pointer shadow in Windows 11 by opening Settings, navigating to Bluetooth & devices Mouse Additional mouse settings, and checking “Enable pointer shadow” on the Pointers tab. This makes the cursor easier to see, especially on large displays.
Steps to Turn On Mouse Pointer Shadow
Turning on mouse pointer shadow in Windows 11 makes your cursor much easier to see against bright backgrounds by adding a soft drop shadow beneath it. You can enable this feature through the main Settings app by navigating to your Bluetooth and devices menu, opening your mouse settings, and adjusting your pointer options.
- Open Windows Settings :
Press Windows key + I on your keyboard.
Or click the Start button, then click Settings.
windows 11 start menu settings updated
- Go to Mouse Settings:
In the Settings window, click Bluetooth & devices on the left side.
Then click Mouse on the right.
windows 11 mouse tile
- Open Additional Mouse Settings:
Scroll down and click Additional mouse settings under Related settings.
windows 11 mouse additional settings
- Enable Pointer Shadow:
In the Mouse Properties window, click the Pointers tab.
Find the box labeled Enable pointer shadow and check it to turn on the shadow.
Click OK to save.
windows 11 mouse pointer enable pointer shadow
Alternative Way Using Run Command
Opening Performance Options using the Run command is the fastest way to turn on mouse pointer shadow in Windows 11 without clicking through the modern Settings app . Typing the system properties command into the Run box lets you directly access the visual effects tab where you can check the box for pointer shadows.
- Click Start, then search for and open Run.
- Type
SystemPropertiesPerformance.exeand press Enter.
windows 11 run app system properties - In the Performance Options window, under the Visual Effects tab, find and check the box for Show shadows under mouse pointer.
Click OK to apply. 
windows 11 enable shadow under mouse pointer
And that’s it! Your mouse pointer will now have a shadow, making it easier to see.
Why Use Pointer Shadow?
- It helps make the mouse pointer easier to spot, especially on large or multiple screens.
- Good for people who have trouble seeing small or plain pointers.
- Easy to turn on or off anytime through Settings.
Try it out and enjoy a clearer view of your mouse!
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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