One of my favorite low vision accessibility features for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is the option to customize mouse pointers and cursors so they are easier to see. I’ve been using a large turquoise mouse pointer on my personal computers for several years now and find it much easier to keep track of where my pointer is on the screen, as well as make sure it doesn’t get “lost” in a sea of similar colors. Here are nine different ways to customize the mouse pointer and mouse cursor for users with low vision.
Mouse pointer size
Starting in Windows 10, the mouse pointer can be enlarged to 15 different sizes, which range from around 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) to over two inches (5 cm) in size. For my daily use on a desktop computer, I prefer the size 6 pointer, but if I am using screen magnification software I sometimes decrease the size to 4 so it doesn’t block out any information. If I’m using a laptop, I typically increase the size to 8 so I can still see it on the smaller screen.
How to change mouse pointer size in Windows
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Using the slider, adjust the size of the pointer to the desired size
- Once selected, the mouse pointer size will be automatically adjusted
Related links
- Windows Magnifier and Low Vision
- Computer Lab Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Windows 10
Changing pointer color
There are four different color options available for changing the mouse pointer color. The first two options for white and black are pretty self-explanatory, as they are solid colors, though there are two additional options that can benefit users with low vision, as well as users with cortical visual impairment/neurological visual impairment (CVI) who have a preferred color for accessing information.
Invert
Invert colors (also known as inverted display or invert) is a color mode/color filter that changes a light-colored display with dark text to a dark-colored display with light text. When hovering the cursor over content, the content directly inside of the cursor is displayed with inverted colors.
Custom color
Setting a custom color provides users with a consistent solid color, with options from choosing from a list of recommended colors or setting a custom color with RGB or HEX values. Even though my favorite color is purple, I chose a bright aqua/turquoise color for my cursor because it isn’t a color that appears on websites or applications that I access frequently.
How to change mouse pointer color in Windows
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Select a cursor color from the list: White, Black, Invert, or Custom
- For custom cursors, select a color from either the suggested pointer colors or select More/Choose Another Color to choose a custom shade, selecting Done when finished
- Once selected, the mouse pointer color will be automatically activated
Related links
Cursor thickness
By default, the text cursor is a thin line that can be difficult to locate on the screen for users with low vision. One of the options for making the text cursors easier to see is to increase the thickness of the cursor so that it is a large rectangle. There are 20 different thicknesses available for the cursor thickness in the Ease of Access menu, and I would use a size “8” on my own computer and computers in my college labs.
How to change mouse cursor thickness in Windows
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Text Cursor
- Adjust the slider to increase the text cursor thickness
- Once selected, the cursor thickness will be automatically activated
Related links
Visual feedback
While this isn’t technically a setting for the mouse, visual feedback is helpful when working with touchscreen devices and displays, or locating information on a touch screen
How to change touch visual feedback in Windows
- Open Ease of Access (Windows 10) or Accessibility (Windows 11) in Settings
- In the Vision section, select Mouse Pointer
- Turn on Touch Indicator, and select the checkbox to make the circle larger and darker
Related links
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College
- Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College
Double-click speed
Double-click speeds by default may be too fast or too slow for users, and this can also be customized within the Mouse settings to reflect user preference
How to change double click settings in Windows
- Open Device settings and select Mouse. Do not select a specific mouse
- Select Additional mouse settings/Additional mouse options
- Under the Buttons heading, select double-click speed and adjust the slider to the desired speed
- Select Apply and then OK to save settings
Click lock
Another option for making computer mice easier to use is to turn on a click lock, which makes it easier to highlight or select content without continuously pressing down on the left-click button on the mouse. With click lock, users can long-press on their mouse key to start selecting text, and then left-click the mouse again when finished. The click speed can also be customized in Mouse settings.
How to enable Click Lock in Windows
- Open Device settings and select Mouse. Do not select a specific mouse
- Select Additional mouse settings/Additional mouse options
- Under the Buttons heading, select the checkbox for Click Lock and configure the click speed if needed
- Select Apply and then OK to save settings
Pointer speed
Quick-moving mouse pointers can be difficult to see or follow, so I prefer to have a slower pointer speed so I can visually track my mouse pointer on the screen, as well as enhance pointer precision.
How to change mouse pointer speed in Windows
- Open Device settings and select Mouse. Do not select a specific mouse
- Select Additional mouse settings/Additional mouse options
- Under the Pointer Options heading, use the slider to adjust the pointer speed from 12 options and enable pointer precision if desired.
- Select Apply and then OK to save settings
Pointer visibility
There are three different options for pointer visibility, which include displaying pointer trails to track the direction of the mouse, hiding the pointer while typing, and showing the location of the pointer when pressing the CTRL key. I find the pointer trails to be disorienting with double vision, but use the hide pointer and show pointer features frequently on my personal devices.
How to change mouse pointer visibility in Windows 10
- Open Device settings and select Mouse. Do not select a specific mouse
- Select Additional mouse settings/Additional mouse options
- Under the Pointer Options heading, scroll to the Visibility section
- Select desired checkboxes for pointer trails, hide pointer while typing, and show location of pointer when CTRL is pressed
- Select Apply and then OK to save settings
Related links
- Two of Everything: Living With Double Vision
- Ten “Odd” Things I Do With Double Vision
- Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Keyboards
Scrolling settings
To avoid scrolling through too many lines at a time or missing information, I find it helpful to customize scrolling settings to display a smaller amount of lines at a time when using the scroll wheel. This has been really helpful for reading large print text and ensuring I don’t miss information
How to change scrolling settings in Windows 10
- Open Device settings and select Mouse. Do not select a specific mouse
- Select Additional mouse settings/Additional mouse options
- Under the Wheel heading, locate the Scrolling section
- Adjust the number of lines to display when scrolling with the wheel
- Select Apply and then OK to save settings
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision
- Ways To Use Teleprompter Apps As Assistive Technology
More ideas for accessible mouse pointers and low vision
- Need to enlarge the dialog boxes to configure settings? Read Reading Dialog Boxes With Low Vision
- Wondering what computer mouse to choose for a low vision user? Read Computer Mice and Mouse Alternatives For Low Vision
- In addition to using my computer mouse, I also enable custom keyboard shortcuts and icons to make it easier to locate information. Learn more in How To Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows and How To Customize Icons For Windows
- Want more Windows and Microsoft accessibility content? Browse Microsoft Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published October 11, 2019. Updated September 2024