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Are you sick of the default white cursor in Windows? Most people customize their computer wallpaper, sounds, and other elements, but don't think to tweak the cursor.
Thankfully, it's easy to change your cursor's look. Let's look at how to use a custom cursor in Windows.
Where to Find Custom Mouse Pointers
To change your Windows cursor, you'll first need a new cursor set. The easiest way to add custom cursors to Windows is to download ready-made packs. You'll find tons of great free cursor options online with a bit of searching.
One of our favorite cursor packs is Oxygen Cursors, created by LAvalon on DeviantArt. It includes a glassy-looking cursor in 37 different color schemes, meaning that you're sure to find a color setup you'll like. In addition to a clean look, they're also easy to install, making it a great choice if you're new to cursor customization.
For tons of cursor options, have a look at the Cursor tag on DeviantArt and Open Cursor Library. You'll be able to find all sorts of interesting options there.
Sample Mouse Cursor Packs
While we can't list all the available cursors options, here's a sampling from DeviantArt that will appeal to most people. Note that you'll need to have a free DeviantArt account to download these:
- Capitaine cursors by krourke: A cursor scheme inspired by macOS, with a clean dark look and several alternative icons for loading and other symbols.
- Pulse Glass by Stamga: A simple set that contains animated cursors for the normal, working, busy, and link states.
- Android Material Cursors by MJ-lin: Inspired by Google's Material Design, seen in Android and the company's web apps.
- Anathema Cursor by Anaidon-Aserra: A bold set of cursors that are almost all animated. You can also find this pack in blue, white, and pink in the description.
- Numix Cursors by alexgal23: A popular cursor pack that's available in both black and white themes.
- Entis Cursors by zhorak: A bold cursor set, which is perfect if you often lose track of your cursor.
- Wii Cursors by allewun: If you're nostalgic for the pointer from the Nintendo Wii, this pack lets you revive it on your PC.
How to Install Custom Cursor Packs
Because they contain multiple files, most cursor packs download in an archived format, like ZIP or RAR. To proceed, you'll need to extract the folder contents so you can use them.
If you don't have it already, install 7-Zip, one of our favorite file extraction tools, to unpack these. Simply right-click on the downloaded folder and choose 7-Zip > Extract to [archive name] and the software will create a new folder with the archive's contents.
Depending on your cursor pack, there may be multiple folders inside for the various themes, so open the one you're most interested in. Inside, you'll see several files ending in CUR and ANI. CUR files are static cursors, while ANI file formats are animated cursor files.
Most cursor packs will also have an INF file, typically install.inf or [cursor name].inf. This is an easy installation file that you can use to add the custom cursor to your system.
Right-click on the INF file and choose Install. Windows will show a UAC prompt; once you accept it, the process only takes a moment.
(If your cursor pack didn't include an INF file, see the section below on manually changing your mouse cursor.)
Repeat these steps for any other cursor packs you want to install. Now that you've added the packs to Windows, you'll need to apply the cursor set you want to use.
How to Change Your Cursor in Windows
Even on Windows 10, you'll need to open the Control Panel to change mouse cursors. Type control panel into the Start menu to launch it. If the view option in the top-right says Category, change it to Small icons and choose Mouse.
This opens a new dialog box with several options for customizing mouse behavior. Switch to the Pointers tab to change the look of your mouse cursor. There, click the dropdown box under Scheme to show all your installed cursor sets.
Everything you installed earlier using INF files should appear here. Select a cursor pack to preview its icons; you'll see what each one looks like in the Customize box. Choose Apply to try the pointer out for yourself and OK when you're done.
That's all it takes to use a new cursor. When you want to change to another theme or revert back to the default, return to this menu and select your new cursor. You'll also find a few other Windows default cursors here, though they aren't particularly exciting.
How to Manually Change Your Mouse Cursor
If you downloaded a cursor pack that doesn't include an INF file or want to make your own mouse cursor scheme by combining multiple cursor icons, you can add them manually. This is less convenient than the INF install, but it's still straightforward.
First, navigate to the Mouse section of the Control Panel using the above instructions. Select any scheme from the top dropdown box to use as a base; (None) is fine.
Next, you'll need to step through each option in the Customize box and manually assign a cursor. To do this, select an entry and hit the Browse button. Navigate to the folder where you unpacked your cursors earlier and select the appropriate CUR or ANI file for that entry.
Remember that ANI files have some sort of animation. Also, while some packs use filenames that make it obvious what each icon's purpose is (such as "normal", "help", "busy", etc.), others aren't so clear. Feel free to assign cursors based on what you think is best.
Repeat this for each entry in the Customize box until you have a complete cursor set (most have 15 cursors). Once this is done, click the Save As button and give your new scheme a name. This will add it as an option in the dropdown box so you can easily switch to it in the future.
If you ever want to get rid of a scheme, pick it from the list and choose Delete.
How to Create Your Own Mouse Cursors
Want to try your hand at creating your own cursors? You'll find several tools available that let you make a cursor and use it on your system.
Cursor.cc is a simple site that gives you basic tools to create a cursor. You can even publish it on the site so others can use it.
For something more powerful, take a look at Stardock's CursorFX. It's available with a 30-day trial, then you'll need to pay $5 to purchase the software.
If you're an advanced designer, it's also possible to convert an image file you created in another tool into a CUR file. Services like Convertio offer CUR conversion from PNG, JPG, and other common image formats. And try AniTuner if you want to create animated cursor images.
Safety When Downloading Cursors
To keep your system safe, you should keep a few security tips in mind when customizing your cursor.
First, only download cursors from trusted websites. An INF file can potentially harm your system because it gives Windows a set of administrator instructions. This is why you should only install cursors from legitimate sources.
Popular resources, like DeviantArt, shouldn't pose an issue. Beware cursor downloads that appear from ads or on shady-looking websites that you've never heard of, though. Remember that cursors are image files, not applications. If a website asks you to run software to install your cursors, it's malicious.
If you haven't already, you should enable file extension display in Windows so you can easily see what kinds of files you've downloaded. To do this, open a File Explorer window and select the View tab at the top. In the Show/hide section, check the File name extensions box and Windows will show extension types for all files.
Aside from readme text files and image samples, the only types of files a cursor pack should contain are CUR, ANI, and INF. If you download a pack with an EXE or MSI file, it's dangerous and you should delete it.
Now You've Made Your Cursor Look Cool
You now have everything you need to customize your Windows cursor. Whether you download a ready-made pack or create your own from scratch, we hope you enjoy a more personalized computer with a custom mouse cursor.
Now that you've tweaked your mouse, have a look at more ways to change the look and feel of your Windows desktop.
FAQs
How do I get my custom cursor to work? ›
Setting the cursor
Go to the Custom Cursor pop-up window, scroll down and choose the desired cursor pack and click on it. Same way you can pick another cursor when you have played enough with the first one. Be sure to try it anywhere except for Chrome Web Store, browsers inner pages and Homepage.
To increase your mouse sensitivity, find the Cursor speed slider and move the marker right. To decrease, move the marker to the left. For more cursor customization options, check under Related settings.
How do I get a custom cursor for everything? ›Customizing cursors
Step 1: Navigate to the Mouse properties window as we did earlier. Step 2: Select the Pointers tab. Step 3: To select a custom cursor for the highlighted individual icon, click Browse. Step 4: That will open the default cursors folder, where hundreds of different cursor options are available.
...
Cursors in SQL procedures
- Declare a cursor that defines a result set.
- Open the cursor to establish the result set.
- Fetch the data into local variables as needed from the cursor, one row at a time.
- Close the cursor when done.
A custom cursor will probably be a small download, sure. But given that a custom cursor invites a huge amount of usability risk, this download is unnecessary.
How do I enable virtual cursor? ›You can toggle it off and on with the keyboard command INSERT+Z, though most of the time, you will want to leave it on to read and navigate screen contents. If you switch to another cursor, press NUM PAD PLUS to activate the Virtual PC cursor again.
What pointer speed is 800 DPI? ›As noted, DPI stands for "dots per inch." This means that, for example, if your mouse is set at 800 DPI, it'll move a cursor 800 pixels across the screen for every inch you move the mouse. If you increase the DPI, your cursor will move more quickly for every real-life inch.
What is the best Windows mouse setting? ›The first, is Windows native mouse sensitivity setting, this setting should always be set to the 6th notch. Any higher than 6/11 and you run the risk of skipping pixels on your mouse movements.
Why is my mouse not very responsive? ›A: In most cases, when a mouse and/or keyboard become unresponsive, one of two things are to blame: (1) The batteries in the actual mouse and/or keyboard are dead (or are dying) and need to be replaced; or (2) the drivers for either or both devices need to be updated.
Is custom cursor free? ›Its 100% free to use. Please note we need "Read and change all your data on the websites you visit" permissions to allow the custom cursor to be shown on the webpage you are visiting.
Is custom cursor for Windows safe? ›
Yes. A custom cursor is safe. However, just because a CSS cursor is safe doesn't mean that your visitor will know that. It is possible that too much creativity will make a user hesitate.
What are the different types of cursors? ›We have two types of cursors available to us one is Asensitive Cursor and the other variation is the Insensitive Cursor. An asensitive cursor points to the data, while the insensitive cursor creates and uses a temporary copy of the data.
How do you make two cursors? ›- To create them via mouse, use Alt + left mouse button. ...
- To create via keyboard, press Ctrl+Alt+Up to create cursor above primary cursor and Ctrl+Alt+Down to create cursor below. ...
- To create cursors out of a selection, first select some text and then press Shift+Alt+I.
To create an animated cursor use the "File/New/New Cursor..." menu item. This will open the New Cursor dialog. On the New Cursor dialog select the desired image size and bit count. Make sure that the "Animated Cursor (ANI)" radio button is selected.
How do I change my cursor in editing? ›- In the Mouse Properties window that appears, click the Pointers tab.
- On the Pointers tab (shown below), select the mouse cursor you want to change in the Customize section. ...
- After you've made your selection, click Browse.
- Upload png-file(s) Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.
- Choose "to cur" Choose cur or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)
- Download your cur.
A hacker may be able to control your device remotely, without your permission. If you see your cursor move or your mouse click, it likely means someone else is controlling it, especially if applications are being opened. This attack is dangerous, so immediately disconnect from the internet or LAN.
Does custom cursor affect performance? ›With this in mind, it's important to consider the load speed implications of any additions or upgrades to your website. Custom cursors, however, won't make enough of a page load speed difference to impact your SERP ranking or hinder user experience through loading time lagging.
When should I use my crosshair cursor? ›The cross-hair cursor is displayed when working in the Project window and in the editors, facilitating navigation and editing, especially when arranging large projects. To set up the cross-hair cursor, open the Preferences dialog and select Editing > Tools.
What is a floating cursor? ›The 3D Floating Cursor is a custom cursor that follows the mouse pointer that has the illusion of being flat to the floor. It is designed to interact with Polygon Hotspots for changing locations and triggering other events like opening popups.
What is Ghost cursor? ›
Conclusion. Mouse cursor ghosting is a problem that occurs on 60 HZ screens. In mouse ghosting problems, mouse lagging occurs, or multiple pointers are displayed on the screen. To resolve it, update the mouse drivers or disable the mouse display trails from Mouse properties.
How do I make my mouse look like a laser pointer? ›Press and hold the Ctrl key, and then click and drag the left mouse button to point to the contents on the slide that you want to draw attention to.
What is a crosshair pointer? ›The Crosshairs pointer is a charting tool that allows you to locate exact points on a chart. For example, you can find the precise point on a line chart or a Point & Figure chart and view price data that corresponds to that point.
Why is 1600 DPI better than 400? ›Since DPI stands for “dots per inch”, it determines how far a mouse cursor moves per inch of mouse movement. So 400 DPI would mean the mouse moves 400 pixels per each inch of movement. Higher DPI simply means the cursor will move further with the same movement (1 inch).
Is 1600 DPI good for gaming? ›WHAT IS THE BEST MOUSE DPI FOR GAMING? It all comes down to the type of gaming and what comfort levels you inherit. It is generally recommended that a 1000-1600 DPI for games like CS:GO is (generally) feasible but if you become a pro-gamer you can play it as easily in 3200 DPI as well.
Is 1600 DPI actually better than 800? ›1600 dpi for fps games/fps shooters is better because of no pixel skipping and you are able to make better micro adjustment, its just more smooth.
What is the fire speed in mouse? ›When the rapid fire button is pressed, the timer circuit sends a series of pulses to the controller that simulate the button being clicked. This circuit lets you click up to 800 times per minute. A similar circuit could even be used for console video game controllers.
How do I make my cursor smoother Windows 10? ›Change mouse cursor speed
Type and search [Mouse settings] in the Windows search bar①, and then click [Open]②. In the Cursor speed section, drag the slider to the right or left③, to adjust the mouse cursor speed as desired.
Select the Start button, then type Calibrate the screen for pen or touch input in the search box on taskbar and then choose the top result. Select the Setup button and follow the instructions.
What causes mouse lag? ›The most common cause for a mouse cursor to lag is usually a bad wifi connection. You can check if this is the issue by doing a ping test. The best solution is to use an ethernet cable. If your ethernet network is in another room, or you don't have one, then you could set up an ethernet network.
What is the most responsive mouse in the world? ›
Razer Viper 8K
This is among the fastest and most responsive gaming mice out there, thanks to its 8,000Hz polling rate and <0.125ms click latency.
Cause of Windows 10 Mouse Lag
This is because a lot of things can contribute to the problem. Anything from a recent driver update, misconfigured mouse settings, or a bad wireless mouse battery can cause this issue. The fastest way to resolve this behavior is to start with the hardware (the mouse).
A caret (sometimes called a "text cursor") is an indicator displayed on the screen to indicate where text input will be inserted. Most user interfaces represent the caret using a thin vertical line or a character-sized box that flashes, but this can vary. This point in the text is called the insertion point.
What is the evil cursor virus? ›Called an "evil cursor," it relied on using a custom image to replace the operating system's standard mouse cursor graphic. A criminal group that Malwarebytes called Partnerstroka operated by switching the standard OS 32-by-32 pixels mouse cursor with one of 128 or 256 pixels in size.
Can Windows have 2 cursors? ›Just add some extra mice and (optional) keyboards and MouseMux will transform your PC into a realtime multi-user system. Each user can work in their own document, annotate on the screen, drag or resize windows or interact with different programs - all at the same time on the same windows desktop.
Is cursor 4 U safe? ›Everywhere, Anytime. Despite the rather questionable name, Cursors-4u is a safe website for finding and downloading custom cursors for your computer. Some of the cursors are pornographic or offensive in nature, so young children should be monitored when using this site.
Is Custom cursor for Windows 10 safe? ›Our product is safe
Softpedia guarantees that Custom Cursor is 100% Clean. This software product was tested thoroughly and was found absolutely clean; therefore, it can be installed with no concern by any computer user.
Its 100% free to use. Please note we need "Read and change all your data on the websites you visit" permissions to allow the custom cursor to be shown on the webpage you are visiting.
Is custom cursor safe for Windows? ›Yes. A custom cursor is safe. However, just because a CSS cursor is safe doesn't mean that your visitor will know that. It is possible that too much creativity will make a user hesitate.
Where are cursor files in Windows 10? ›The default Cursor folder in Windows 10 is located at C:\Windows\Cursors. It would be best to keep your pointers saved in this folder as well.
Can a hacker control my cursor? ›
A hacker may be able to control your device remotely, without your permission. If you see your cursor move or your mouse click, it likely means someone else is controlling it, especially if applications are being opened. This attack is dangerous, so immediately disconnect from the internet or LAN.
How do I download a cursor set? ›- Extract the mouse cursors (only works with certain archive types) ...
- Use 7-Zip to extract the archive contents in the same folder. ...
- The Install option is found in the classic right-click menu. ...
- UAC prompt to confirm the installation of the new custom mouse cursors.
You can always disable Custom Cursor by pressing the button and reloading the browser tabs to clear browser cache. Read more here. We have prepared a short and handy How to Use for you to utilize the extension to its full potential.
How do I edit a cursor file? ›- Open Mouse Properties. ...
- From the Pointers tab, select the pointer you want to customize. ...
- Use the Browse button to locate and select the CUR file to replace it with.
- Select Open after choosing the file, and then select OK on the Mouse Properties window to save the new cursor.
To create an animated cursor use the "File/New/New Cursor..." menu item. This will open the New Cursor dialog. On the New Cursor dialog select the desired image size and bit count. Make sure that the "Animated Cursor (ANI)" radio button is selected.