In this article, we'll show you how to change mouse sensitivity on a Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS (Chromebook) computer. Mouse sensitivity determines the speed at which the mouse pointer moves across the screen.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: On Windows
Step 1. Open the Start Menu
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Press
Click the gear-shaped icon on the left side of the Start menu. The main settings menu will open.
Step 3. Click on Devices
It's near the top of the menu and is marked with a speaker and keyboard icon.
Step 4. Click Mouse
This is the third option in the left column; it is located in the "Devices" section. The mouse settings will open on the right side of the window.
Step 5. Click on Advanced Mouse Options
It's an option in the Related Parameters section. A window with mouse properties will open.
Step 6. Click Pointer Options
It's a tab at the top of the Mouse window.
Step 7. Adjust the speed of the mouse pointer
In the Motion section at the top of the window, move the slider to the left to slow down the pointer speed, or to the right to speed it up.
Step 8. Turn off increased pointer precision to slow down pointer movement
If the pointer is moving too quickly, clear the Enable Enhanced Pointer Precision check box in the Move section. This feature moves the pointer at different distances based on the speed of the mouse or trackpad - if you disable this feature, the mouse pointer will not move too quickly, even if you move the mouse quickly.
Step 9. Test the speed of the pointer movement
To do this, move the mouse and follow the speed of the pointer. If the pointer moves too quickly, move the slider in the Move section to the left; otherwise, move the slider to the right.
It can take several minutes to find the optimal mouse movement speed
Step 10. Click on Apply > OK.
Both buttons are at the bottom of the window. Your changes will be saved and the window will close. The mouse pointer should now move at the speed you specified.
Method 2 of 3: On macOS
Step 1. Open the Apple menu
Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click on System Preferences
It's near the top of the menu.
Step 3. Click on Trackpad or Mouse.
On a MacBook laptop, select the Trackpad option, and on an iMac, select the Mouse option.
Step 4. Click the Select and Click tab
It's at the top of the window.
Skip this step if you chose Mouse
Step 5. Move the slider next to "Move speed"
Move the slider to the left to slow down the mouse pointer, or to the right to speed it up.
Step 6. Test the speed of the pointer movement
Move the mouse and follow the speed of the pointer; if it moves too fast, move the slider next to "Travel speed" to the left, and if it moves slowly - to the right.
It can take several minutes to find the optimal mouse movement speed
Step 7. Close the "System Preferences" window
Click on the red circle in the upper left corner of the window. The changes made will be saved.
Method 3 of 3: On Chrome OS (Chromebook)
Step 1. Open the menu
Click the button in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 2. Find the "Settings" option
Enter "settings" in the menu that opens, and then click on the first option in the search results.
Step 3. Find your mouse and touchpad settings
Scroll down, find the "Devices" section, and then click on "Mouse and Touchpad".
Step 4. Change the sensitivity
Drag the slider under Mouse or Touchpad.
Step 5. Close the settings window
The changes made will be saved.
Advice
- To adjust the resolution (DPI - the number of dots per inch) of the gaming mouse, you need to open the special mouse settings; how to do this can be found in the instructions for the mouse. Some gaming mice have a button on their bodies that changes the resolution of the mouse when pressed.
- If you've changed the mouse sensitivity and the pointer still doesn't move as expected, the bottom of the mouse is most likely dirty. In this case, clean the mouse.