Turn off Enhance pointer precision, get more consistent cursor movement, and configure Windows for gaming, design work, or precise everyday control.
Mouse acceleration changes how far the pointer moves depending on how fast you move the physical mouse. In Windows, this behavior is mainly controlled by the setting called Enhance pointer precision. When it is enabled, the cursor may travel farther during quick mouse movements and shorter during slow movements.
This can feel convenient for general desktop navigation, especially on large monitors. However, it can also make mouse movement less predictable because the same physical movement does not always produce the same cursor distance on the screen.
To disable mouse acceleration in Windows 10 or Windows 11, you need to turn off Enhance pointer precision in the classic Mouse Properties window.
You should consider disabling mouse acceleration if you want consistent pointer behavior. This is especially useful for first-person shooters, competitive games, CAD software, graphic design tools, video editing, photo editing, or any task where repeatable hand movement matters.
| Use case | Recommended setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Competitive gaming | Turn it off | More consistent aiming and muscle memory. |
| Design, CAD, editing | Usually turn it off | Precise movements become easier to repeat. |
| Office work and browsing | Personal preference | Some users like faster pointer movement across the desktop. |
| Touchpad use | Personal preference | Touchpad drivers may also apply their own pointer behavior. |
In Windows 11, the easiest way is to open Mouse settings and then use the classic Additional mouse settings window.
After this change, Windows will no longer apply its standard pointer acceleration curve to your mouse movement.
The same option is available in Windows 10, but the Settings path is slightly different.
If you also want a neutral pointer speed, leave the Select a pointer speed slider near the middle. Many gamers prefer the default middle position and adjust sensitivity using mouse DPI or in-game sensitivity instead.
This method works in both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and is the fastest option if you know the command.
main.cplYou can also use this command from Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Terminal, or the File Explorer address bar.
If you prefer the traditional Control Panel interface, you can reach the same setting from Hardware and Sound.
Advanced users and administrators can also change the setting through the Registry. This is useful when you need to apply the setting manually after a profile reset or when troubleshooting a setting that keeps returning.
Changing the wrong Registry value can cause system or profile problems. Create a restore point or export the key before editing values.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\MouseTo disable standard Windows mouse acceleration, set these string values:
| Value name | Data |
|---|---|
MouseSpeed |
0 |
MouseThreshold1 |
0 |
MouseThreshold2 |
0 |
After changing these values, sign out and sign back in, or restart Windows.
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Control Panel\Mouse" -Name "MouseSpeed" -Value "0"
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Control Panel\Mouse" -Name "MouseThreshold1" -Value "0"
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Control Panel\Mouse" -Name "MouseThreshold2" -Value "0"Disabling Enhance pointer precision turns off the Windows-level setting, but some mice and games can still apply their own sensitivity or acceleration behavior.
If Enhance pointer precision keeps re-enabling itself, the cause is usually a driver utility, a mouse profile, a cloud-synced setting, or a third-party optimization tool.
Open your mouse manufacturer's app and look for active profiles. Some apps apply device profiles automatically when a game or program starts.
Open Task Manager → Startup apps and temporarily disable mouse utilities, macro tools, or performance optimizers to test whether one of them is restoring the setting.
If the setting only resets in one Windows account, create a temporary local user account and test the mouse there. If the problem disappears, the original user profile or a startup item is likely responsible.
In practical Windows settings, yes. Enhance pointer precision is the main built-in option that changes pointer movement based on mouse movement speed.
It can help because mouse movement becomes more consistent. It does not automatically make aim better, but it makes it easier to build muscle memory over time.
For gaming, many users leave the Windows pointer speed near the middle and adjust DPI or in-game sensitivity instead. For desktop use, choose whatever feels comfortable.
The setting may affect pointer behavior, but laptop touchpads often have additional driver settings in Windows Precision Touchpad options or manufacturer software.
If you change the setting through Mouse Properties, a restart is usually not required. If you change Registry values manually, sign out and sign back in or restart the PC.
Yes. Open Mouse Properties again, go to Pointer Options, check Enhance pointer precision, and click Apply.
The best method is to open Mouse Properties, go to the Pointer Options tab, and uncheck Enhance pointer precision. For most users, this is enough to disable Windows mouse acceleration. For gaming or precision work, also check your mouse software and in-game input settings to make sure no additional acceleration or smoothing is enabled.