How to Change Mouse Sensitivity [3 Ways]

Changing the sensitivity of your mouse is good decision when you are not comfortable with the default sensitivity on windows 10

In this article, you will learn what a mouse is, it’s functions, what makes it sensitive and some tweaks to help you improve your mouse experience

We all look for different ways to help boost our own performance for more productivity and Windows 10 already provides some features for that.

When talking about mouse sensitivity, it’s not just referring to how fast a pointer moves. It’s basically referring to exactly what makes a mouse sensitive such as double-clicking speed, scrolling speed, and pointer speed.

Most people are fine with their pointer speed but have issues with the scrolling speed while some people are fine with both their scrolling speed and double-clicking speed but have issues with the pointer speed.

Depending on why you are here, I will cover everything you need to know about the sensitivity of a mouse and how you can change it to get the best experience.

What is a Mouse?

A mouse can also be referred to as a touchpad which is a small hand-held device that is used to work within any windows computer.

Here’s what a mouse and trackpad look like,

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Functions of a Mouse

Here a list of functions you can perform with a mouse on a computer,

1. To point and select any object displayed on your screen.
2. To move data or files by dragging and dropping into any location.
3. To launch or run software applications, shortcuts, files, and folders.
4. To scroll through app windows or web pages by using the mouse wheel or using two fingers on the trackpad.

What is a Mouse Pointer?

A mouse pointer is a graphic representation of a cursor or an arrow displayed on your screen when you move your mouse.

As you move the pointer over objects such as an icon or file, the image will change to reflect the associated function.

Here’s an example,

What is Mouse Sensitivity?

A mouse sensitivity refers to how fast or slow your mouse responds whenever you use it.

A mouse sensitivity includes:

• Pointer Speed
• Double clicking Speed
• Scrolling Speed

1. Pointer Speed

A Pointer speed sensitivity refers to how fast or slow the cursor or arrow moves around your screen. When the pointer speed sensitivity is set to slow, your cursor would move very slowly and this might be very inconvenient for some people that has a lot to do in a short period of time.

When the pointer speed sensitivity is set to fast, the cursor begins to moves really fast anytime you move your mouse around your screen. This setting is ideal for people that work really fast on their computer but the best pointer sensitivity setting is to find a range between fast and slow, somewhere in the middle is a great place.

2. Double-Click Speed

Double-click speed sensitivity is referring to how fast or slow it takes for you to double-click on a file, folder, or program.

If you set your double-click speed sensitivity to fast, it means you have to double-click more quickly any time you are trying to open a file or program.

If you double-click speed sensitivity is set to slow, it means you can go a little bit slower any time you are double-clicking on any file or program.

The slow settings also respond well to fast double-clicking while also responding well to slow double-clicking speed.

To get the best sensitivity, set your double-clicking speed to slow.

3. Scroll Wheel Speed

The scroll wheel speed sensitivity refers to how fast or slow it takes for you to scroll through any scrollable page you are on a computer.

If your scroll wheel speed sensitivity works with numbers.

The higher the number that is set, the faster it is anytime you scroll through a page and the lower the number, the slower it is anytime you scroll through a page.

How to Change Mouse Sensitivity For Windows

This is focusing on the three sensitivity included in a mouse which was discussed earlier.

Every method mentioned in this section can be applied on windows 10, 8, and 7.

Please follow the instructions correctly.

1. Change Pointer Speed

On windows, you can change the pointer speed of both mouse and touchpad.

Changing mouse pointer speed won’t affect touchpad pointer speed.

Depending on what you are using for your computer, either a mouse or touchpad, you must change their pointer speed separately.

Here’s how

For Mouse

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open windows settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices inside system settings.

3. Select mouse by your left-hand side.

4. Click on additional mouse settings under related settings by your right-hand side to open mouse properties.

5. Navigate to pointer options tab inside mouse properties.

6. In the motion section, move the toggle right or left to increase or decrease mouse pointer speed sensitivity.

• Toggle to the right for faster mouse pointer speed.
• Toggle to the left for slower mouse pointer speed.

7. Click apply then save.

For Touchpad

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open system settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices.

3. Select touchpad by your left-hand side.

4. Under change the cursor speed, move the toggle right or left to either increase or decrease touchpad pointer speed

• Toggle to the right for faster touchpad pointer speed
• Toggle to the left for slower touchpad pointer speed

Tip – Learn how to create shortcuts for your files or program on windows 10 to avoid opening multiple layers of files just to get to it.

2. Change Double-click Speed

Here’s how

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open system settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices inside system settings.

3. Select mouse by your left-hand side.

4. Click on additional mouse settings under related settings by your right-hand side to open mouse properties.

5. Navigate to buttons tab inside mouse properties.

6. In the double-click speed section, move the toggle right or left to increase or decrease double-click speed.

• Toggle to the right for faster double-click speed.
• Toggle to the left for slower double-click speed.

7. Click apply then save.

Bonus – Cache files build up over time the more you use your computer and this common problem to why laptop slows down over time. It’s important to clear cache files on your computer if you are seeking to get the best performance.

3. Change Scroll Wheel Speed

Here’s how,

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open system settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices inside system settings.

3. Select mouse by your left-hand side.

4. Click on additional mouse settings under related settings by your right-hand side to open mouse properties.

5. Navigate to wheel tab inside mouse properties.

6. In vertical scrolling section, increase the number to get a faster scrolling speed or decrease the number to get a slower scrolling speed

7. Click apply then save.

How to Adjust Mouse for Right-hand or Left-hand Use

Here’s how

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open system settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices inside system settings.

3. Select mouse by your left-hand side.

4. Under select your primary button, choose left or right from the option to set your primary button.

• Choose left if you are right-handed
• Choose right if you are left-handed

The default selection is set to left.

How to Customize Your Mouse Pointer

Here’s how,

1. Press the following command on your keyboard to open system settings:

Windows key + I

2. Click on devices inside system settings.

3. Select mouse by your left-hand side.

4. Click on additional mouse settings under related settings by your right-hand side to open mouse properties.

5. Navigate to pointers tab inside mouse properties.

6. In the customize section, click on browse to choose among a list of customized pointers.

7. Click on apply then save.

How to Change Mouse from Double-click to Single-click

Here’s how,

1. Search for file explorer options in windows search

2. Click on file explorer options among the result.

3. Make sure you are on the general tab.

4. In the click items as follows section, choose one of the options:

• Single-click to open an item (point to select)
• Double-click to open an item (single-click to select)

Get a Responsive Mouse and Pad