Making the cursor bigger on Windows 11 isn’t rocket science, but it’s one of those small tweaks that can really help, especially if you’re tired of squinting at that tiny arrow. Basically, it’s all tucked inside the Accessibility settings, which can be a bit hidden if you don’t know where to look. The steps are pretty straightforward once you get the hang of it—and yeah, it’s surprisingly useful for folks with vision issues or if you just hate how small the default cursor is.
How to Make Cursor Bigger on Windows 11
Here’s what works for most people when they want that bigger, easier-to-see cursor. Fair warning though: Windows tends to be a little stubborn about some of these settings, so don’t be surprised if you have to tweak a couple of times or restart the explorer process for changes to stick.
Step 1: Open Settings
Start by clicking on the Start Menu and then find Settings, or just hit Windows + I. Fast shortcut that. That opens the main settings window, which is where all the magic happens.
Step 2: Navigate to Accessibility
Inside Settings, look for Accessibility in the left sidebar. If it’s not visible, — and this has happened to me — just type “accessibility” in the search bar at the top of Settings, and it should pop right up. Sometimes Windows’ menu organization is a bit inconsistent, so don’t give up if you don’t see it immediately.
Step 3: Select Mouse Pointer and Touch
Now, scroll down or look for Mouse pointer and touch. On some setups, it might actually be labeled just as Mouse pointer. Anyway, that’s where you find the options for cursor size and color.
Step 4: Adjust Cursor Size
Here’s the key part: use that size slider. Crank it up to whatever makes your life easier—more pixels, more visibility. The real trick is setting it to what *feels* right, because on some screens, even a small adjustment makes a big difference. Sometimes I notice that on certain displays, the slider lags or doesn’t reflect changes immediately, so a quick reboot or refresh might be needed.
Step 5: Save Changes
Once you’re happy, just close the Settings window; Windows updates the cursor size on the fly. No need to hit Save or anything. That’s pretty much it—your new, bigger cursor should appear immediately.
Why bother? Well, a bigger cursor is a lot easier to follow, especially if you’re working on a high-res screen or have some vision impairments. Also, sometimes the default cursor just vanishes against busy backgrounds or in dark modes, so fuzzing around with size and color can help a lot.
Tips for Making Cursor Bigger on Windows 11
- Consider changing the cursor color too — white or black with a thick outline helps a ton.
- Keep an eye on Windows updates. Sometimes they add new customization options that make this easier or more flexible.
- Remember you can quickly access the Accessibility menu via Windows + I then search for “accessibility,” if you’re tired of clicking around.
- Dabble with different sizes until you hit that sweet spot — what looks good on a small monitor might be too big on a big screen.
- On some setups, you might need to restart the Explorer process for changes to fully kick in. Open
Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, then hit Restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the cursor color in Windows 11?
Yep, you can! While you’re in the Mouse pointer and touch menu, there’s a color selector—you can choose white, black, or even customize it with a solid color. Because of course Windows has to make it harder than necessary by hiding some options behind sliders and color pickers, but it’s doable.
Why can’t I find the Accessibility settings?
Make sure your Windows 11 is up to date. If it still refuses to show up, try searching for “accessibility” in the Settings search bar. Sometimes it’s under a different spot depending on the version or build.
Will these changes affect all applications?
Yes, increasing the cursor size applies system-wide, so every app you launch will show that bigger pointer. No more tiny arrows in your browser or weirdly small cursors on the desktop.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to change cursor settings?
Nothing super direct. But hitting Windows + I gets you to Settings faster. On some specialized setups, third-party tools exist to toggle cursor size, but it’s not built-in.
How do I revert the changes?
Just go back to Mouse pointer and touch and dial that slider back down. Sometimes Windows seems to retain old settings after updates, so if things look weird, a quick restart helps.
Not sure why, but on some setups, changing the settings causes a brief flicker and then bam—your new cursor size is live. On others, it might take restarting explorer.exe via Task Manager. Just a little hiccup that seems to happen more often than it should.
Summary
- Open Settings (Start > Settings or Windows + I).
- Navigate to Accessibility.
- Select Mouse pointer and touch.
- Adjust Cursor Size with the slider.
- Close Settings — done!
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Sometimes Windows can be a pain, but just messing around in the menus usually gets it done. And yeah, sometimes a reboot or two helps convince the system to respect your changes. Fingers crossed this helps.