How To Change Mouse Sensitivity on Your Laptop or PC
If you use a mouse for your laptop or PC, you’ll need to know how to change mouse sensitivity at one point or another. Whether you’re dealing with precision-based tasks or you recently purchased a new mouse, it’s important to know the ins and outs of this feature. That’s especially true for some PC gamers, since your mouse can drastically impact your in-game performance.
In this article, we’ll provide tips for improving sensitivity or responsiveness, but first, let’s look at how to access and manage your mouse sensitivity settings.
Adjusting mouse sensitivity with Windows
Fortunately, learning how to increase mouse speed or change your mouse sensitivity is easy. Simply follow these steps:
- Click the Windows button at the lower-left corner of your screen.
- Click the gear icon on the left-hand side to access Settings. It should be located just above the Power icon, where you go to restart or shut down your device.
- Select the Devices tab from the Settings window.
- Alternatively, you can enter “mouse” in the “Find a setting” search bar if you want to view other mouse settings.
- Select the Mouse tab from the left sidebar. You should see it alongside other device options like Bluetooth and Printers.
- 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. You can click “Adjust mouse & cursor size” to manage size and appearance (including color), you can view “Additional mouse options” for more ways to customize.
This may address your biggest concerns, but you can use other options to control your mouse input experience.
You can:
- Select your primary button (left or right)
- Adjust scroll speed
- Manage cursor size
- Scroll inactive windows on hover
Spend some time exploring if you have any other concerns about your mouse functionality. You can also review the HP Support Mouse Features guide if you want more help navigating some of your device’s more specialized options.
Tips for improving overall mouse sensitivity and accuracy
1. Consider replacing old or worn mouse pads
Maybe you’re holding onto your older mouse pad for sentimental reasons, or perhaps you simply don’t want to spend the money on a replacement. Well, these older items with peeling, tears, or wear are an obstacle for your mouse. Loose fibers can accumulate and obstruct your mouse’s laser sensors, or they may even get into the device itself.
To prevent these issues, consider replacing your mouse pad when it starts to show damage, because this is the easiest way for interference to occur. When choosing a new pad, consider a gaming mouse pad. They’re designed for ease of use and input accuracy, making them a great option even if your only “gaming” is trying to get through your email inbox before the end of the day.
2. Upgrade your mouse
If you experience persistent input issues, it may be time to start considering a new mouse. The HP X1500 mouse is a popular and affordable USB option, while the HP OMEN vector essential mouse provides deeper functionality like DPI controls (which we’ll talk about below).
A replacement mouse may not solve all of your problems, but it can make a huge difference if you were using an older or defective device. Keep reading for more information about features you may want to prioritize in your replacement device.
3. Look for options with DPI control
One of the easiest ways to control cursor speed is through direct DPI controls. Short for “dots per linear inch,” DPI controls allow you to increase or decrease the speed with which your mouse moves across your display. Most gaming mouse options, like the aforementioned HP OMEN mouse, include DPI controls just below the scroll wheel. Want to know more? Check out our article; What is DPI (Dots per inch)?
4. Consider hard-wired options
There’s no question that a wireless mouse offers greater flexibility in terms of movement and usage, especially if you move between multiple workspaces. However, there are advantages to wired mice, as well.
They’re more responsive and typically cost a bit less at checkout. There’s also no risk of interference due to signal interruptions, and you won’t have to worry about batteries. Check out HP’s wired mice to find the right one for your needs.
5. Look for additional software
For the most robust sensitivity controls, check to see if your mouse came with any additional software. While each interface is different, many of them include more management settings and options for deeper accuracy. With an HP OMEN gaming mouse, for example, you can manage everything we covered (and more) directly from the HP OMEN Command Center.
When to think about mouse sensitivity
Many users only investigate how to change mouse sensitivity when they experience a problem, but there are several common situations where you may want to make an adjustment. Here are some examples:
When changing display size or resolution
This impacts the size and topography of your desktop, meaning your mouse has further to travel during tasks. For a bigger display, you may want to find out how to increase mouse speed so you can get around your screen more quickly and easily. For smaller screens, you may want to decrease mouse sensitivity.
For gaming
No matter the size or scope of your favorite game, mouse responsiveness is important. In this case, you may want to consider hard-wired or dedicated gaming options as we discussed above, or simply increase sensitivity on your current device.
Bigger workflow
If you’re expecting a major change in your work patterns, you may also want to think about sensitivity. When you’re hitting a jam or falling behind, a few small changes can make a big difference, especially if you aren’t working on your primary device.
When things don’t feel quite right
Sometimes errors and updates can impact settings. If something seems off with your mouse input, check the settings before you think about replacements or upgrades.
Summary
While it’s important to know how to change mouse sensitivity, there are other things you can do to avoid mouse issues, too. For most users, this means taking a quick tour through your PC settings and, poof, problem solved. However, keep our tips in mind if you’re still experiencing issues, and be sure to check your mouse pad for wear and tear before you buy a new device.
About the Author: Dwight Pavlovic is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Dwight is a music and technology writer based out of West Virginia.
