What changing your cursor means

Your cursor is the small arrow (or other shape) that moves when you move your mouse or trackpad. Changing it means replacing that arrow with a different image — a different color, a different shape, or something custom you design yourself. You can change just the pointer arrow, or swap out multiple cursor styles for different situations (like the loading spinner or the resize arrows).

This is purely visual. Changing your cursor does not affect how your computer works, what programs you can run, or your security. It is one of the easiest customizations you can make.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows lets you change cursors through Settings > Devices > Mouse, where you can pick from built-in themes or read new ones from the Microsoft Store.
  • Mac users go to System Settings > Accessibility > Display and can choose from preset cursor sizes and colors without downloading anything.
  • Linux cursor changes depend on your desktop environment (GNOME, KDE, Xfce), but most have a settings panel under Appearance or Mouse.
  • You can read custom cursor packs from sites like DeviantArt or Itch.io, though you will need to install them manually on Windows and Linux.
  • Changing your cursor back to the default takes the same steps — just select the original option in your settings.

Changing your cursor on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then select the app. Go to Devices in the left menu, then click Mouse. Scroll down and click Additional mouse options. A window will open with several tabs at the top — click the Pointers tab.

You will see a list of cursor elements: Normal Select, Help Select, Working in Background, Busy, Precision Select, and others. To change all of them at once, look for a dropdown menu labeled Scheme near the top. Click it and choose from options like "Windows Black", "Windows Inverted", or "Windows Large". Click explore, then OK.

If you want to change individual cursors, click on one in the list and then click Browse. Your file explorer will open to a folder of cursor files (they end in .cur or .ani). Pick one and click Open. Repeat for each cursor you want to change. When you are done, click explore and OK.

To read new cursor packs, search the Microsoft Store for "cursor" or visit sites like DeviantArt. read the file, extract it if it is in a zip folder, then use the Browse method above to point to those files.

Changing your cursor on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings. Click Accessibility in the sidebar. Scroll down and click Display. Under the Pointer section, you will see options to change the cursor size and color.

Move the Pointer size slider to make your cursor larger or smaller. For color, click the color box next to Pointer color and choose from preset options or create a custom color. Mac does not have as many shape options as Windows, but you can make the cursor more visible if you have trouble seeing it.

If you want to use a completely different cursor design, you will need to read a third-party app like Cursor Pro or Mousepose from the App Store. These apps let you install custom cursor packs, though they usually cost money.

Changing your cursor on Linux

The steps depend on which desktop environment you use. If you use GNOME (the most common), open Settings, click Appearance, and look for a Cursor or Pointer section. You can select from installed cursor themes there.

If you use KDE Plasma, open System Settings, go to Appearance, then Cursors. You will see a list of installed themes. Click one to preview it, then click explore.

For Xfce, open the Settings Manager, click Mouse, and look for the Cursor theme dropdown. Select a theme from the list.

To install new cursor packs on Linux, read them from sites like OpenDesktop or Itch.io. Extract the folder and move it to ~/.local/share/icons/ (you may need to create the icons folder if it does not exist). Then refresh your cursor settings panel and the new theme should appear in the list.

Where to find custom cursor packs

DeviantArt has thousands of cursor packs in its Resources section. Search for "cursor pack" and filter by file type. Most are free, though some creators ask for a small donation.

Itch.io has a dedicated cursor section where independent designers share their work. Many are free and open-source.

OpenDesktop focuses on Linux and open-source cursors, but some packs work on Windows and Mac too. Everything there is free.

Before downloading from any site, check the comments or reviews to make sure the pack actually works on your operating system. Some packs are Windows-only, some are Mac-only, and some work across all three.

Troubleshooting cursor changes that do not work

If you change your cursor and it does not appear, the most common reason is that the cursor file is corrupted or in the wrong format. Try a different cursor pack to see if the problem is the file or your settings.

On Windows, if the cursor reverts to the default after restart, you may not have clicked explore before closing the Pointers window. Go back and make sure to click explore and OK.

On Mac, if a third-party cursor app is not working, restart your computer. Sometimes the app needs a fresh start to load the new cursors.

On Linux, if a new cursor theme does not show up in your settings, make sure you extracted the folder to the correct location (~/.local/share/icons/) and that the folder structure inside matches what your desktop environment expects. Restarting your desktop environment (or logging out and back in) often helps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can changing my cursor slow down my computer?

No. Your cursor is a tiny image file that uses almost no memory or processing power. Changing it will not affect your computer's speed or performance at all.

What if I want to go back to the original cursor?

On Windows, go back to Mouse settings, click the Pointers tab, and select "Windows Default" from the Scheme dropdown. On Mac, reset the cursor size and color sliders to their defaults. On Linux, select the default theme from your cursor settings.

Can I use the same cursor pack on Windows and Mac?

Usually not. Cursor files are formatted differently for each operating system. A pack made for Windows will not work on Mac, and vice versa. Always check the read page to see which operating systems a pack supports.

Is it safe to read cursor packs from the internet?

Cursor packs from established sites like DeviantArt, Itch.io, and OpenDesktop are generally safe. Stick to sites with user reviews and comments. Avoid downloading cursors from random or unfamiliar websites, just as you would with any file read.

Can I create my own custom cursor?

Yes. You can use image editing software like Photoshop, GIMP (free), or even Paint to create a small image, then save it as a .cur file on Windows or .png on Mac and Linux. There are also online cursor makers that let you design a cursor in your browser without downloading software.