There are lots of ways to add personality to your Windows setup. The basics are easy, like changing the wallpaper or adjusting the theme color. Then, if you want to get more advanced, tools like Rainmeter let you build custom desktop setups however you like.
But one of my favorite Windows customizations is often overlooked: changing the mouse cursor. While not difficult to do, Windows also doesn’t make it obvious that you can adjust it. It’s a fun change that brings more personality to your system, and you have tons of options for tweaking it.
The default cursors are bland
White arrows we’ve stared at for decades
The standard cursor in Windows 11 isn’t terrible, but it’s uninspired. It’s near-identical to the default cursor going back to Windows 7, except for a few tweaks to supporting symbols like the Busy circle. The white cursor doesn’t stand out clearly against all backgrounds, especially if you use light mode.
Windows includes a couple of other cursor options, but these aren’t much better. Windows Black gives you a dark cursor similar to the default one on macOS, but it uses the old blocker Windows XP (and prior) style with a longer tail. Other options are simple size tweaks to these, usually with the outdated hourglass icon for when the system is busy.
The most useful is the Windows Inverted cursor; it’s an underrated Windows trick that makes your pointer dynamically change to stand out against the background color.
None of these is as interesting as they could be. Thankfully, you can add cursors that have much more to offer.
Changing mouse cursors is easy
You’ll find the cursor options menu in the Control Panel. While you can change some mouse options in the Settings app, it’s easier to change your cursor in the older interface. Type “control panel” into the Start menu to open it, then switch the View by option at the top-right to Small icons if it’s not already.
From there, click Mouse and open the Pointers tab. Under the Scheme dropdown, you’ll see all installed cursor packs. Assuming you haven’t added any before, you’ll only see the default ones discussed above.
Each one shows the various states your cursor can be in under the Customize box. In theory, you can download individual images, double-click each of these, and build your own pointer scheme. But that’s slow and unnecessary, since creative people offer ready-to-go cursor backs online.
My favorite Windows cursor theme
I’ve used one cursor theme for many years: Oxygen Cursors. They were uploaded in 2008, but still look great today.
It’s a collection of 37 different colors, all with the same glossy-looking theme. I’ve found the style to be a great balance of eye-catching and clarity. They aren’t distracting, look modern, and the color options mean you can pick the one that stands out most to you.
Downloading cursor packs from DeviantArt requires a free account. This pack downloads as a .7z archive, so you’ll need to right-click and choose Extract All, or use 7-Zip to extract its contents.
Inside the extracted folder, you’ll see a folder for each color scheme. Each of those contains a mix of CUR (static) and ANI (animated) cursor files. There’s one other crucial file, which has an INF extension. Right-click the INF file and choose Install, then confirm the security prompt that appears.
Switch to your new cursors
After installing, the fresh cursor pack will appear in the Cursor menu discussed above. Choose it from the Scheme dropdown (if you don’t see it, exit this window and return—it might take a moment) and click Apply to test it. When you’re happy, click OK to save.
Most packs should have a cursor for each of the 15 main states in the Customize list. Windows 11 also has items for Location Select and Person Select, but these are so rare that I’ve never seen them.
Your cursor pack might include more than one option for certain states; you can change any by double-clicking it and selecting the new cursor you want. Make sure to click Save As when you’re done so you don’t lose your changes.
If you download a cursor pack that doesn’t include an INF installer, you’ll need to manually create a new scheme by applying each option in the Customize box.
Exploring other cursor options
You’ll find thousands of cursor options on the web. Since this is a matter of taste, I won’t go through a ton. But if you’re overwhelmed by choice, here are a few all-around great options:
- W11 Tailless: A straightforward modernization of the default Windows 11 cursor that loses the tail. Includes a dark version.
- Material Design Dark: Inspired by Google’s Material Design style.
- Dracula Cursors: Uses the “Dracula” color scheme with a variety of colors for different actions.
- macOS Cursors: If you love the look of macOS’s cursors, this lets you get them on Windows.
If none of those appealed to you, check out the Cursors tag on DeviantArt or dedicated sites like Open Cursor Library.
Like everything else online, you should only install cursors from trusted locations. Never run an EXE or MSI file that comes with cursors; the three file types mentioned earlier are all you’ll need.
Change the cursor you control all day
You move your mouse pointer nearly the entire time you use your computer, so it’s worth upgrading it to something you like. It doesn’t take long to install new cursor packs, and you can switch them anytime. I recommend starting with your favorite color from the Oxygen pack, then branching out from there.
Aside from visibility increases, adjusting your cursor doesn’t have an impact on your workflow. But not every change needs to be practical. As tech has become increasingly locked down in lots of ways, it’s fun to apply a touch of personalization where you can.