The mouse is one of the main tools that is used to interact with a computer of any type, so it is quite natural that people need to customize the configuration settings of this device to suit their needs. If you are left handed, you can reverse the operation mode of the left button with those of the right so that you can use the device more easily. You can also change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves across the screen based on the physical movement of the device or the speed of the double-click. Furthermore, you have the possibility to change the appearance of the pointer as well, for example by changing its color, size and so on. This wikiHow teaches you how to customize mouse configuration settings on Windows or Mac.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows
Step 1. Enter the mouse settings window
Follow these steps to access the mouse section of the Windows 10 Settings app:
- Click on the button Start Windows located in the lower left corner of the desktop;
- Click on the icon Settings characterized by a gear;
- Click on the icon Devices;
- Now click on the item Mouse listed in the left panel of the page.
Step 2. Select the main mouse button
Use the drop-down menu at the top of the page to select which mouse button will be (right or left).
Step 3. Change the mouse wheel settings
Follow these instructions to change these configuration settings:
- Use the "Rotate mouse wheel to scroll" drop-down menu to select what the main function of this mouse element will be, for example to scroll only a few lines or the entire page displayed on the screen.
- Use the "Choose how many lines to scroll at a time" slider to select the number of lines that will be scrolled when you rotate the mouse wheel one notch.
Step 4. Click on the blue link Adjust mouse and cursor size
It is located in the "Related Settings" section visible at the top right of the page. This will display the configuration options related to the appearance of the mouse pointer (color, size, etc.).
Step 5. Change the size of the mouse pointer
Use the "Change pointer size" slider to change the size of the mouse pointer.
Step 6. Change the color of the mouse pointer
To change this, click on one of the icons listed in the "Change pointer color" section. You can choose to use a black or white pointer, based on the background color, or you can use a custom color. In the latter case, follow these instructions to make the change:
- Click on the icon representing a green mouse pointer and a multicolored circular icon;
- Now click on the icon relating to one of the suggested colors or click on the "+" button to choose the color you prefer;
- If you have chosen to use a custom color, click on the point in the box that appears where the color you want is visible;
- Use the slider displayed at the bottom of the "Select a custom pointer color" window to change the hue of the chosen color;
- At this point click on the button Done.
Step 7. Change the size of the text cursor indicator
Use the "Change the size of the text cursor indicator" bar to change the size of the text cursor when using specific applications such as "Notepad".
This configuration setting is not supported by all apps that allow you to enter text
Step 8. Click on the "Back" button
visible in the upper left corner of the screen.
After you have finished customizing the color and size of the mouse pointer, click on the icon depicting an arrow pointing to the left, located in the upper left corner of the page, to return to the previous screen.
Step 9. Click on the blue Additional Mouse Options link
It is listed in the "Related Settings" section of the page. The "Mouse Properties" dialog box will be displayed.
Step 10. Change the speed at which to double click
Use the "Speed" slider in the "Double Click Speed" section of the "Buttons" tab to set the speed at which you will need to double click for it to be detected by the operating system.
Step 11. Change the mouse pointer
Click on the tab Pointers to change the shape that the mouse pointer will have to take under certain circumstances. Use the "Combination" drop-down menu to choose one of the predefined combinations already present. You can customize this by downloading a pointer template from the web which you can then use by clicking on the "Browse" button visible at the bottom of the window. In any case, always make sure to download content from the web using safe and reliable sources. All pointers present in the package you downloaded will be visible in the "Customize" box.
If you wish, you can select the "Enable pointer shadow" checkbox to add a shadow to the mouse cursor
Step 12. Change the way the mouse pointer moves on the screen
Click on the tab Pointer options to change how the mouse cursor moves across the screen, based on the movements of the device. Follow these instructions to make any changes you want:
- Use the "Select pointer speed" slider to adjust how quickly the mouse pointer moves across the screen. You will be able to test the effects of the configuration changes in real time as soon as you change the position of the "Select pointer speed" slider.
- Select the "Increase pointer precision" checkbox to enable automatic mouse acceleration. This option makes it much more natural to move the mouse pointer across the screen. If you love playing video games, this option is most likely disabled. The reason is that it is much more difficult to aim accurately when this feature is active.
- Select the "Anchor to" check button to have the mouse pointer automatically reposition itself on the default button of each dialog that appears. If you love to browse the web, this option is not recommended, as it could lead you to accidentally click on a wrong button.
- Select the "Show pointer track" checkbox to show the mouse cursor track on screen as it moves across the screen.
- Select the "Hide pointer while typing" check button to make the mouse pointer disappear on the screen while entering text. This feature is also not supported by all text editors and apps that involve inserting textual content.
- Select the "Show pointer position when Ctrl key is pressed" checkbox to highlight the position of the mouse pointer on the screen when the key is pressed Ctrl.
Step 13. Change the behavior of the mouse wheel
Inside the card Wheel lists the settings that control the speed of scrolling of on-screen content based on the movement of the mouse wheel (for example, scrolling of documents or web pages when using the mouse wheel).
- The "Vertical Scroll" section adjusts the number of lines that can be scrolled by moving the mouse wheel one notch. It is also possible to set the mouse so that by turning the wheel a single notch, you can scroll an entire screen. This is a very similar setting to the one already in the Windows "Settings" app.
- The "Horizontal Scroll" section adjusts the scrolling speed of characters based on the movement of the wheel. Not all mice support this feature.
Step 14. Check the device drivers to fix any mouse malfunctions
Inside the card Hardware in the "Properties - Mouse" window there is the name of the mouse currently connected to the computer and information relating to its operating status. You can access further details by selecting the device name and clicking the button Property… (this way you can also update the drivers or restore a previous version).
Step 15. Click the Apply button
After changing the mouse settings according to your needs, click on the button Apply located in the lower right corner of the window to apply and save changes.
Method 2 of 2: Mac
Step 1. Access the mouse configuration settings through the "System Preferences" window
The "Mouse" window will show a list of different options based on the type of pointing device you are using: standard mouse, Apple Magic Mouse, or trackpad. Follow these instructions to open the "Mouse" window:
- Access the "Apple" menu by clicking on the icon depicting the Apple logo located in the upper left corner of the screen;
- Click on the item System Preferences;
- Click on the icon Mouse.
Step 2. Change the configuration settings dedicated to a standard mouse
If you are using a classic pointing device, you will have some configuration options available which are as follows:
- Select the "Scroll Direction: Natural" checkbox to reverse the scrolling direction of the contents based on the rotation of the mouse wheel;
- Use the "Pointer Speed" slider to change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves across the screen;
- Use the "Scroll Speed" slider to change the speed at which the content scrolls based on the rotation of the mouse wheel.
- Use the "Double-click speed" slider to change the speed needed to double-click.
- Click on the "Left" or "Right" radio button to select the mouse button to be used as the main one.
Step 3. Change the settings of a Magic Mouse
If you are using an Apple Magic Mouse, you will have two tabs within the "Mouse" window that you accessed from the "System Preferences" menu: "Point and Click" and "More Actions". Follow these instructions to change the configuration settings of an Apple Magic Mouse:
- Click on the tab Point and click to have access to the options it contains;
- Select the "Scroll Direction: Natural" checkbox to reverse the scrolling direction of the contents based on the rotation of the mouse wheel;
- Select the "Secondary click" check button to change the button to be used to access the context menus of the elements ("Ctrl + Click" or "right click");
- Select the "Smart Zoom" check button to enable the ability to zoom by tapping the top of the mouse twice with one finger;
- Use the "Pointer Speed" slider to change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves across the screen;
- Click on the tab Other actions to have access to the options it contains;
- Select the check button "Scroll between pages" to be able to scroll the pages simply by sliding your finger on the upper part of the mouse to the left or right;
- Select the check button "Scroll between apps in full screen" to be able to switch between apps by sliding two fingers on the top of the mouse to the left or right;
- Select the "Mission Control" check button to enable the possibility of accessing the homonymous window by double-tapping the top of the mouse with two fingers;
Step 4. Change the trackpad operation settings
Just like with a Magic Mouse, you will also have the "Point and Click" tab and the "More Actions" tab in this case. In addition there will be the "Scroll and zoom" tab with which you can manage how to use the trackpad to scroll through the contents and activate the zoom. Follow these instructions to change the trackpad configuration options:
- Click on the tab Point and click to have access to the options it contains;
- Select the check button "Search definition and data detectors" to choose the action to perform to search for a word or perform a quick action;
- Select the "Secondary click" check button to choose which action to use to simulate a right mouse button click;
- Select the "Tap to click" checkbox to activate the ability to click by simply touching the surface of the trackpad with a finger;
- Select the "Search" check button to enable the ability to search for a word in the dictionary by double tapping the trackpad using three fingers;
- Use the "Click Strength" slider to change the force with which you will have to press on the trackpad surface to perform a click or action;
- Use the "Pointer Speed" slider to change the speed at which the mouse pointer moves across the screen;
- Select the "Silent Click" checkbox to disable the Mac beep that accompanies all clicks made with the trackpad;
- Select the "Firm click and haptic feedback" checkbox to enable the ability to firmly press the trackpad to be able to take certain quick actions;
- Click on the tab Scroll and zoom to access related options.
- Select the "Scroll Direction: Natural" checkbox to reverse the scroll direction of the content.
- Select the "Zoom Out or Zoom Out" checkbox to use the trackpad with your index finger and thumb to zoom in or out.
- Select the "Smart zoom" checkbox to be able to zoom by double tapping the trackpad surface with two fingers.
- Select the "Rotate" checkbox to enable the ability to rotate an object displayed on the screen by simply twisting two fingers on the trackpad.
- Click on the tab Other actions to access the options it contains.
- Select the "Scroll through pages" checkbox to enable the ability to scroll through pages using a specific gesture to perform with the trackpad.
- Select the "Scroll apps in full screen" checkbox to be able to switch between apps using a specific gesture with the trackpad.
- Select the "Notification Center" checkbox to be able to directly access the "Notification Center" using a specific gesture to perform with the trackpad.
- Select the "Mission Control" check button to be able to directly access the "Mission Control" window using a specific gesture to perform with the trackpad.
- Select the "App Exposé" check button to be able to launch the "Exposé" app using a specific gesture to make with the trackpad.
- Select the "Launchpad" check button to be able to access the Launchpad by operating the trackpad with your thumb and three fingers. In this case, you will need to bring your thumb and three fingers closer to the center of the trackpad.
- Select the check button "Show Desktop" to be able to view the desktop directly by using the trackpad with your thumb and three fingers. In this case, you will need to move your thumb and three fingers away from the center of the trackpad.
