If you are wondering how to fix mouse acceleration in Windows and Mac, then this is a post for you.
Mouse acceleration is a feature that makes your cursor move based on the speed you're moving the mouse rather than the distance. The feature is enabled by default in modern Operating Systems and is very helpful if you want to get things done faster.
However, in some cases - for example, gaming - you would want your cursor to move based on the physical distance you move your mouse to improve precision and accuracy. In order to achieve that, you will need to turn off the mouse acceleration feature.
In this post, we will show you how to disable mouse acceleration in Windows and Mac. Let's get started!
How To Fix Mouse Acceleration In Windows
If you are playing games like Valorant, CS:GO or Fallout, you may need to disable mouse acceleration for more control. In Windows, the mouse acceleration setting can be accessed through the Mouse settings window.
Here is how to turn off mouse acceleration in Windows:
- Press Windows + S keys and search for "mouse settings"
- Click on Additional mouse options under the Related settings section on the right side of the screen
- Now, select the Pointer Options tab
- Uncheck the Enhance pointer precision option under Motion
- Click Apply and hit OK
That's it! You are done! This method will disable mouse acceleration in all applications, throughout the entire OS.
- Read More: How To Fix Mouse Scroll Wheel
How To Fix Mouse Acceleration In Mac
If you are a Mac user, you can follow the steps below to turn off the mouse acceleration feature.
- Press the Command + Space keys to open Spotlight
- Search for Terminal
- Into the command line, copy-paste the following command and hit Enter: defaults write GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling -1
- If you want to change the acceleration of your Trackpad, copy-paste the following command and hit Enter: defaults write GlobalPreferences com.apple.trackpad.scaling -1
- Finally, exit the Terminal.
If you don't see any changes in your cursor movements, just restart your Mac.
Games like Valorant, CS:GO or Fortnite have in-game settings to turn off mouse acceleration. If you need it disabled while gaming only, you can turn it off via in-game settings rather than turning it off globally.
Should You Use Mouse Acceleration?
Given that we've just explained how to switch it off, you would be forgiven for thinking that mouse acceleration has no place in gaming. But the reality is more nuanced than that.
If you're playing on a small desk, then it can be beneficial to use mouse acceleration. Instead of having to move your mouse a long way (say if you wanted to turn around in a game) mouse acceleration will allow you to do this with a smaller movement. This can help with gameplay.
Some people argue that mouse acceleration reduces how precise you can be, and in many games, this can be significant. But actually, mouse acceleration doesn't necessarily mean you will be less accurate. It's more that you'll need to learn how to be precise with it.
Ultimately, it will be a matter of personal preference, and what works best for you and your setup. But at least now, you can try playing with it on or off, and then decide which one helps you most with your play.