Cynthia Whitty 
Pointer speed is about the most comprehensive tool for determining how well your computer performs. By selecting a pointer speed setting, you can change the way your Windows mouse cursor moves on-screen with varying degrees of fluidity and responsiveness.
What is Pointer Speed
Pointer speed is an option in the Mouse control panel. Windows comes with five pointer speed settings, ranging from extra-slow to very fast. Each setting determines how far your cursor moves on the screen for each movement of your mouse’s roller ball or optical sensor. The higher the setting, the faster your cursor will move across the screen.
Why is Determining the Cursor Speed Important
Computer users should experiment with different pointer speed settings to find the one that works best for them. If your mouse cursor seems too slow, try a higher setting. Scoring high on certain Windows games may require a very fast setting; however, making selections in other programs such as word processors or web browsers may be more difficult with such a fast setting.
Selecting the Right Pointer Speed Setting for You
There is no right or wrong setting. Most people adjust their pointer speed to suit their mouse and their own personal control preferences. If you find it difficult to move your mouse across the screen, but can easily position it by picking up and dropping it, choose a slower setting. If you find moving your pointer difficult and it seems to “jump” all over the screen randomly, try a faster one.
If you want to play games such as first-person shooters (FPS) or real-time strategy (RTS) games that require quick reactions and mouse control for accurate aiming, try a very fast setting. If this is too hard to handle, you can always go back and choose a different setting after your skills have improved.
Note that adjusting pointer speed will not affect the speed of other programs. It will only change how quickly Windows moves your mouse cursor on-screen when using it for mousing and pointing-related activities.
Increasing or Decreasing Pointer Speed for Windows
Windows offers five pointer speed settings: slow, medium, fast, very fast and maximum. To change the setting in Windows 7 or Vista:
Click on Start , Control Panel and select “Pointer Options” (under Hardware and Sound ) to open the Mouse Properties window; or Open the Control Panel and select “Mouse” (in Classic View ) or click on the little mouse icon to open Mouse Properties ; or, Open your Start menu , right-click on Computer and select Properties . Then, click on the Hardware tab and select Device Manager . Next, in the Device Manager window that appears, double-click on Mice and other pointing devices , select the mouse whose pointer speed you want to change, click on the Driver tab and then click on Settings .
When “Pointer Options” or Mouse Properties opens, you will see a small preview of your current mouse cursor. Here, you can adjust settings by clicking on the Pointer Speed drop-down list at the top of the window to select a speed.
Cursor Settings in Windows 10
In Windows 10, it is possible to find the cursor movement settings under the Ease of Access mouse settings. To get there, open either “Settings” or your Start menu and search for “Ease of Use Mouse Settings.” Click on the result to open the new mouse options window. There you can select a different pointer speed from a drop-down list.
It’s important to note that the speed of your mouse is not determined by how quickly it moves per inch on a surface, but rather by how fast Windows updates the location of your mouse on-screen when you move it.
To test this, run your mouse along a ruler and move it very slowly. If you notice the pointer on-screen moving to another location, your device is updating your screen with each movement of the mouse. This means that the speed of your pointer is determined by its DPI (dots per inch), which determines how quickly Windows moves the pointer on-screen for a given mouse movement.
Conclusion
Adjusting your mouse pointer speed can help you achieve an easier to use Windows PC, ensure that you get the best score in your favorite game or make it easy for you to complete certain tasks. Note that it will not change how quickly programs run or how quickly files open when dragged to the Windows desktop.
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