How can I remove mouse tracks? - briefly
Disable the “pointer trail” feature in your operating system’s mouse settings (e.g., Control Panel → Mouse → Pointer Options on Windows, or System Preferences → Accessibility → Display on macOS) and, if needed, run a utility such as “Clear Cursor Trails” to remove any residual markings. For Linux, turn off the “mouse trails” option in the X11 configuration or use xset m default to reset mouse behavior.
How can I remove mouse tracks? - in detail
Mouse trails are visual artifacts left by the pointer as it moves. They can be disabled or cleared through system settings or third‑party utilities.
On Windows, open the Control Panel, select Mouse, and go to the Pointer Options tab. Uncheck Display pointer trails and click Apply. If the option is already cleared but remnants remain, use the ClearType Text Tuner to reset display settings, then restart the computer.
macOS stores cursor history in the Quartz compositor. Open System Settings, choose Accessibility, then Display, and disable Show mouse pointer when shaking. For persistent artifacts, restart the WindowServer by logging out and back in, or run killall Dock in Terminal to refresh the UI.
Linux environments vary. In GNOME, open Settings → Mouse & Touchpad, and turn off Pointer trail if available. For Xorg, edit ~/.Xresources and add XTerm*pointerShape: none, then reload with xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources. In Wayland sessions, use the compositor’s configuration tool (e.g., gsettings for GNOME) to disable pointer trails.
Third‑party programs such as “PointerHide” or “CursorFX” provide additional control. Install the software, locate the trail or after‑image setting, and disable it. Most tools also offer a Clear button that instantly removes any residual marks.
For temporary removal, pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Windows) or Command + Option + Esc (macOS) to open the task manager, then ending the process that renders the cursor overlay (often named explorer.exe or Dock) will force a redraw, erasing the trail.
If the issue persists after adjusting settings, verify that graphics drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can cause rendering glitches that appear as lingering cursor images. Download the latest driver from the manufacturer’s website, install it, and reboot.
These steps address the most common sources of cursor trails across major operating systems and provide a clear path to eliminate them.