How can you change a mouse's movement speed? - briefly
In Windows, open Settings → Devices → Mouse and move the pointer speed slider; on macOS, go to System Settings → Mouse and adjust the tracking speed. For mice with DPI controls, use the dedicated button or the manufacturer’s configuration software to set a higher or lower DPI value.
How can you change a mouse's movement speed? - in detail
Adjusting cursor velocity involves operating‑system controls, driver utilities, and the mouse’s own DPI settings. Each method changes the relationship between physical movement and on‑screen displacement, allowing you to tailor responsiveness to personal preference.
On Windows, open the Control Panel (or Settings → Devices → Mouse). Select Additional mouse options, go to the Pointer Options tab, and move the Select a pointer speed slider. Disabling Enhance pointer precision removes acceleration, providing a linear response. Many modern mice expose a DPI button; pressing it cycles through preset sensitivities, which can also be configured in vendor software such as Logitech G Hub or Razer Synapse.
On macOS, choose System Settings → Mouse (or Trackpad). Adjust the Tracking speed slider to increase or decrease movement. For fine‑grained DPI control, install the manufacturer’s configuration utility, which lets you set exact values and assign them to profile keys.
Linux users can modify speed through desktop environment settings (e.g., GNOME → Settings → Mouse & Touchpad) or via command‑line tools. The command xinput --list identifies the device ID; then xinput --set-prop <id> "Device Accel Constant Deceleration" <value> changes overall speed, while xinput --set-prop <id> "Coordinate Transformation Matrix" <matrix> adjusts acceleration curves. For Wayland sessions, gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.mouse speed <value> applies a linear scaling factor.
Hardware DPI adjustment offers the most direct control. Most gaming‑oriented mice feature a button that steps through preset DPI levels (e.g., 800 → 1600 → 2400). Dedicated configuration software lets you define custom DPI values, store multiple profiles, and bind them to button combinations for on‑the‑fly switching.
Advanced users can edit system registries (Windows) or Xorg configuration files (Linux) to fine‑tune acceleration algorithms. For example, setting MouseSpeed=0 and MouseThreshold1=0, MouseThreshold2=0 in the Windows registry disables built‑in acceleration entirely, yielding a pure DPI‑based response.
After each change, verify performance with an online cursor‑speed test or by navigating typical on‑screen tasks. Increment adjustments until movement feels natural across both precise clicks and rapid sweeps.