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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To find a lost mouse pointer in Windows 11, enable the Ctrl-key locator in Mouse Properties: go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings, open Pointer Options, check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key, and select OK. After that, press Ctrl to make Windows circle the pointer.
Enable the Ctrl-key pointer locator
- Open Settings from Start > Settings.
- Select Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
- Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings.
- In the Mouse Properties window, open the Pointer Options tab.
- Under Visibility, check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key.
- Select OK. When you lose track of the pointer, press Ctrl; Windows highlights its location with a circle.
The locator is off until you enable this option. Microsoft describes it as a way to find the pointer by circling it when you press Ctrl: Change mouse settings.
Make the pointer easier to see all the time
If the pointer is difficult to see even when you know where it is, change its size or appearance in Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. You can also open Accessibility settings directly by pressing Windows logo key+U. Microsoft’s guide covers these pointer size and style options: Make your mouse, keyboard, and other input devices easier to use.
Show pointer trails while it moves
For help following the pointer in motion, open Additional mouse settings > Pointer Options and select Display pointer trails. Trails are intended to make the moving pointer easier to follow; use the Ctrl-key locator instead when you need to identify its current position after losing it.
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- Compact Mouse: With a comfortable and contoured shape, this Logitech ambidextrous wireless mouse feels great in either right or left hand and is far superior to a touchpad
- Durable and Reliable: This USB wireless mouse features a line-by-line scroll wheel, up to 1 year of battery life (2) thanks to a smart sleep mode function, and comes with the included AA battery
- Universal Compatibility: Your Logitech mouse works with your Windows PC, Mac, or laptop, so no matter what type of computer you own today or buy tomorrow your mouse will be compatible
- Plug and Play Simplicity: Just plug in the tiny nano USB receiver and start working in seconds with a strong, reliable connection to your wireless computer mouse up to 33 feet / 10 m (5)
- Better than touchpad: Get more done by adding M185 to your laptop; according to a recent study, laptop users who chose this mouse over a touchpad were 50% more productive (3) and worked 30% faster (4)
If you mean the text cursor, use its separate setting
The mouse pointer is the arrow controlled by a mouse or other pointing device. The text cursor is the insertion marker inside a document or text field. If that blinking marker is hard to find, go to Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor to adjust its thickness or turn on its indicator. Microsoft documents these controls separately from mouse-pointer settings: Make your mouse, keyboard, and other input devices easier to use.
These steps follow Microsoft’s Windows 11 settings route. The Windows 10 navigation on Microsoft’s mouse-settings page differs, and settings names or positions may change in later Windows releases.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Smooth, precise and affordable wireless optical 3-button mouse with USB nano receiver for laptop, desktop and netbook PCs
- 2.4 GHz wireless (not Bluetooth) provides a powerful, reliable connection
- Nano-receiver stays in the PC USB port or stows conveniently inside the wireless mouse when not in use (note: Receiver is stored within the mouse from production and needs to be removed upon setup)
- Compatible with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10
- Easy installation - refer to user manual for instructions
Rank #4
- Pair and Play: With fast, easy Bluetooth wireless technology, you’re connected in seconds to this quiet cordless mouse —no dongle or port required
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- Long-Lasting Battery Life: Up to 18-month battery life with an energy-efficient auto sleep feature, so you can go longer between battery changes (2)
- Comfortable, Travel-Friendly Design: Small enough to toss in a bag; this slim and ambidextrous portable compact mouse guides either your right or left hand into a natural position
- Long-Range: Reliable, long-range Bluetooth wireless mouse works up to 10m/33 feet away from your computer (3)
Rank #3
- Your hand can relax in comfort hour after hour with this ergonomically designed mouse. Its contoured shape with soft rubber grips, gently curved sides and broad palm area give you the support you need for effortless control all day long.
- You’ve got the control to do more, faster. Flipping through photo albums and Web pages is a breeze, especially for right-handers—with three standard buttons plus Back/Forward buttons that you can also program to switch applications, go full screen and more. And side-to-side scrolling plus zoom gives you the power to scroll horizontally and vertically through your music library, maps and Facebook feeds, and zoom in and out of photos and budget spreadsheets with a click.* * Requires Logitech SetPoint software (Windows) or Logitech Control Center software (Mac OS X)
- Two years of battery life practically eliminates the need to replace batteries. ** The On/Off switch helps conserve power, smart sleep mode extends battery life and an indicator light eliminates surprises. ** Battery life may vary based on user and computing conditions.
- The tiny Logitech Unifying receiver stays in your laptop. There’s no need to unplug it when you move around, so there’s less worry of it being lost. And you can easily add compatible wireless mice and keyboards to the same wireless receiver.
Rank #2
- The next-generation optical HERO sensor delivers incredible performance and up to 10x the power efficiency over previous generations, with 400 IPS precision and up to 12,000 DPI sensitivity
- Ultra-fast LIGHTSPEED wireless technology gives you a lag-free gaming experience, delivering incredible responsiveness and reliability with 1 ms report rate for competition-level performance
- G305 wireless mouse boasts an incredible 250 hours of continuous gameplay on just 1 AA battery; switch to Endurance mode via Logitech G HUB software and extend battery life up to 9 months
- Wireless does not have to mean heavy, G305 lightweight mouse provides high maneuverability coming in at only 3.4 oz thanks to efficient lightweight mechanical design and ultra-efficient battery usage
- The durable, compact design with built-in nano receiver storage makes G305 not just a great portable desktop mouse, but also a great laptop travel companion, use with a gaming laptop and play anywhere
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