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To make Windows 11 circle your mouse pointer when you press Ctrl, open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings. In Mouse Properties, select Pointer Options, then check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key and select OK. Clear the checkbox to turn the indicator off.
Enable or disable the Ctrl pointer indicator
- Open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
- Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings to open Mouse Properties.
- Select the Pointer Options tab.
- Under Visibility, check Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key to enable the feature, or clear it to disable it.
- Select OK, then press Ctrl to test the indicator.
Microsoft Support calls this feature Find a mouse pointer: Windows circles the pointer when you press Ctrl. The setting changes whether the circle appears; Microsoft’s instructions describe Ctrl as the trigger and do not provide a way to assign a different key. See Microsoft’s Windows 11 mouse settings instructions.
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Labels can vary slightly by Windows release or display language. If yours differs, look for the mouse’s additional settings, then the Pointer Options tab and the pointer-location checkbox.
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How this differs from other pointer settings
Windows has several settings that can make the pointer easier to see, but they have different effects:
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Logitech M185 Compact Ambidextrous 2.4 GHz Wireless Mouse - Swift Grey
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- Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key: briefly circles the pointer when you press Ctrl.
- Display pointer trails: shows trails as the pointer moves. This is a separate option in Mouse Properties > Pointer Options.
- Pointer size and style: changes the pointer’s appearance through Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.
- Text cursor visibility: applies to the text insertion cursor, not the arrow-shaped mouse pointer, and has separate controls.
Microsoft documents these distinct options in its guides to mouse settings and accessibility settings for input devices.
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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)
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