How to Change Your Cursor on Windows 10 and 11

A browser extension changes your cursor only on web pages. If you want a custom cursor everywhere in Windows — on your desktop, in apps, and across every program — you install it as a system pointer using a downloadable cursor file. Neon Cursor provides these files in the standard Windows formats, so the process is straightforward.

Before you start

On a cursor's page, use the download menu to grab the .cur (static) or .ani (animated) file. These are the formats Windows uses for pointers. Save the file somewhere you'll remember, such as a "Cursors" folder inside Documents.

Windows 11

1. Open Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
2. Scroll down and click Additional mouse settings.
3. In the window that opens, select the Pointers tab.
4. Under Customize, click the pointer role you want to change (for example, Normal Select), then click Browse.
5. Choose your downloaded .cur or .ani file and click Open.
6. Click Apply, then OK.

Windows 10

1. Open Settings > Devices > Mouse, then click Additional mouse options.
2. Open the Pointers tab.
3. Select a pointer role, click Browse, and pick your downloaded file.
4. Click Apply and then OK.

Tips

• Save it as a scheme. After setting your pointers, click Save As on the Pointers tab to store the whole set as a named scheme you can switch back to later.
• Animated cursors use the .ani format; static ones use .cur. See Animated vs Static Cursors if you're not sure which to pick.
• Want to undo it? On the Pointers tab, choose the Windows Default scheme and click Apply. Full steps are in How to Remove or Reset Your Custom Cursor.

If you only want a custom cursor while browsing, the easiest route is the extension — see How to Change Your Mouse Cursor in Chrome.