Having trouble spotting your mouse pointer in Windows 10? Don’t worry — we’ve gathered the most effective fixes to help you restore it quickly.

How to Restore a Missing Cursor in Windows 10

Try these troubleshooting methods in order, starting with the simplest. Work through them until your cursor reappears.

1. Reconnect your mouse. For wired models, unplug the USB cable and plug it back in — try a different port if possible. If you're using a wireless mouse, remove the USB receiver, power off the mouse, wait a moment, then reconnect and turn it back on.

   This often resets the connection and brings the cursor back.

   If that doesn’t help, consider re-pairing or setting up the wireless mouse as a new device.

2. Restart your PC. This simple step can resolve many glitches, including a vanished cursor.

   Without a working cursor, press Win D to go to the desktop, then hit Alt F4 to bring up the shutdown menu and choose restart.

3. Check for system updates. Microsoft may have released a patch that resolves known issues with mouse visibility.

   Use the search bar to look up Check for updates and install any available patches.

4. Run the built-in hardware troubleshooter. You can launch it using the Run dialog: press Win R, type the following command, and press Enter:

   <code> msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic</code>

   Follow the prompts to detect and fix device-related problems.

5. Verify the mouse or touchpad isn’t disabled. This can happen accidentally or due to a function key press, especially on laptops with built-in touchpad switches.

   Here’s what you can do:

   • On laptops, look for a physical switch near the touchpad or try pressing F6, F9, or another function key (you may need to hold Fn). Check your keyboard for touchpad icons to identify the correct key.
   • Search for Touchpad settings using the taskbar search, open it, use Tab to navigate to the toggle switch, and press Spacebar to disable and re-enable it.
   • Open Run (Win R), type control mouse, use the right arrow key to go to the Device Settings tab (name may vary), and select Enable.

6. Reinstall the mouse or touchpad driver. Corrupted or incompatible drivers can make the cursor disappear.

   Follow these steps:

   1. Open Device Manager by running devmgmt.msc via the Run dialog.
   2. Press Tab, then use the down arrow to select Mice and other pointing devices.
   3. Expand the category with the right arrow key.
   4. Highlight your mouse device using the down arrow.
   5. Press Alt A U to uninstall.
   6. Confirm the action by pressing Spacebar when Uninstall is highlighted.
   7. Reboot your computer (refer to Step 2).

7. Manually update your driver. Windows may not always install the optimal driver.

   Visit your device manufacturer’s website to download the latest driver. Alternatively, use a trusted driver updater tool while keeping your mouse connected.

8. Turn off Tablet mode if you're using a touchscreen device. When active, the cursor may be hidden entirely.

   Click the notification icon in the bottom-right corner of the taskbar and tap Tablet mode. Make sure it's gray (off).

9. Adjust hardware acceleration in Chrome. Some users report that this setting affects cursor visibility.

   Toggle the setting off or on. If it doesn’t help, switch it to the opposite state, restart Chrome, then revert it.

10. Disable "Hide pointer while typing" if the cursor vanishes during typing. This feature is enabled by default in some setups.

    Open the Run box and enter:

    <code> control mouse</code>

    Use Shift Tab to reach the tab menu, press the right arrow twice to enter Pointer Options, tab down to Hide pointer while typing, and press Spacebar to disable it. Press Enter to save.

11. Switch to the None pointer scheme and turn off pointer shadow. Some users regain visibility by simplifying pointer visuals.

    In the same Mouse Properties window (from Step 10), go to the Pointers tab. Use Tab to select None from the dropdown and uncheck Enable pointer shadow.

12. If using a Wacom tablet, disable Windows Ink. Go to Start menu > Wacom Tablet > Wacom Tablet Properties > MAPPING, and uncheck Use Windows Ink.

    Alternatively, force the cursor to appear: press Win i, search for Pen & Windows Ink, and enable Show cursor.

13. You’re using multiple displays or a projector? The cursor might be on a secondary screen.

    Move your mouse continuously left or right across your desk — after a few inches, it should reappear on your main monitor.

14. Press Ctrl Alt Del to summon the security screen. Some users find this temporarily restores the missing cursor.

    While not a permanent fix, it can help if other solutions fail and you want to avoid a full system reinstall.

15. Additional fixes to consider:

    • Scan for malware
    • Disconnect all USB peripherals and restart
    • Power down the PC completely for several minutes before restarting
    • Use a registry cleaner to fix registry errors
    • Perform a System Restore to revert recent changes

Why Does the Cursor Keep Disappearing?

The issue is typically not hardware-related — your mouse is likely fine. Instead, software conflicts or system settings are usually to blame.

The cursor may vanish entirely or only under certain conditions. Sometimes, mouse clicks still work even when the pointer is invisible.

Common scenarios include:

• After installing a Windows update
• Only within specific apps (e.g., Chrome)
• During typing
• Upon waking from sleep mode
• While using touchpad gestures on a laptop

To customize your cursor appearance, go to Mouse Settings > Additional mouse options > Mouse Properties > Pointers tab. You can change the scheme, size, and color here.

12. How to adjust mouse sensitivity in Windows 10? Navigate to Settings > Devices > Mouse > Additional mouse options. In the Mouse Properties window, use the slider under Pointer speed to adjust sensitivity. Test it by double-clicking the folder icon provided.
13. How to take screenshots in Windows 10? Use the Windows PrtSc shortcut. The screen will dim briefly, and the screenshot will be saved automatically in Pictures > Screenshots.

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