What is mouse acceleration?
With pointer acceleration turned on, your cursor travels further when you move the mouse fast than when you move it slowly, even over the same physical distance. It makes desktop navigation feel quicker, but it makes aiming inconsistent, because the cursor distance now depends on speed as well as distance.
- Windows: “Enhance pointer precision” (on by default)
- macOS: acceleration is on by default. Newer macOS versions have a “Pointer acceleration” toggle in Mouse settings.
- Games: many games read raw input and bypass OS acceleration, but not all do.
Part 1: live speed
Move the mouse in the box to see:
- Speed: cursor speed in pixels per second (smoothed)
- Top speed: the fastest you’ve moved
- Acceleration: how quickly your speed is changing
- Distance: total cursor distance
The graph shows speed for the last 10 seconds.
Part 2: the acceleration check
- Put the mouse at the left edge of your mouse pad. Mark the spot or use the edge.
- Move it slowly to the right edge, keeping the cursor inside the box (lower your sensitivity if needed), and press Save sweep.
- Move it back and repeat the same physical distance quickly, then press Save sweep again.
If the fast sweep moved the cursor noticeably further (more than ~15%), acceleration is on. If both distances are similar, it’s off.
Speed, DPI and sensitivity
Cursor speed in pixels depends on three things: the mouse’s DPI/CPI, your OS pointer speed, and acceleration. For consistent aiming, many players use a moderate DPI (400–1600), leave the Windows pointer speed at the middle notch (6/11), turn acceleration off, and then tune sensitivity in-game.
Frequently asked questions
Should I turn mouse acceleration off for gaming?
Most competitive players do. Without acceleration, the same hand movement always moves the cursor the same distance, which builds muscle memory. For desktop work, acceleration can be more comfortable. It's personal preference.
How do I turn off mouse acceleration on Windows?
Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse → Additional mouse settings → Pointer Options, and untick 'Enhance pointer precision'.
Last updated