How to Change Mouse Sensitivity on Windows, Mac, and Linux

Adjusting mouse sensitivity is an exceedingly simple task. On this page you’ll find instructions for several popular operating systems.

Windows (XP through 10)

1. Click on Start (or Search)
2. Type “Control Panel”
3. In the Control Panel’s “Search” bar, enter “Mouse”
4. Click “Change mouse settings”

This will open the “Mouse Properties” window, which contains the sensitivity parameters in the following tabs:

• Buttons
• • Double-click speed – Controls the maximum amount of time in between consecutive clicks that can trigger a double-click. Faster values will require you to tap more rapidly in order to double-click.
• Pointer Options
• • Motion – Experiment with this setting to find the mouse speed most comfortable for you.
• Wheel
• • Vertical Scrolling – Controls how drastically the mouse wheel (or touchpad scroll function, or button) scrolls up or down through content. Higher values are more drastic.
  • Horizontal Scrolling – Controls how drastically the mouse wheel scrolls left and right through content. Again, higher values are more drastic.

When you have found a comfortable combination of settings, click “OK” to close the window and save your settings.

Mac OSX

1. Click on “System Preferences” in the dashboard or perform a search for “System Preferences”
2. Click on “Mouse”

You will now see the screen containing the mouse sensitivity parameters.

1. Tracking – Experiment with this setting to find the mouse speed most comfortable for you.
2. Double Click – Controls the maximum amount of time in between consecutive clicks that can trigger a double-click. Faster values will require you to click more rapidly in order to double-click.
3. Scrolling – Controls how drastically the mouse wheel (or touchpad scroll function, or button) scrolls up or down through content. Higher values are more drastic.

When you have found a comfortable combination of settings, you can close the System Preferences window. Your settings will be saved automatically.

Linux (Fedora running GNOME 3)

1. Hover your mouse pointer over “Activities”
2. Type “Mouse” into the search bar
3. Click on “Mouse & Touchpad”

This will open the “Mouse and Touchpad” application window, which contains the sensitivity parameters.

• Mouse
• • Mouse Speed – Experiment with this setting to find the mouse speed most comfortable for you.
• Touchpad
• • Touchpad Speed – Experiment with this setting to find the mouse speed most comfortable for you.

When you have found a comfortable combination of settings, close the “Mouse and Touchpad” window and your settings will be saved automatically.