How to Turn Off Mouse Acceleration for Better PC Gaming

In Windows 11, mouse acceleration, known as “Enhance Pointer Acceleration,” adjusts cursor movement in real-time based on how quickly the physical mouse is moved. As you increase your hand movement speed, the cursor covers more distance on the screen. This feature is enabled by default.

This functionality can be highly advantageous for routine tasks, especially for users with small mousepads or trackpads, allowing them to navigate large screen areas effortlessly. However, individuals requiring pinpoint accuracy—such as gamers or graphic professionals—may find this setting limiting. In such cases, smooth and predictable cursor behavior takes precedence over convenience.

In competitive gaming titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, or PUBG, many players prefer precise control. Mouse acceleration can interfere with this by distorting the correlation between mouse movement and cursor path. Consequently, professional gamers often choose to disable this feature entirely.

To turn off mouse acceleration in Windows 11, click on the Start menu, type main.cpl in the search bar, then press Enter to open the “Mouse Properties” window. Navigate to the “Pointer Options” tab.

Within this tab, locate the “Improve Pointer Accuracy” checkbox under the “Motion” section. Unchecking this box will disable acceleration. You also have the option to manually adjust the sensitivity by sliding the control to speed up or slow down the cursor response.

If you own a gaming mouse, its software usually allows for precise DPI (dots per inch) adjustments, which control the sensitivity in pixels per inch (PPI). Many gaming mice support toggling between multiple DPI profiles at the press of a button, ideal for switching between precise aiming and rapid camera movements.

Ultimately, for optimal precision, it’s best to turn off mouse acceleration. If comfort is more important or you use basic input devices, keeping acceleration enabled can be acceptable. Conducting a quick test will help determine the setting that suits your preferences best.