To show mouse pointer trails in Windows 10 or Windows 11, open Mouse Properties, select the Pointer Options tab, and check Display pointer trails. Move the slider toward Short or Long to adjust the effect, then select OK. The trail appears as you move the pointer and disappears shortly afterward. You can turn it off from the same tab at any time.

A Windows Mouse Properties window shows pointer speed and enabled pointer trails settings on a desktop monitor. Before you change the pointer trail​

You need a working mouse or another way to control the pointer, such as a laptop touchpad. The setting is built into Windows; you do not need to install an app or change the registry.

If you are unsure which instructions to follow, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for your Windows edition and version. The Settings paths differ between Windows 10 and Windows 11, but both lead to the same Mouse Properties window.

Windows 10 support note: The setting still works on Windows 10, but Microsoft ended standard Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. Extended Security Updates are available for eligible devices; some specialized Windows editions have different support dates.

Turn on pointer trails​

First open Mouse Properties using the path for your version of Windows. Then use the shared steps to enable and adjust the trail.

Open Mouse Properties in Windows 11​

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. You can also select Start > Settings.
  2. Select Bluetooth & devices, then select Mouse.
  3. Under Related settings, select Additional mouse settings. Scroll down if you do not see it.
  4. The classic Mouse Properties window opens. Continue with the steps under “Enable and adjust the trail” below.

Open Mouse Properties in Windows 10​

  1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings. Alternatively, select Start > Settings.
  2. Select Devices, then select Mouse.
  3. Select Additional mouse options. Depending on the size of the Settings window, you may need to scroll to find it.
  4. The Mouse Properties window opens. Continue with the steps below.

Enable and adjust the trail​

  1. In Mouse Properties, select the Pointer Options tab. Do not select Pointers: that is a separate tab for pointer appearance.
  2. Under Visibility, check Display pointer trails.
  3. Use the slider beneath the checkbox to choose a length. Move it toward Short for a less prominent trail or toward Long for a more noticeable one.
  4. Select Apply to save the change while keeping Mouse Properties open, or select OK to save it and close the window.
  5. Move the pointer across the desktop to see the effect. If the trail is difficult to see, return to Pointer Options, move the slider farther toward Long, and select Apply or OK again.

No restart is normally needed. The feature follows pointer movement; it is not intended to leave a permanent line on the screen. The slider changes the trail’s length, not the speed of the mouse.

Check that the trail is working​

After saving the setting, use this quick check:

  1. Move the mouse steadily across an uncluttered part of the desktop. Look behind the pointer for the brief trail.
  2. Stop moving the mouse. The trail should disappear rather than remain on the desktop.
  3. If the effect is too subtle, reopen Mouse Properties > Pointer Options, confirm that Display pointer trails is checked, and move the slider toward Long. Select Apply and try again.
  4. If the effect makes the pointer harder to follow, move the slider toward Short and test it again.

Choose a length that is comfortable during ordinary tasks, such as moving between windows and selecting text. A longer trail is easier to notice, but you do not need to use the longest setting.

Open Mouse Properties directly​

If you cannot find the additional settings link, Windows can open the same window from the Run dialog:

  1. Press Windows key + R.
  2. Type the following command:
    control.exe mouse
  3. Press Enter. Windows should open Mouse Properties.
  4. Select Pointer Options, check Display pointer trails, adjust the slider, and select OK.

This is an alternate route to the same settings window, not a separate pointer-trail feature. On a work or school PC, an administrator may restrict access to Control Panel items; if the window is blocked, contact your IT support team rather than trying to bypass the restriction.

Turn pointer trails off​

To remove the effect, reverse the checkbox setting:

  1. Open Mouse Properties using the Settings path for your Windows version, or press Windows key + R, enter control.exe mouse, and press Enter.
  2. Select the Pointer Options tab.
  3. Under Visibility, clear the Display pointer trails checkbox.
  4. Select OK, or select Apply if you want to keep the window open.
  5. Move the pointer across the desktop. The trailing copies should no longer appear.

Moving the slider to Short is not the same as turning the feature off. Clear the checkbox if you do not want any pointer trail.

If you have changed the slider but have not selected Apply or OK, select Cancel to close the window without saving the pending changes. Once you have applied a change, use the checkbox and slider to set it back as desired.

Troubleshoot pointer visibility​

  • The Mouse Properties window did not appear. Check whether it opened behind Settings or another window. You can also try the direct Run command above. If Windows reports that access is restricted on a managed PC, ask your administrator for help.
  • The slider is unavailable. Check Display pointer trails first. The length control is for the trail effect, so it is not useful when the feature is off.
  • The checkbox is checked, but the trail is hard to see. Select Apply or OK, then test on the desktop while moving the pointer. Move the slider toward Long and test again. A trail appears during movement, so a stationary pointer is not a useful test.
  • The trail is distracting. Try a shorter setting first. If that is still uncomfortable, clear Display pointer trails and select OK.
  • The pointer is difficult to see even with a trail. You can also make the pointer larger or change its color. In Windows 11, open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. In Windows 10, open Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse pointer. These controls change the pointer itself rather than its trail.
  • You want to find the pointer without a continuous trail. In Mouse Properties > Pointer Options, select Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key, then select OK. Pressing Ctrl provides a location cue; clear that checkbox again if you do not want it.
  • The pointer disappears while you type. In Pointer Options, check whether Hide pointer while typing is selected. If you want the pointer to remain visible, clear that checkbox and select OK. This setting is separate from pointer trails.

If the trail still does not appear, reopen Pointer Options and verify that the checkbox remains selected after you save it. On a managed device, report the behavior to your IT support team, including whether the checkbox stays selected and whether the effect appears on the desktop.

 

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