Mouse Cursor Disappeared on Windows 11 How to Fix It

Mouse Cursor Disappeared on Windows 11 How to Fix It

The mouse pointer has vanished, but the PC still works. It's a surprisingly common problem, especially on laptops, and usually a setting or key rather than a fault. This guide shows how to get around with the keyboard and bring the cursor back.

First: Using Windows Without a Pointer

These keys get you anywhere while the cursor is missing:

Key	What it does
Windows	Opens Start; type to search
Tab / Shift + Tab	Moves between items
Arrow keys	Moves within lists and menus
Enter / Space	Opens or selects / switches a toggle
Alt + Tab	Switches between open windows
Windows + I	Opens Settings
Esc	Closes a menu or dialog

Quick Checks

1. Move the mouse and look at every screen. If a second monitor or TV was connected, the cursor may be there. Press Windows + P and choose PC screen only to test.
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Delete, then Esc. This often makes a hidden pointer reappear when an app has captured it.
3. Restart the PC. Press Windows + X, then U, then R to restart with the keyboard.
4. Check the mouse itself: a wireless mouse needs a charged battery and its USB receiver plugged in; try a different USB port, or pair a Bluetooth mouse again.

Fix 1: Turn the Touchpad Back On (Laptops)

Many laptops have a key that turns the touchpad off. It's usually one of the F keys (F5, F6, F7 or F9 are common) with a touchpad icon. Press it, or Fn plus that key. Some HP laptops use a double-tap on the top-left corner of the touchpad instead.

If that doesn't help, turn it on in Settings with the keyboard:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. Press Tab until the left menu is selected, then use the Down arrow to reach Bluetooth & devices and press Enter.
3. Tab to Touchpad and press Enter.
4. Tab to the Touchpad switch and press Space to turn it On.

On the same page, expand Touchpad and check Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected. If it's unticked, the touchpad turns off whenever a mouse (even a broken or wireless one) is connected.

More touchpad fixes are in our laptop touchpad not working guide.

Fix 2: Check the Pointer Options

The pointer can be set to hide while typing, or be hard to see.

1. Press Windows + R, type main.cpl and press Enter to open Mouse Properties.
2. Press Ctrl + Tab to reach the Pointer Options tab.
3. Untick Hide pointer while typing if you don't want this behaviour.
4. Tick Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key. Now pressing Ctrl draws a circle around the cursor, which helps you find it.
5. On the Pointers tab, choose a scheme such as Windows Default (system scheme), then Apply.

To make the pointer bigger or change its colour, open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch.

Fix 3: Update or Reinstall the Driver

1. Press Windows + X, then M to open Device Manager.
2. Press Tab to move into the list and use the arrows to open Mice and other pointing devices (press the Right arrow to expand).
3. Select your touchpad or mouse and press Shift + F10 (the right-click menu) or the Menu key.
4. Choose Update driver > Search automatically for drivers.
5. If that doesn't help, choose Uninstall device, confirm, then restart the PC. Windows reinstalls the driver.

Some laptop touchpads also appear under Human Interface Devices. The laptop maker's support page has the latest touchpad driver for your model; get drivers only from there or Windows Update, not from "driver updater" programs.

If the cursor disappeared right after a Windows update, check Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates, or roll back the driver in Device Manager (Properties > Driver > Roll Back Driver).

Fix 4: Control the Pointer With the Keyboard (Mouse Keys)

Until the mouse works, you can move the pointer with the number pad.

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Mouse.
2. Turn on Mouse keys.
3. Use the number pad (8, 2, 4, 6 to move, 5 to click). Num Lock may need to be on, depending on the setting.

You can also turn it on anywhere with Left Alt + Left Shift + Num Lock.

Fix 5: Cursor Disappears Only in One App or Game

• Games and video players often hide the pointer on purpose. Press Esc or Alt + Tab to leave them.
• In Chrome or Edge, if the pointer vanishes over web pages, turn off graphics acceleration in the browser's System settings and relaunch.
• Update your graphics driver, since display drivers draw the pointer too. See laptop screen flickering in Windows 11 for display driver steps.

Fix 6: Check for System Problems

If the cursor keeps disappearing, repair system files. Press Windows, type cmd, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run as administrator, and confirm with Alt + Y. Then run:

sfc /scannow

Restart when it finishes.

Still No Cursor?

Plug in a different USB mouse. If it works, your original mouse or touchpad hardware has failed. If no pointing device works, even at the BIOS/UEFI screen, the problem may be the laptop's hardware or a keyboard/touchpad cable; if the keyboard misbehaves too, see laptop keyboard not working. A repair shop or our remote support team can help from there.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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See Also:mouse cursor touchpad windows 11