How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Mouse acceleration sounds like a helpful feature — and for some users, it genuinely is. But for gamers, graphic designers, and anyone who relies on precise cursor control, it's often the invisible culprit behind frustrating inconsistencies. Here's what it actually does, why you might want to disable it, and how to turn it off across different operating systems.

What Is Mouse Acceleration, and Why Does It Matter?

Mouse acceleration (also called pointer precision or enhanced pointer precision on Windows) is a setting that adjusts how far your cursor moves based on how fast you move your mouse — not just how far you physically move it.

With acceleration enabled:

• A slow, short movement moves your cursor a small distance
• The same physical movement, made quickly, moves your cursor much farther

This sounds intuitive on paper, but it breaks the direct relationship between physical movement and cursor position. Your muscle memory can't lock in because the cursor behaves differently depending on your speed.

Who this affects most:

• 🎮 FPS and competitive gamers — inconsistent aim is a real disadvantage
• Graphic designers and illustrators — precise pen-like control matters
• CAD users — exact positioning is often critical
• Anyone switching between devices — acceleration can make a consistent experience nearly impossible across setups

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on Windows

Windows calls this feature "Enhance Pointer Precision" — the name makes it sound beneficial, which is part of why people leave it on without realizing it.

Steps for Windows 10 and Windows 11

1. Open Settings → Bluetooth & devices → Mouse
2. Scroll down and click Additional mouse settings (this opens the classic Control Panel dialog)
3. Go to the Pointer Options tab
4. Uncheck "Enhance pointer precision"
5. Click Apply, then OK

That's the built-in method. However, there's an important caveat: Windows also applies its own pointer scaling curve that doesn't fully disappear just by unchecking that box. The underlying acceleration isn't completely linear until you set your pointer speed to the 6th notch out of 11 on the speed slider — this is the only position where Windows applies a 1:1 ratio between mouse movement and cursor movement.

Key variables on Windows:

• Whether your mouse has its own software (Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, SteelSeries GG, etc.) — many gaming mice bypass Windows pointer settings entirely when their own driver is active
• Whether you're using a raw input game that ignores system settings
• Your current DPI setting on the mouse itself

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on macOS

macOS handles this differently — and more frustratingly for some users.

Built-in Setting

1. Open System Settings (macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (older versions)
2. Go to Mouse → adjust the Tracking Speed slider

Here's the catch: macOS doesn't offer a simple toggle to fully disable pointer acceleration the way Windows does. Apple's acceleration curve is baked into the system at a deeper level. Even at minimum tracking speed, some degree of acceleration remains.

Third-Party Tools

Many macOS users turn to utilities like LinearMouse or SteerMouse to get genuine 1:1 mouse movement. These tools intercept pointer input and apply custom curves — including flat, acceleration-free profiles.

Key variables on macOS:

• macOS version (the acceleration algorithm has changed across OS releases)
• Whether you're using a third-party mouse or Apple's own peripherals
• Whether your workflow tolerates a third-party input utility running in the background
• Gaming on macOS via CrossOver or virtualization — behavior varies significantly

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on Linux

Linux gives you the most control — but also the most complexity.

X11 (Xorg)

For systems still running X11, you can configure pointer acceleration via terminal:

xinput set-prop <device-id> "libinput Accel Profile Enabled" 0, 1 

The 0, 1 disables adaptive acceleration and enables the flat profile. You can find your device ID by running xinput list.

To make this permanent, it needs to be added to your Xorg configuration file or a startup script, since terminal commands reset on reboot.

Wayland

Wayland compositors handle this differently, and options vary by desktop environment:

Key variables on Linux:

• Whether you're on X11 or Wayland (different tools apply)
• Your desktop environment or window manager
• Whether your changes persist across sessions without extra configuration
• Gaming through Steam/Proton — Proton games often handle raw input independently

The Variables That Change Everything 🖱️

Disabling mouse acceleration isn't universally the right call, and the outcome isn't the same for everyone. Several factors determine whether removing it helps or hurts:

• DPI setting on your mouse — disabling acceleration at very low DPI can make the cursor feel sluggish; at very high DPI, it can feel erratic
• Physical desk space — low-sensitivity setups need more room and feel different without acceleration
• Use case — creative professionals may want fine control in applications that apply their own sensitivity curves
• Muscle memory — if you've used acceleration for years, switching to a flat profile takes adjustment time
• Game-specific settings — many modern games have their own in-game sensitivity and acceleration controls that operate independently of OS settings

Whether disabling it improves your experience depends on what you're doing, what hardware you're running, and how your input chain is actually configured from the mouse firmware all the way to your application.