What polling rate means and why you might change it

Polling rate is how often your mouse tells your computer where it is — measured in hertz (Hz). A 125 Hz polling rate means your mouse reports its position 125 times per second. A 1000 Hz rate means 1000 times per second. Higher polling rates give you slightly more responsive cursor movement, which matters most in fast-paced games or precision work like photo editing.

Most Logitech mice ship at 125 Hz by default. You can raise this to 500 Hz or 1000 Hz using Logitech's software, but the trade-off is battery drain on wireless mice — higher polling rates use more power. If you use a wired mouse or rarely game, you probably won't notice a difference. If you play competitive shooters or do detailed design work, moving to 500 Hz or 1000 Hz might feel smoother.

Changing polling rate requires Logitech G Hub software on Windows or Mac. Some older Logitech mice use SetPoint instead. You cannot change polling rate through Windows settings alone.

Key Takeaways

  • Logitech mice polling rate is changed through Logitech G Hub software, not through Windows or Mac settings.
  • Most Logitech mice default to 125 Hz, and you can usually raise this to 500 Hz or 1000 Hz depending on the model.
  • Higher polling rates drain battery faster on wireless mice, so weigh responsiveness against how often you charge.
  • Older Logitech mice may use SetPoint software instead of G Hub, and the steps differ slightly between the two.

Download and install Logitech G Hub

Go to support.logi.com in your web browser. Click the search box at the top and type your mouse model number — you can find this on the bottom of the mouse or in your original box. Click your mouse from the search results.

On your mouse's support page, look for a "Downloads" or "Software" section. Click the link for Logitech G Hub. Choose the version for your operating system (Windows or Mac) and click Download. Once the file finishes downloading, open it and follow the installer steps. You will need to restart your computer when installation completes.

Plug your Logitech mouse into a USB port (or turn it on if it is wireless). Open Logitech G Hub. The software should detect your mouse automatically within a few seconds. If it does not appear, unplug the mouse, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in.

Find the polling rate setting in G Hub

Once your mouse appears in G Hub, click on it. You will see a list of settings for that mouse. Look for an option called "Polling Rate," "Report Rate," or "USB Report Rate" — the exact name varies by mouse model. Click on it to open the dropdown menu.

The available options depend on your mouse. Most Logitech gaming mice offer 125 Hz, 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1000 Hz. Some budget models only offer 125 Hz and 500 Hz. Select the rate you want from the dropdown. The change takes effect immediately — you do not need to restart your computer or the mouse.

If you do not see a polling rate option in G Hub, your mouse model may not support changing it, or it may use the older SetPoint software instead. Check the support page for your specific model to confirm.

Adjust polling rate if you use SetPoint instead

Older Logitech mice use SetPoint software rather than G Hub. If you installed SetPoint and it opened instead of G Hub, follow these steps. Open SetPoint and look for your mouse in the left sidebar. Click on it to expand the settings menu.

Look for "Buttons & Features," "Performance," or a similar section. Inside, find "Polling Rate" or "Report Rate." Click the dropdown and select your preferred rate. SetPoint saves the change automatically. Close the software when you are done.

If you own both an older SetPoint mouse and a newer G Hub mouse, you will need both programs installed — they do not conflict with each other. G Hub handles newer mice and SetPoint handles older ones.

Test your new polling rate

After changing the polling rate, move your mouse around quickly to feel the difference. In games, the cursor should track your hand movement more closely at higher rates, though the difference is subtle unless you jump from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz. Open a text editor and try clicking and dragging to select text — smoother tracking is most noticeable during fast, precise movements.

If your wireless mouse battery drains noticeably faster after raising the polling rate, you can lower it back down. Return to G Hub or SetPoint, click your mouse, and select a lower rate from the polling rate dropdown. There is no penalty for changing it back and forth.

Troubleshooting when polling rate won't change

If the polling rate option does not appear in G Hub, your mouse model may not support it. Budget Logitech mice and some older models have fixed polling rates that cannot be changed. Check your mouse's product page on Logitech's website to confirm whether polling rate adjustment is available for your specific model.

If G Hub crashes or freezes when you try to change the polling rate, restart your computer and try again. If the problem persists, uninstall G Hub completely, restart, and reinstall it fresh from support.logi.com. Make sure you download the latest version — older versions sometimes have bugs that newer releases fix.

If your mouse is not detected by G Hub at all, try plugging it into a different USB port. Some USB hubs do not provide enough power for wireless mouse receivers. Plugging directly into your computer's back panel usually works better. If you are on Mac, make sure G Hub has permission to access your input devices — check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Accessibility and add Logitech G Hub to the list.

When to use different polling rates

For everyday use like web browsing, email, and document editing, 125 Hz is fine and saves battery on wireless mice. For gaming, especially fast-paced games like shooters or fighting games, 500 Hz or 1000 Hz feels noticeably smoother. For photo or video editing where precision matters, 500 Hz is a good middle ground — it improves cursor accuracy without draining battery as quickly as 1000 Hz.

If you use your mouse for both gaming and everyday work, you can create profiles in G Hub that switch polling rates automatically when you launch certain programs. Click the profile icon in G Hub and select "Create New Profile," then assign it to a game or application. When you launch that program, G Hub switches to the polling rate you set for that profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does higher polling rate make a big difference?

The jump from 125 Hz to 1000 Hz is noticeable in competitive games and precision work, but most people do not feel a major difference in everyday use. If you play casually or use your mouse for general computing, you probably will not notice. Competitive gamers and esports players tend to prefer 1000 Hz.

Will changing polling rate damage my mouse?

No. Changing polling rate is a software setting that does not wear out hardware or cause permanent damage. You can change it back and forth as many times as you want without any risk to the mouse.

Why does my wireless mouse battery drain faster at higher polling rates?

Higher polling rates mean the mouse is communicating with your computer more frequently, which uses more power. A wireless mouse at 1000 Hz may need charging twice as often as one at 125 Hz. If battery life is important to you, stick with 500 Hz or lower.

Can I change polling rate on a Logitech mouse without G Hub?

No. Logitech does not provide a way to change polling rate through Windows or Mac system settings. You must use either G Hub or SetPoint software. Some very old Logitech mice have fixed polling rates that cannot be changed at all.

My mouse model is not showing up in G Hub. What do I do?

Make sure your mouse is plugged in or turned on, and that G Hub is fully installed and up to date. Restart your computer and try again. If it still does not appear, your mouse model may not be compatible with G Hub — check the product page on Logitech's website to see which software version supports your mouse.