Change Your Cursor

If you're tired of your default cursor, you can change it to something that fits your style a bit better. This is a fairly straightforward process in Windows, but Mac users will have to use a workaround since Apple doesn't support custom cursors. You can find cursors for just about anything online.

Steps

Windows

  1. Find some cursors to download. There are countless cursors available for download from various sites online. You can replace your default cursors with these custom cursors. Popular cursor sites include:
    • Open Cursor Library - rw-designer.com/cursor-library
    • DeviantArt - deviantart.com/browse/all/customization/skins/windows/cursors/
    • Customize.org - customize.org/cursor
  2. Download a cursor pack. Most cursors will come in ZIP file format. Avoid downloading any cursor packs that come in EXE format, as this could install malware alongside the cursor.
    • Downloading a cursor pack is not required to change your cursor, as Windows includes several options to choose from.
  3. Open the ZIP file that you downloaded. Double-click the ZIP file to see the contents. Regular cursors are CUR files, and animated cursors are ANI files.
  4. Open the .C:\Windows\Cursors folder in another window. This folder contains all of the cursor files currently installed on your computer.
  5. Drag the new cursor files into the .Cursors directory. Click the Continue button and enter your administrator password if prompted. You need administrator access in order to install new cursors.
  6. Open the Control Panel. You'll be using the Control Panel to select the new cursor.
    • Windows 7, Vista, and XP - Click the Start button and select "Control Panel" from the Start menu.
    • Windows 8.1 - Right-click on the Start button or press Ctrl+X and select "Control Panel".
  7. Select the "Mouse" icon, or "Hardware and Sound" and then "Mouse". The option available depends on your Control Panel's view settings.
  8. Open the .Pointers tab. This will display your current scheme and pointer settings.
    • You can use the "Scheme" drop-down menu to select from several pre-installed cursor themes.
  9. Select the cursor that you want to change. You can change the cursor for any of the different cursor states. The standard cursor is labeled "Regular select", and the typing cursor is labeled "Text Select".
  10. Click the .Browse... button. This will open a file explorer window displaying the Cursor folder. Select the new cursor that you want to use and click Open.
    • Repeat the cursor replacement for any other cursor states you want to change.
  11. Click the .Apply button. All of your changes will be applied, and your new cursors should appear.[1]
    • You can restore a cursor by selecting it in the list and clicking Use Default.

Mac

  1. Change the cursor size. OS X does not allow custom cursors, as the cursor is determined by individual apps instead of by the system. You can adjust the size of the pointer in the System Preferences menu. In order to change your cursor, you'll need to use a special program (See the next step).[2]
    • Click the Apple menu and select "System Preferences".
    • Select the "Accessibility" option and then click the "Display" tab.
    • Use the "Cursor Size" slider to adjust the size of the cursor.
  2. Download and install Mousecape for custom cursors. Mousecape is a free, open-source cursor utility that allows you to apply custom cursor sets, or "capes", to OS X. Mousecape is by far the easiest way to currently change your OS X cursor.
    • You can download Mousecape from github.com/alexzielenski/Mousecape/releases. Download the latest "Mousecape.zip" file and then drag the .app folder inside into your Applications folder.
  3. Find cursors you want to use. Mousecape lets you load .cape files, which are preset packs of cursors. You can find these at a variety of different sites, including DeviantArt. You can also drag and drop image files into Mousecape to create custom cursors, so you could load up the preview of any Windows cursor file and then use that to create your new cursor.
  4. Open the Mousecape app. You will see a list of available capes, which will likely be empty.
  5. Add your cape files (if you have them). If you downloaded cape files, you can drag and drop them into the Mousecape window to add them.
  6. Press .⌘ Cmd+N to create a new cursor. Select your new cursor in the list and press ⌘ Cmd+E to edit it. Give the new cursor a name.
    • If you are using a Retina display, check the Retina box.
  7. Click the .+ button. This will create a new object in your new cape file.
  8. Click and drag the image that you want to use into the first box. You can add additional copies of the image to the other boxes if you intend to zoom the cursor.
  9. Select the cursor type that you want to assign it to from the "Type" drop-down menu. The standard system pointer is labeled "Arrow".
  10. Adjust the "Hot Spot" values. This is the location of the actual pointer on the image. The Hot Spot starts in the upper-left corner of the image. The first number is the number of pixels the Hot Spot will move to the right, and the second is the number it will move down. You can see the new Hot Spot when you change the numbers.
  11. Save your new cursor. Click "File" → "Save" or press ⌘ Command+S. You can close the cursor window.
  12. Double-click your new cape in the list. It will show a preview of your new cursor. Double-clicking the cape will apply your new cursor.[3]

Warnings

  • Avoid any banner ads or pop-ups that advertise cursors. These are often gateways for adware. Stick to trusted libraries of cursors on reputable sites.

Related Articles

  • Make a Cursor from Scratch
  • Create a Custom Computer Cursor
  • Copy and Paste

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.rw-designer.com/using-cursors
  2. ↑ https://support.apple.com/kb/PH18427?locale=en_US
  3. ↑ https://github.com/alexzielenski/Mousecape
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