Operating systems include a handful of mouse settings that change how clicks and movement behave. Most people never touch them, but a few can make clicking more comfortable, more accurate or easier for people with limited hand strength. Menu names change between versions, so use the search box in settings if a path differs.
Double-click speed
This sets how quickly two clicks must follow each other to count as a double click. If double clicks often fail, slow it down. If two separate clicks are sometimes treated as a double click, speed it up.
- Windows: open Settings, search for "mouse", then open additional mouse settings. The Buttons tab has a double-click speed slider and a test folder.
- macOS: open System Settings, go to Accessibility, then Pointer Control, where you will find double-click speed.
You can also check the result with our double click test, which counts two clicks within 300 milliseconds as a pair.
Pointer speed and acceleration
Pointer speed sets how far the pointer moves for a given hand movement. Acceleration makes fast movements go further than slow ones. Many players turn acceleration off so the same hand movement always produces the same pointer movement.
- Windows: in the additional mouse settings, the Pointer Options tab includes "Enhance pointer precision", which is Windows' acceleration.
- macOS: the Mouse section in System Settings controls tracking speed; acceleration behaviour depends on the version.
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pointer speed | Distance moved per hand movement |
| Acceleration | Fast moves travel further |
| Double-click speed | Time allowed between two clicks |
| Primary button swap | Swaps left and right buttons |
| ClickLock (Windows) | Hold-free dragging |
Swapping buttons
Left-handed users can swap the primary and secondary buttons. On Windows this is in the main mouse settings; on macOS it is in the Mouse section. Click tests on MouseTally follow the physical button the browser reports, so a swapped setting changes which physical button scores on the left and right click tests.
ClickLock and accessibility features
Windows ClickLock lets you hold a click by pressing briefly, then release it with another brief press, avoiding long holds during drags. macOS offers alternative pointer actions and dwell control in its accessibility settings. These features help people for whom holding a button is tiring or painful. Our guide to accessibility alternatives covers them in more detail.
Tuning your settings
- Set pointer speed so you can cross the screen comfortably
- Decide whether you want acceleration
- Adjust double-click speed until double clicks feel natural
- Swap buttons if you are left-handed
- Explore accessibility options if holds are tiring
Manufacturer software
Gaming mice often come with software that overrides or adds to these settings: sensitivity levels, polling rate, debounce, button remapping and macros. If clicks behave unexpectedly, check this software as well as the system settings.
Settings worth checking
- Double-click speed suits you
- Acceleration on or off by choice
- Correct primary button for your hand
- No unexpected macros in mouse software
- Accessibility features if holds are tiring
Settings that affect games
Many games read raw mouse input and ignore system pointer speed and acceleration, while others follow them. If a game feels different from the desktop, check its own sensitivity and raw input options. Changing system settings while a game is running may not take effect until the game restarts.
Keep a note of your preferred values, especially if you use several computers. Mouse software can store settings on the mouse itself, but system settings belong to each computer and need to be set separately.
Resetting to defaults
If clicks or movement behave oddly and you cannot find the cause, resetting is often quicker than hunting. Reset the mouse software profile, return pointer speed and double-click speed to their defaults and turn off any accessibility features you did not mean to enable. Then change settings again one at a time while testing with the click tests to see which change matters.