How to change your mouse's DPI to make the cursor move faster or slower

hand on computer mouse typing keyboard

It's easy to change your mouse's DPI settings on your PC.
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  • You can change your mouse's DPI in several ways, but the easiest is through the Settings menu.
  • DPI, or "Dots Per Inch," is a stat used to measure how fast your on-screen cursor moves when you move your mouse.
  • Using the computer's settings to force a slow mouse to go faster can occasionally cause glitches, and make the cursor inaccurate.
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DPI, or dots per inch, is the measure of a computer mouse's sensitivity. The higher your DPI, the farther your on-screen cursor will move for every inch your move the mouse.

This is why many people choose to change the DPI on their computer mouse. Lowering the DPI can help with tasks that require precision, like drawing with a mouse; raising the DPI is ideal if you need faster movement for games or other apps.

More advanced mice often have sliders or buttons that allow you to adjust the DPI in the mouse itself. Some have dedicated computer apps that will let you do it too.

However, if your mouse has neither of these things, you can still artificially adjust the DPI using your computer's settings menus. Just note that while using this method is safe, it can make your cursor seem buggy or less accurate. This is especially true if you try to make a slow mouse go much faster.

Ryan Ariano grew up in Baltimore when the Macintosh was cutting edge, lived in Los Angeles as Blackberries gave way to iPhones, and now lives in Jackson Hole where his life is held together by Bluetooth. He writes on a wide range of topics but especially loves nerding out across the tech spectrum. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.

William Antonelli

Editor & Staff Writer for Tech Reference

William Antonelli is a writer and editor based in New York City. As Editor of Insider's Tech Reference vertical and a founding member of the Reference team, he's helped grow Tech Reference from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@insider.com.

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