Mouse Cursor Disappears on Windows 11? Why & How You Can Fix lt

It’s a frustrating problem: you turn on your Windows 11 computer, and the mouse cursor is nowhere to be found. Without a visual pointer, navigating your computer is nearly impossible.

This is a common issue, especially on Windows 11. In this article, you will learn the exact causes and the step-by-step fixes to get your mouse pointer back.

Why Did My Mouse Cursor Disappear?

The problem is usually caused by one of these four things:

• Driver Issues: Your mouse or touchpad driver is corrupt, out-of-date, or has failed. This is the most common cause.
• Connection Problems: The connection between your mouse and the computer is unstable. This can be a frayed cable, dead batteries in a wireless mouse, or a bad Bluetooth pairing.
• Incorrect Settings: A setting has been accidentally changed. For example, your laptop’s touchpad may be disabled, or the “Hide pointer” feature is stuck.
• Software Glitch: A recent Windows update or a system bug is interfering with the mouse.

How To Fix Mouse Pointer Disappearing In Windows 11

Since you have no mouse, you will need to use your keyboard to navigate. Here are the keys you will use:

• Windows Key (Win): Opens the Start Menu.
• Arrow Keys: Move up, down, left, or right.
• Tab: Moves to the next selectable item (button, link, or box).
• Shift + Tab: Moves to the previous selectable item.
• Enter: “Clicks” a selected button or opens a menu.
• Spacebar: Checks or unchecks a box.

Fix 1: Check Your Physical Mouse and Connection

Before trying software fixes, check the hardware. This solves the problem more often than you’d think.

• Wired Mouse: Unplug the mouse. Wait 10 seconds. Plug it into a different USB port.
• Wireless Mouse (with USB dongle): Replace the batteries. Turn the mouse off, wait, and turn it back on.
• Bluetooth Mouse: Replace the batteries. Turn the mouse off and on to re-enter pairing mode.
• Laptop Touchpad: Look at your keyboard’s function keys (F1-F12). Many laptops have a key (like F5 or F7) with an icon of a touchpad with a line through it. Press the Fn key and that function key (e.g., Fn + F5) to re-enable your touchpad.

Fix 2: Restart Your Computer

A simple restart can clear the software glitch causing the problem.

1. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del.
2. Press the Tab key until the Power icon in the bottom-right corner is highlighted.
3. Press Enter.
4. Use the Arrow Down key to select “Restart” and press Enter.

Fix 3: Enable the Mouse in Settings

You may have an accessibility setting enabled that hides the pointer.

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run box.
2. Type control mouse and press Enter. (This opens the Mouse Properties window).
3. Use Ctrl + Tab to move to the “Pointer Options” tab.
4. Use the Tab key to move down to the “Visibility” section.
5. If “Hide pointer while typing” is checked, press the Spacebar to uncheck it.
6. Use Tab to select “Apply,” and press Enter. Then Tab to “OK” and press Enter.

Fix 4: Reinstall Your Mouse Driver

This is the most likely fix. This process uninstalls the broken driver, and Windows will automatically reinstall a fresh one when you restart.

1. Press the Windows key + X.
2. Use the Arrow Down key to select “Device Manager” and press Enter.
3. Press the Tab key once to focus on the device list.
4. Use the Arrow Down key to find “Mice and other pointing devices.”
5. Press the Arrow Right key to expand the list.
6. Use the Arrow Down key to select your mouse (e.g., “HID-compliant mouse”).
7. Press the Menu key (or Shift + F10) to open the right-click menu.
8. Use the Arrow Down key to select “Uninstall device” and press Enter.
9. A confirmation box will appear. Press Tab to move to the “Uninstall” button and press Enter.
10. Now, restart your computer (see Fix 2). Windows will automatically detect the mouse on startup and install a fresh driver.

Fix 5: Enable the Touchpad in Settings

If you’re on a laptop and the touchpad isn’t working, it might be disabled in the main Settings app.

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Press Tab, then use the Arrow Down key to select “Bluetooth & devices” and press Enter.
3. Press Tab to move to the main list. Use the Arrow Down key to find “Touchpad” and press Enter.
4. The “Touchpad” toggle switch will be selected. If it’s off, press the Spacebar to turn it on.

Fix 6: Run a System File Check

If the cursor is still gone, a core Windows file might be corrupt. The System File Checker (SFC) can fix this.

1. Press the Windows key. Type cmd.
2. Use the Arrow Down key to highlight “Command Prompt.”
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run it as an Administrator.
4. A new window will ask for permission. Use the Arrow Left key to select “Yes” and press Enter.
5. In the black window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
6. Wait for the scan to complete. If it finds and fixes errors, restart your PC.

Conclusion

Losing your mouse cursor in Windows 11 is a common problem, but it’s almost always fixable. The solution is usually checking the physical connection, re-enabling a disabled touchpad, or reinstalling the mouse driver.

If these fixes fail, the problem may be with the mouse hardware itself. Before taking it for repairs, try testing the mouse on a different computer to confirm.

Further Reading

• How To Exit Safe Mode In Windows 10
• How To Fix Black Desktop Background In Your Windows PC
• How To Download All Photos From iCloud To Your Windows PC
• How To Set Up Apple iCloud Drive On Your Windows Computer
• How To Turn Off Login Password In Windows 10 (Local & Microsoft)