Microsoft has added another small accessibility feature to Windows 11, and, honestly, I didn’t ask for it. But that doesn’t mean somebody else won’t find it genuinely useful.
The latest Windows 11 Insider Beta build, 26220.9568, introduces a new Pointer Indicator setting designed to make the mouse cursor easier to locate. Microsoft says the feature is intended primarily for people with low vision, helping them quickly find and use the cursor while working on a Windows PC.
You can turn it on by heading to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch and enabling Pointer indicator. Once enabled, you can also quickly toggle the feature using Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + X.
The idea is pretty straightforward: when the cursor is difficult to spot, Windows can provide a more obvious visual indicator around it, making it easier to find on the screen.
And this is one of those Windows updates where my reaction is basically: I didn’t ask for it. It’s cool for some people. Not me. Keep adding up, Microsoft.
That last part is actually the important bit. Microsoft continues to tuck smaller accessibility improvements into Windows rather than treating major feature updates as the only opportunity to make the operating system easier to use. The Pointer Indicator isn’t going to change how most people use Windows 11, but for someone who struggles to locate the cursor, a tiny setting like this can make everyday computer use considerably less frustrating.
The feature is currently being tested with Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel, so its appearance in a future public release isn’t guaranteed. Microsoft notes that features in Insider builds can change, be removed, or never ship more broadly.
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