Change your mouse pointer speed on a Mac

Why it happens

Every mouse moves at a different rate, and your Mac's starting speed may not suit yours. Tracking speed sets how far the pointer travels when you move the mouse. The Mouse page only shows its settings while a mouse is connected, so it can look empty otherwise.

How to fix it

1. Make sure the mouse is connected. A wired mouse or USB receiver should be plugged in, and a Bluetooth mouse should show as connected in Bluetooth settings.

2. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Mouse in the sidebar.

3. Drag Tracking speed to the right to speed the pointer up, or to the left to slow it down.

   Mouse›Tracking speed

4. Move the mouse across the screen to try it. The change works straight away, so keep adjusting until it feels right.

Still not fixed?

1. Pointer feels jumpy or hard to aim, not just slow? Click Advanced on the Mouse page and turn off Pointer acceleration. The pointer then moves the same distance however fast you move the mouse.

2. Using a MacBook's trackpad? It has its own Tracking speed in Trackpad settings, under Point & Click.

   Trackpad›Point & Click›Tracking speed

3. If your mouse came with its own settings app, that app's speed can override your Mac's. Change the speed there too. Some mice also have a speed button on top or underneath.

4. If the pointer stutters, charge the mouse, use it on a plain, non-shiny surface and move it closer to your Mac. Plug a USB receiver into a different port, away from other USB devices.

5. Still lagging with a charged mouse on a good surface? Try another mouse. If that one works, the first mouse is faulty, so contact its maker, or Apple Support for an Apple mouse.