How to Enable or Disable Changing Mouse Pointers in Windows


A mouse pointer or cursor is a graphical image on the PC monitor or other display device. The pointer echoes movements of the pointing device, commonly a mouse, touchpad, or stylus pen, signals the point where actions of the user take place.

By default, users can use the Pointers tab in the Mouse Control Panel to add, remove, or change the mouse pointers.

If you like, you can prevent users on the PC from changing mouse pointers. When disabled, the Pointers tab will be removed from the Mouse Control Panel.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable changing mouse pointers for specific or all users in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable changing mouse pointers.

Contents

• Option One: Enable or Disable Changing Mouse Pointers in Local Group Policy Editor
• Option Two: Enable or Disable Changing Mouse Pointers for All Users using a REG file

EXAMPLE: Changing mouse pointers enabled and disabled

OPTION ONE

Enable or Disable Changing Mouse Pointers in Local Group Policy Editor

In Windows 7, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 8, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro and Enterprise editions.

In Windows 10, the Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

All editions can use Option Two.

1 Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.

2 In the left pane of the Local Group Policy Editor, click/tap on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Control Panel, and Personalization. (See screenshot below)

3 In the right pane of Personalization, double click/tap on the Prevent changing mouse pointers policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

5 To Enable Changing Mouse Pointers

A) Select (dot) either Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

Not Configured is the default setting.

6 To Disable Changing Mouse Pointers

A) Select (dot) Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

7 When finished, you can close Local Group Policy Editor if you like.

OPTION TWO

Enable or Disable Changing Mouse Pointers for All Users using a REG file

The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization

NoChangingMousePointers DWORD

(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable

1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.

2 To Enable Changing Mouse Pointers for All Users

This is the default setting.

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Enable_changing_mouse_pointers.reg

Download

3 To Disable Changing Mouse Pointers for All Users

A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Disable_changing_mouse_pointers.reg

Download

4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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