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If the text insertion caret is white, hard to find, or seems to disappear into a text field, open Settings > Accessibility > Text cursor in Windows 11. Increase its thickness and turn on Text cursor indicator, then use the preview to choose an indicator size and color that stands out. In Windows 10, open Settings > Ease of Access > Text cursor for the corresponding controls. Microsoft documents these options for both versions.
First check whether the missing item is the text caret inside a field or the mouse pointer that moves around the screen; Windows has separate settings for them.
Make the text cursor easier to see
- Open the text-cursor settings. In Windows 11, press Windows+U, then select Accessibility > Text cursor. In Windows 10, open Settings > Ease of Access > Text cursor.
- Increase Text cursor thickness. Move the slider until the insertion caret is easier to spot in the preview.
- Turn on Text cursor indicator. Adjust its size and choose a color that contrasts with the background where you usually type. Use the preview to check whether the combination is visible.
Microsoft also notes that changing the mouse-pointer color changes the text-cursor color. If the caret remains difficult to distinguish, check whether a pointer-color setting has affected it. Microsoft’s accessibility guidance recommends using a text-cursor indicator color that makes the caret easier to see.
Check that it is the text caret, not the mouse pointer
Click inside a text field. The text caret is the insertion mark that indicates where typed characters will appear; the mouse pointer is the arrow or other pointer that moves across the screen. If the pointer is what you cannot see, change its settings instead of relying on text-caret options.
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Adjust mouse-pointer visibility
In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accessibility > Mouse pointer and touch. Increase the pointer size or choose a contrasting color. Windows also offers pointer schemes and an option to show the pointer’s location when you press Ctrl; these help locate the mouse pointer, not the text caret. Microsoft’s mouse-settings guidance describes additional pointer options.
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If low contrast makes other screen elements hard to distinguish as well, try a contrast theme: open Settings > Accessibility > Contrast themes, choose a theme, and apply it. Microsoft explains how to apply a theme and customize colors in its Windows contrast-theme instructions.
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Windows color modes are another separate setting. Some applications manage their own appearance, so a Windows color-mode change may not affect every app; see Microsoft’s color-personalization guidance.
If the cursor disappears only in one app
Try typing in another text field, such as one in a different application. If the caret is visible there but not in the original app, Windows’ thickness and indicator controls are still worth checking, but Microsoft’s guidance does not identify a single universal cause for an app-specific white or missing caret. The available evidence does not establish that a particular driver, theme, app setting, or hardware fault is responsible, so avoid changing unrelated components without a more specific diagnosis.
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- Compact Mouse: With a comfortable and contoured shape, this Logitech ambidextrous wireless mouse feels great in either right or left hand and is far superior to a touchpad
- Durable and Reliable: This USB wireless mouse features a line-by-line scroll wheel, up to 1 year of battery life (2) thanks to a smart sleep mode function, and comes with the included AA battery
- Universal Compatibility: Your Logitech mouse works with your Windows PC, Mac, or laptop, so no matter what type of computer you own today or buy tomorrow your mouse will be compatible
- Plug and Play Simplicity: Just plug in the tiny nano USB receiver and start working in seconds with a strong, reliable connection to your wireless computer mouse up to 33 feet / 10 m (5)
- Better than touchpad: Get more done by adding M185 to your laptop; according to a recent study, laptop users who chose this mouse over a touchpad were 50% more productive (3) and worked 30% faster (4)
What Windows 10 users should know
The text-cursor settings remain documented for Windows 10, but Microsoft says support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025. After that date, Microsoft no longer provides free software updates through Windows Update, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. The support change does not alter the cursor-visibility steps above.
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