How to Change Mouse Speed in Ubuntu

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By Oluwaseun Bamisile

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Are you wondering how to change the mouse speed of your Ubuntu Linux-based computer? You have come to the right place – this guide offers multiple methods to achieve that.

Before you continue, you should know that the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS operating system was used to write this guide. Therefore, expect the procedures to be slightly different if you use other versions of the Ubuntu OS.

Option 1: Change Mouse Speed via GUI

One way to change the mouse speed of your Ubuntu Linux-based computer is through the settings in the graphical user interface. The subsequent procedures and screenshot images demonstrate how to achieve that.

  1. Click the Show Applications button on the Ubuntu dock. Then, type “settings” in the search field and left-click the Settings icon from the search result.
Alternatively, click the quick access panel at the top right corner and left-click Settings from the displayed options.
Change Mouse Speed In Ubuntu Via GUI
  1. When the Settings window opens, select Mouse & Touchpad among the menus on the left pane.
  1. In the Mouse & Touchpad page, use the Mouse Speed slider in the Mouse category to change the speed of your mouse. Basically, moving the slider right increases your mouse’s speed, while moving the slider left decreases its speed.
Change Mouse Speed In Ubuntu Via GUI

Option 2: Change Mouse Speed via Terminal

Interestingly, there is a command that you can use to change the mouse speed of your Ubuntu computer through the terminal. To achieve that, carefully observe the procedures provided below.

  1. Right-click any free space on your Ubuntu desktop, then left-click Open in Terminal from the displayed options. You can also use the Ctrl + Alt + T keyboard shortcut to launch the terminal in Ubuntu.
Change Mouse Speed In Ubuntu Via Terminal
  1. When the Ubuntu terminal opens, input the command below to change the speed of your mouse. However, replace “value” in the command with a number between -1 and 1, with -1 being the slowest and 1 being the fastest.
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.mouse speed value

For example, if I want to change my mouse’s speed to the fastest speed, below is what the command should look like.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.mouse speed 1

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is mouse sensitivity?

The speed at which the mouse pointer glides across the screen is known as mouse sensitivity. Thus, with increased sensitivity, a mouse cursor will more quickly and with less effort.

2. What is the measurement for mouse speed?

Mickey per second is a unit of measurement for a computer mouse’s speed and movement direction. Interestingly, it is named after the famous cartoon character Mickey Mouse because of the shape of a computer mouse.

Generally, a higher Mickey per second value means that a mouse cursor will move quickly across the screen for a given amount of physical mouse movement. Besides, the directional movements of Mickey per second are called the horizontal mickey count and vertical mickey count.

3. How do I change my mouse speed in Ubuntu?

Follow the steps below to change the mouse speed of your Ubuntu computer.
a) Click the Show Applications button on the Ubuntu dock.
b) Then, type “settings” in the search field and left-click the Settings icon from the search result.
c) When the Settings window opens, select Mouse & Touchpad among the menus on the left pane.
d) In the Mouse & Touchpad page, use the Mouse Speed slider in the Mouse category to change the speed of your mouse. Hence, move the slider right to increase the mouse’s speed or move the slider left to decrease its speed.

4. Is there mouse acceleration in Ubuntu?

Yes, mouse acceleration is available in Ubuntu and other distributions of the Linux operating system. Mouse acceleration is a feature that allows the cursor to move faster or slower depending on how quickly you move the mouse.

This makes it easier for users to move the mouse pointer over a long distance. 
However, mouse acceleration can make getting precise mouse movements a bit challenging.

5. What is a computer mouse?

A computer mouse is a handheld input device that controls a cursor in a computer’s GUI (graphical user interface). This cursor is used for pointing, moving, and selecting objects on the computer.

Conclusion

Adjusting the speed of your Ubuntu computer’s mouse effectively improves your overall experience when using the computer. Moreover, there are several ways to change the speed of your mouse in Ubuntu.

However, this guide provided two methods to execute the task. To be more specific, we discussed how to change the mouse speed in Ubuntu through the setting in the GUI.

This guide also included steps to adjust the mouse speed using a particular command line in the Ubuntu terminal. As a result, changing your Ubuntu computer’s mouse speed with this guide should be seamless and stress-free.

I sincerely hope you found the procedures provided in this guide helpful and easy to follow. If you did, click on “Yes” beside the “Was this page helpful” question below.

You may also express your thoughts and opinions by using the “Leave a Reply” form at the bottom of this page.

To find other helpful Linux guides, visit our Linux how-to page.

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About the Author

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Oluwaseun Bamisile

Oluwaseun is the Lead Content Editor at Itechguides.com. He holds a National Diploma in Computer Science (currently studying part-time for his Higher National Diploma). An internet geek with a love for automobiles, he writes product reviews, tech articles, and how-to guides on the site.

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