How to Fix Mouse Cursor Lag in Windows 11

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By Oluwaseun Bamisile

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Does the mouse cursor on your Windows 11 PC screen lag? You’re welcome to read through this guide, as it contains multiple fixes for this problem.

Solution 1: Run Windows Update

According to multiple sources, updating your Windows 11 operating system to the current version often fix this problem. Therefore, follow the steps below to run the Windows update on your Windows 11 computer.

  1. Press the Windows + I keys on your keyboard to launch Settings on your PC.
  1. Following that, click Windows Update on the left pane of the Settings window.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Running Windows Update
  1. Afterward, click the blue Check for updates button at the top of the window’s right pane.
  1. Consequently, Windows will begin searching online for any available updates. If there are updates, you should be prompted to install them.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Running Windows Update
  1. After installing the latest update for your PC, reboot it. Hopefully, this mouse issue should be resolved.

    If it isn’t, check out the other solutions below.

Solution 2: Restart Windows Explorer

Another way to fix this issue is to restart the Windows Explorer process on your Windows 11 computer. The following steps and screenshots demonstrate how to accomplish that.

  1. Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keyboard shortcut to launch Task Manager on your PC.
Fix Cursor Mouse Lag In Windows 11 By Restarting Windows Explorer
  1. Afterward, select Windows Explorer under the Windows processes category on the Processes tab in Task Manager.
  1. Then, click the Restart button at the bottom corner.
Fix Cursor Mouse Lag In Windows 11 By Restarting Windows Explorer
  1. Finally, reboot your Windows 11 PC, and the problem should be fixed. Otherwise, try the third solution of this guide below.

Solution 3: Update Mouse Driver

In some cases, this issue can be a result of an outdated mouse driver. Therefore, updating the mouse driver of your Windows 11 computer should resolve the issue.

To update the mouse driver of your PC, follow the procedures below.

  1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog. Then, input “devmgmt.msc” in the Run input field and press the enter key.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Updating Mouse Driver
  1. Next, double-click Mice and other pointing devices in Device Manager.
  1. Under Mice and other pointing devices, right-click your PC’s mouse driver and select Update driver.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Updating Mouse Driver
  1. Next, left-click Search automatically for driver in the Update Drivers window.
  1. Consequently, Windows will begin to search online for the latest mouse driver for your PC and automatically install it. As a result, make sure your computer have access to the internet during this process.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Updating Mouse Driver
  1. After updating your PC’s mouse driver, reboot your computer. Optimistically, this mouse issue should be gone.

    If not, check out the forth and final solution of this guide below.

Solution 4: Disable Pointer Trails

Disabling the pointer trails feature on your Windows 11 computer can also fix this problem. To do that, observe the procedures below.

  1. Use the Windows + R shortcut to open the Run dialog. Then, input “main.cpl” in the Run input field and press the enter key.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Disabling Pointer Trails
  1. Consequently, Mouse Properties will automatically open on your PC. Then, switch to the Pointer Options tab.
  1. After that, ensure the Display pointer trials box is uncheck and click the OK button at the bottom of the window.
Fix Mouse Cursor Lag In Windows 11 By Disabling Pointer Trails
  1. Finally, restart your PC, and this issue should be resolved.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Windows 11 so laggy?

Low system storage or running too many applications simultaneously may be to blame for Windows 11 lagging or freezing.

2. Why is my mouse freezing?

An outdated or corrupted mouse driver is the most common cause of your mouse freezing. Other reasons include a bug in the operating system or a Windows Explorer bug.

3. How do I update my mouse driver in Windows 11?

a) Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog.
b) Then, input “devmgmt.msc” in the Run input field and press the enter key.
c) After that, double-click Mice and other pointing devices in the Device Manager window.
d) Under Mice and other pointing devices, right-click your PC’s mouse driver and select Update driver.
e) Next, left-click Search automatically for driver in the Update Drivers window.
f) Consequently, Windows will begin to search online for the latest mouse driver for you PC and automatically install it. As a result, make sure your computer have access to the internet during this process.
g) After the update, restart your PC.

4. Is Windows 11 stable now?

For most users, the Windows 11 operating system has been stable since its release.

5. Is the computer mouse an output device?

No, the computer mouse is an input device.

Conclusion

The mouse cursor on your computer screen lagging can be pretty annoying. Nonetheless, with the solutions provided in this guide, you shouldn’t have to face this problem anymore.

Specifically, we discussed how to fix this issue by running the Windows update and restarting Windows Explorer. That’s not all; this guide also showed you how to resolve this problem by updating the mouse driver and disabling pointer trails.

I hope one of the solutions provided in this guide was able to fix your problem. If it was, click on “Yes” beside the “Was this page helpful” question below.

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

Finally, visit our Windows 11 Fix Guides page for more Windows 11 fix guides.

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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