Have you ever wanted to change your mouse pointers from the default scheme? Perhaps you want cursors that are larger or that are less of a strain on your eyes. If so, we have some good news: this article will show how to customize your mouse cursors in Windows 7 to be the way you want to. It will also show how to delete mouse pointer schemes you don’t want to use anymore. Got you interested? Let’s start!

A bit of Theory about Cursors in Windows 7

Windows uses ".ani" (animated cursor) and ".cur" (cursor) files for the mouse pointers. The default folder in Windows is located at "C:\Windows\Cursors". Cursors are usually around 1-5KB each, while animated cursors can be as large as 76KB. If you download a new mouse pointer scheme, it is best to extract it in the same folder and have it get its own sub-folder under "C:\Windows\Cursors".

Finding the Mouse Pointer Scheme Customisation Window

To customize the Windows 7 mouse pointer scheme, open the Control Panel and, under "Appearance and Personalization", choose "Change the theme".

Then, click on the "Change mouse pointers" link on the left-hand side menu.

Alternatively, you can search for "mouse" in the Start Menu search box and click on the result named "Change how the mouse pointer looks".

How to Change the Mouse Pointer Scheme

You can change mouse pointers by choosing a pre-installed mouse scheme from the drop-down list. If you want a larger cursor scheme, choose "Windows Aero (extra large) (system scheme)". If you want something easier on the eyes, try one of the "Windows Inverted" schemes.

After you selected the pointer scheme you prefer, click on OK.

How to Customize Individual Pointers

To change any individual pointer event, start by selecting it under Customize and clicking Browse.

Then, navigate to where you have your pointer saved and select it. Click on the Open button.

VERY IMPORTANT: For custom mouse pointers that you have downloaded from the Internet, first right-click on the individual mouse pointers and select Properties. Next, choose the General tab and click the Unblock button. If you do not do this, the cursor will not be displayed and can not be used in a pointer scheme.

If you've changed an individual cursor and would like to revert back to the original, select that cursor again and click the Use Default button.

You can also enable or disable the options to "Enable pointer shadows" and "Allow themes to change mouse pointers". "Enable pointer shadow" displays a small shadow around the mouse pointer when you move it. While some find this aesthetically pleasing, others would rather just see a plain mouse pointer. "Allow themes to change mouse pointers" changes the mouse pointer scheme to one that comes with a theme. If you do not check this box, then the mouse pointers will not change when you select a different theme.

When done customizing the pointers you want, make sure to read the next section and find out how to save your changes.

How to Save a Mouse Pointer Scheme

Once you finish changing the cursors included in a scheme, you should save it so that your hard work will not get lost. Click on the Save As button.

Type in a name for the new scheme and click OK.

How to Delete a Mouse Pointer Scheme

If you would like to delete a scheme you created, simply select the scheme you want eliminated and click on the Delete button.

Windows will ask you to confirm this action. Click Yes and the scheme is gone.

NOTE: Be aware that you cannot delete the built-in Windows 7 mouse pointer schemes. Only the stuff you created.

The Connection Between Mouse Schemes and Windows Themes

One thing you must remember: mouse pointer schemes are associated with Windows 7 themes. Therefore, if you change the mouse pointer scheme of a theme, a "new theme" will be created, called Unsaved Theme. If you want the theme to be saved with the new mouse pointer scheme you created, you should save the theme and give it a name. Check this guide to learn how: How to Customize Windows 7 Themes.

Also, the mouse scheme you just modified or created will be displayed as long as your current Windows 7 theme is active. If you change the Windows theme, the mouse scheme will change as well. If you want to keep the same mouse scheme, you need to edit the newly applied Windows 7 theme and select the mouse scheme you want used for it, as shown in this article.

Where to Find Mouse Cursors on the Internet

There are many places on the Internet where you can find different mouse cursors. For example, if you are left-handed, Microsoft offers left-handed Aero cursors that you can download and install. For a larger list, PCWorld offers a multitude of cursors, as does DeviantArt.

Conclusion

I hope this article manages to be both useful and complete and sharing all about customizing mouse pointer schemes and cursors in Windows 7. If you have any questions on the topic, don’t hesitate to ask using the comments form below. Also, for more tips on how to customize visual aspects of Windows 7, check out the recommendations below.

Related articles:

Top 10 Best Mouse Cursor Schemes for Windows
How to Customize Windows 7 Themes
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