What is what to do when your cursor disappears?

It's frustrating when your cursor vanishes! Here's a quick guide to troubleshooting a disappearing cursor:

• Check Basic Connections: If you're using a wired mouse, make sure it's securely plugged into your computer. For wireless mice, ensure the receiver is connected and the mouse has power (check/replace batteries). If it is a touchpad, make sure it is turned on.

• Keyboard Shortcuts: Sometimes, a simple keyboard shortcut can restore the cursor. Try these:

  • Windows: Try pressing Windows Key + Ctrl + Shift + B. This restarts the graphics driver, which can often resolve display issues.
  • Mac: Try moving the mouse quickly back and forth.

• Check Mouse Settings: Your mouse settings might be configured to hide the cursor under certain conditions.

  • Windows: Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Mouse. In the Pointer Options tab, uncheck "Hide pointer while typing."
  • Mac: Go to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display. Ensure "Shake mouse pointer to locate" is toggled on if you need help finding the cursor.

• Update Drivers: Outdated or corrupt drivers can cause cursor problems.

  • Windows: Open Device Manager (search for it in the Start menu). Expand "Mice and other pointing devices," right-click on your mouse, and select "Update driver." Choose "Search automatically for drivers."
  • Mac: macOS usually handles driver updates automatically, but you can check for system updates in System Preferences > Software Update.

• Restart Your Computer: A simple restart can often fix temporary glitches.

• Check for Conflicting Software: Some programs can interfere with cursor display. Try closing recently installed or running applications to see if that resolves the issue.

• Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter (Windows): This built-in tool can automatically detect and fix common hardware problems. Search for "Troubleshooting" in the Start menu, then select "Hardware and Sound" and "Hardware and Devices."

• Consider a System Restore (Windows): If the problem started recently, try restoring your system to a previous point in time when the cursor was working correctly.

• External Monitor Issues: If you are using an external monitor, try unplugging it and plugging it back in. This may resolve display issues that are causing the cursor to disappear.

If none of these steps work, there might be a hardware problem with your mouse or touchpad. Consider testing with a different mouse to isolate the issue. For further information on hardware related issues, click Hardware Issues. For more specific operating system instructions, review Operating System documentation.