Windows 11 is finally modernizing old Mouse indicator and adds new functionality

• Microsoft is modernizing the Mouse indicator on Windows 11 with a new animation.
• A new “Keep indicator visible until dismissed” option keeps the indicator on screen until you press “Esc” or click the mouse.
• The feature can be activated with “Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + M” when the new option is enabled.

On Windows 11, Microsoft is updating the Mouse indicator feature with a new, modern animation and an option to keep the indicator visible on the screen, making it easier to find the mouse pointer.

Although the Mouse indicator has been available in Windows for many years, when Microsoft moved the feature to the Settings app, it retained the same circle animation that appears when you press the “Ctrl” key on the keyboard.

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Starting with build 26340.9233, Microsoft is modernizing the animation and adding a new “Keep indicator visible until dismissed” option to the “Mouse pointer and touch settings” page, as spotted by @PhantomOfEarth.

When enabled, you can press the “Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + M” keyboard shortcut to display the indicator. It will remain visible until you press “Esc” or click the mouse to dismiss it.

While this may seem like a small change, it’s a welcome addition as Microsoft continues its Windows K2 effort to modernize parts of the operating system that haven’t received significant attention in years.

The update also appears to take a page from PowerToys. Although the implementation isn’t exactly the same, PowerToys already includes a modern version of the Mouse indicator called Find My Mouse, which provides several additional customization options.

For example, you can change the keyboard shortcut used to activate the feature, as well as customize the background and spotlight colors and other settings.

The new Mouse indicator experience brings some of that modern approach directly into Windows 11, reducing the need to install PowerToys simply to make the pointer easier to find.

Pureinfotech’s Take

I like this change because it fixes one of those small features that has felt stuck in the past. The Mouse indicator works, but its old animation has never really matched the rest of the Windows 11 interface.

I also think keeping the indicator visible is more useful than it might sound. If you regularly lose track of the pointer on a large or high-resolution display, having a way to keep it visible without repeatedly pressing a key is a practical improvement.

I wouldn’t consider this a reason to rush into an Insider build, but it’s the kind of cleanup I want to see more of from Windows K2. Microsoft doesn’t need to reinvent every feature. Sometimes, bringing older tools and settings up to the same standard as the rest of the operating system is enough.

The PowerToys comparison is also interesting. Microsoft has been using PowerToys as a place to experiment with useful features, and I think bringing some of those ideas into Windows 11 makes sense when they prove valuable.