Mouse acceleration explained: should you turn it off?

Mouse acceleration is a feature that changes how far your cursor moves based on how fast you move the mouse. With acceleration enabled, a fast swipe moves the cursor further per inch than a slow swipe, even at the same DPI setting. For general computer use, this can feel natural. For gaming, it is almost always a problem.

Why mouse acceleration hurts gaming aim

Precision aiming in games relies on muscle memory. Your brain learns how much physical movement corresponds to a specific amount of cursor travel. With mouse acceleration, this relationship changes depending on movement speed. A slow, careful swipe to an enemy head moves the cursor a certain amount. The same physical distance moved quickly moves it further. Your muscle memory cannot develop consistent aim when the relationship between physical movement and cursor travel varies.

This is why every competitive FPS guide recommends turning mouse acceleration off. Consistent aim is built on consistent 1:1 tracking. Acceleration breaks that consistency.

How to turn off mouse acceleration in Windows

Windows calls mouse acceleration “Enhance Pointer Precision.” To disable it:

1. Open Settings (Windows key + I)
2. Go to Bluetooth and devices, then Mouse
3. Click “Additional mouse settings”
4. In the Mouse Properties window, click the “Pointer Options” tab
5. Uncheck “Enhance pointer precision”
6. Click OK

After disabling this, cursor movement will feel different, especially at high sensitivity settings. If the cursor feels too slow, increase your in-game sensitivity rather than re-enabling acceleration. Give yourself a few hours of play to adjust to the consistent movement.

Does my gaming mouse add acceleration?

Modern gaming mouse sensors from major brands (Logitech, Razer, SteelSeries) are designed with zero acceleration as a goal. The Logitech Hero 2, Razer Focus Pro, and similar flagship sensors track with consistent 1:1 movement across their full speed range. This is listed in spec sheets as “zero hardware acceleration” or confirmed by community testing.

Older sensors (pre-2018) and some budget sensors do introduce acceleration artifacts at high speeds. If your mouse cursor feels like it overshoots when you move quickly, this is a sign of sensor acceleration. Upgrading to a mouse with a modern sensor resolves it.

Is there any reason to keep mouse acceleration on?

For casual computer use: maybe. Some users find accelerated pointer movement more natural for everyday tasks like scrolling documents and clicking interface elements. For gaming: no. Turn it off. The only players who use acceleration successfully in games are those who have built their muscle memory with it over many years — they have compensated for the inconsistency so deeply that removing it would actually hurt their established aim. For anyone building their aim from scratch or trying to improve, acceleration works against them.

Frequently asked questions

Does turning off mouse acceleration make you better at FPS?

It removes a variable that prevents consistent aim development. Whether it immediately makes you “better” depends on your history. If you have played with acceleration for years, turning it off will feel wrong initially and may temporarily hurt your performance. The improvement comes over the following weeks as your muscle memory recalibrates to consistent 1:1 movement. Most players report better aim consistency within 2-4 weeks of switching.

What is the difference between Windows acceleration and in-game acceleration?

Windows “Enhance Pointer Precision” is an OS-level acceleration that applies to all mouse movement, including in games that read raw input. In-game acceleration is a setting within specific game engines that applies only inside that game. Most competitive games have an option to disable in-game acceleration separately. Check your game settings for “mouse acceleration” or “raw input” options. Raw input bypasses Windows pointer settings entirely and reads directly from the mouse driver.