Changing the default mouse cursor in the idle state doesn't work

влад горб 0 Reputation points
2026-08-30T19:34:07.9533333+00:00 
Changing the default mouse cursor in the idle state doesn't work. No other methods help. The other cursors change, but in the idle state it doesn't work and looks like it does in Windows 95.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Desktop, Start, and personalization | Themes
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  1. Carl-L 21,995 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-01T13:08:07.2+00:00

    Hello влад горб,

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.

    As I remember, the idle state in Windows 95 is actually the normal select white cursor when it doesn't point to any specific element. So if you want to change it, you could use the default option of the cursor menu. If you are having issue while changing it, can you let me know?

    I'm waiting for your reply.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-30T19:34:22.1466667+00:00

    Windows does not provide a native per-app idle cursor override, and if the normal static pointer stays on the old Windows 95-style image while other cursor states change, the practical fixes supported here are:

    1. Rebuild the cursor scheme
      • Open Mouse Properties.
      • Go to the Pointers tab.
      • Change to a different built-in scheme and select Apply.
      • Change back to Windows Default and select Apply and OK.
    2. If using custom cursor files, reselect them manually
      • In Mouse Properties > Pointers, select the affected pointer such as Normal Select.
      • Use Browse to reselect the cursor file.
      • Apply the change.
    3. Test with another Windows theme
      • Go to Settings > Personalization > Themes.
      • Switch to a different theme, then try applying the cursor scheme again.
    4. Check whether the issue is profile-specific
      • Create a temporary local Windows account.
      • Sign in and test whether the normal pointer still remains stuck on the old style.
      • If it works there, the problem is likely limited to the current user profile.
    5. If this started after a Windows build update
      • There have been reports of cursor issues tied to specific builds.
      • Report the issue through Feedback Hub with Win + F.
      • If needed, uninstall the recent update and pause updates until a fixed build is available.

    Windows also does not have a native setting to assign different custom cursors on an app-by-app basis, so the normal pointer behavior is generally controlled system-wide.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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