How to Turn Off Mouse Acceleration on Windows, Mac, and Linux

What Is Mouse Acceleration?

If you’ve ever felt like your cursor moves farther when you swipe your mouse quickly—and less when you move it slowly—you’ve experienced mouse acceleration.

RAPOO VT2 MAX Gaming Mouse

Mouse acceleration is a system feature that changes how far your cursor travels based on how fast you move your physical mouse. Instead of a strict 1:1 relationship between hand movement and on-screen movement, the operating system increases pointer speed during faster swipes. In simple terms, the quicker you move the mouse, the farther the cursor goes.

So, what is mouse acceleration really doing behind the scenes? It applies a speed-based scaling curve. Slow movements allow for fine control and precision, while fast movements cover more screen distance without requiring a large physical swipe. For general desktop use—like browsing or working on documents—this can feel convenient. It reduces the need to lift and reposition the mouse repeatedly.

However, that same behavior can create inconsistency.

In gaming and other precision-based tasks, consistency matters more than convenience. Competitive players often rely on muscle memory: moving their hand a specific distance to land their crosshair on a target. When mouse acceleration is enabled, that relationship changes depending on movement speed. The same hand motion can produce different cursor distances—making precise aiming harder to predict and replicate.

That’s why many gamers, designers, and power users choose to turn mouse acceleration off. Disabling it creates a linear, predictable 1:1 input response. Your mouse movement becomes consistent regardless of speed, which improves control and repeatability.

In the next sections, we’ll break down exactly how to turn off mouse acceleration on Windows, macOS, and Linux—plus how to make sure it’s fully disabled inside popular games.

Why Disable Mouse Acceleration?

At first glance, mouse acceleration seems helpful. It allows you to move across the screen quickly without increasing your base sensitivity. But when it comes to gaming precision, that convenience becomes a drawback.

The core issue is inconsistency.

When mouse acceleration is enabled, your cursor movement depends not only on how far you move your hand—but also how fast you move it. A slow 3-inch swipe may move your crosshair a short distance, while a fast 3-inch swipe may send it much farther. That variable response makes it harder to build reliable muscle memory.

In competitive games—especially FPS titles like Valorant, CS2, or Overwatch—muscle memory is everything. Players train themselves to move their hand a specific physical distance to land a shot. If acceleration is active, that relationship constantly changes. The result? Over-aiming, under-aiming, and inconsistent flick shots.

This is why many professional and competitive players choose to disable mouse acceleration. Turning it off creates a linear 1:1 input response: the same physical movement always results in the same on-screen movement. That consistency improves accuracy, tracking stability, and long-term performance.

Even outside gaming, disabling acceleration can improve control in tasks like graphic design or video editing, where precise pointer placement matters.

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on Windows (Windows 10 & 11)

If you're using Windows, mouse acceleration is controlled by a setting called “Enhance pointer precision.” Despite the name, this feature actually enables acceleration. To disable mouse acceleration on Windows, you simply need to turn this option off.

Below is the step-by-step process for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Step-by-Step: Turn Off Windows Pointer Precision

Method 1: Using Windows Settings (Recommended for Windows 11)

1. Press Win + I to open Settings
2. Go to Bluetooth & devices
3. Click Mouse
4. Scroll down and select Additional mouse settings
5. In the new window, open the Pointer Options tab
6. Uncheck “Enhance pointer precision”
7. Click Apply, then OK

Method 2: Using Control Panel

1. Press Windows key and type Control Panel
2. Click Hardware and Sound
3. Select Mouse
4. Open the Pointer Options tab
5. Uncheck Enhance pointer precision
6. Click Apply

This setting directly controls Windows pointer precision behavior. Once unchecked, your mouse movement becomes linear—meaning a consistent 1:1 relationship between physical movement and cursor movement.

Important Tips After Disabling

• Restart not required: The change applies immediately.
• If your cursor suddenly feels slower, that’s normal. Acceleration was previously increasing speed dynamically.
• You may want to adjust:
  • The Pointer Speed slider in Windows Settings
  • Your mouse’s DPI setting (via mouse software or hardware button)

Also note that some gaming mouse software (RAPOO Hub, Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, etc.) may include additional acceleration or smoothing features. If you're aiming for maximum gaming precision, check those settings as well.

Once Windows pointer precision is disabled, your system-level acceleration is off. In the next section, we’ll cover how to disable mouse acceleration on macOS.

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on macOS

Unlike Windows, macOS doesn’t use the term “mouse acceleration” directly in basic settings. Instead, it refers to it as pointer acceleration. If you want to disable mouse acceleration on Mac, you’ll need to turn this feature off either through System Settings or by using a Terminal command.

Method 1: Turn Pointer Acceleration Off in System Settings

On macOS Monterey and newer versions, Apple provides a direct toggle:

1. Click the Apple menu ()
2. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions)
3. Select Mouse
4. Click Advanced
5. Turn Pointer acceleration off
6. Close the window (changes apply automatically)

When pointer acceleration is off, macOS no longer adjusts cursor distance based on movement speed. This creates a more consistent, linear response—especially important for gaming or precision work.

System Settings > Mouse > Advanced

If you don’t see the Advanced option, make sure your macOS version is updated.

Pointer acceleration

Method 2: Disable Mouse Acceleration Using Terminal

If the graphical option is unavailable—or if you prefer direct control—you can disable acceleration using Terminal.

1. Open Applications > Utilities > Terminal
2. Enter the following command:

defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling -1

1. Press Enter
2. Restart your Mac (recommended to ensure the change fully applies)

[Insert Screenshot Here – Terminal Window Showing Command Input]

This command forces macOS to disable acceleration at the system level. If you ever want to revert, you can adjust the value (for example, set it to 1 or another positive number).

After Disabling: Adjust Sensitivity

Once you turn pointer acceleration off, your cursor may feel slower than before. That’s expected—acceleration was previously boosting speed during fast movements. To compensate:

• Increase Tracking Speed in Mouse settings
• Adjust your mouse’s DPI setting if supported

With acceleration disabled, your Mac now delivers predictable, consistent input—ideal for building reliable muscle memory and improving control.

How to Disable Mouse Acceleration on Linux (Ubuntu / GNOME)

On Linux systems—especially Ubuntu using the GNOME desktop environment—mouse acceleration is controlled through something called an acceleration profile. If you want to disable mouse acceleration on Linux, you’ll typically switch the profile from “adaptive” (default) to “flat.”

A flat profile ensures consistent, linear movement—meaning your cursor distance matches your physical mouse movement without speed-based scaling.

Method 1: Using Terminal (Most Reliable Method)

For Ubuntu 22.04 and other GNOME-based distributions, the quickest way is through Terminal.

1. Open Terminal
2. Run the following command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.mouse accel-profile flat

This command changes the GNOME accel-profile to flat, effectively disabling acceleration at the desktop level.

To verify the current setting, you can run:

gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.mouse accel-profile

If it returns 'flat', acceleration is disabled.

Method 2: Using GNOME Tweaks (Graphical Option)

If you prefer a graphical interface:

1. Install GNOME Tweaks (if not already installed)
2. Open GNOME Tweaks
3. Navigate to the Keyboard & Mouse section
4. Look for mouse acceleration options and switch to Flat

Not all GNOME versions expose this clearly in the default Settings app, which is why Terminal is often the more reliable approach.

What About KDE?

If you’re using KDE Plasma instead of GNOME:

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to Input Devices > Mouse
3. Look for acceleration or profile options
4. Switch to a flat or disabled acceleration setting

After changing the setting, test your cursor movement to confirm it feels linear and consistent. With acceleration disabled, Linux now provides predictable 1:1 mouse behavior—ideal for gaming or precision workflows.

CS:GO / CS2 / Valorant – Enable Raw Input & Disable Forced Acceleration

In competitive shooters like CS:GO, CS2, and Valorant, the most important setting is Raw Input.

Why Raw Input matters: Raw Input bypasses Windows pointer precision and reads data directly from your mouse. This prevents system-level acceleration from affecting your aim.

In CS:GO / CS2:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Mouse / Keyboard
3. Set Raw Input to ON
4. Ensure mouse acceleration is disabled

You can also use Steam launch options:

-noforcemaccel
-noforcemparms
-noforcemspd

These parameters help prevent Windows from applying forced acceleration behavior.

CS2 Mouse Settings with Raw Input Enabled

In Valorant, Raw Input Buffer is typically enabled by default, but you can confirm under:

Settings > General > Mouse > Raw Input Buffer

Fortnite – Disable Acceleration via Config File

If you’re looking for a Fortnite acceleration fix, you may need to modify the configuration file directly.

1. Navigate to:

C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\FortniteGame\Saved\Config\WindowsClient\

1. Open GameUserSettings.ini
2. Look for mouse-related input lines
3. Ensure any smoothing or acceleration entries are disabled
4. Save the file

After editing, set the file to Read-only (optional) to prevent overwriting.

Marvel Rivals – Disable Mouse Acceleration via Config Script

According to Turtle Beach guidance, you can disable acceleration in Marvel Rivals by editing the configuration file.

1. Locate GameUserSettings.ini
2. Open it with Notepad
3. Add the following lines at the end:

[/Script/Engine.InputSettings]
bEnableMouseSmoothing=False
bViewAccelerationEnabled=False

These settings explicitly disable smoothing and acceleration inside the game engine.

Marvel Rivals Config with Added InputSettings Block

Final Tip for Competitive Players

For maximum consistency:

• Disable OS-level acceleration
• Enable Raw Input where available
• Confirm no in-game smoothing or acceleration is active

This ensures a true 1:1 input response—critical for building reliable muscle memory and improving competitive performance.

Troubleshooting & How to Test If Mouse Acceleration Is Really Off

After following the steps above, it’s important to confirm that acceleration is actually disabled. If your aim still feels inconsistent, use the checklist below to troubleshoot mouse accel properly.

1. Double-Check System Settings

Go back into your operating system settings and verify:

• On Windows: Enhance pointer precision is still unchecked
• On macOS: Pointer acceleration remains turned off
• On Linux: accel-profile is set to flat

Sometimes updates, driver changes, or new device connections can reset these options.

2. Check Mouse Driver Software

Many gaming mice include their own software—such as RAPOO Hub,Logitech G Hub, Razer Synapse, Corsair iCUE, or SteelSeries GG. These programs may include:

• Acceleration sliders
• Angle snapping
• Pointer smoothing
• Custom response curves

Even if system acceleration is off, driver-level features can still affect input behavior. Open your mouse software and make sure any acceleration-related settings are disabled.

3. Recalibrate Sensitivity (DPI & Pointer Speed)

After you turn acceleration off, your mouse may feel slower. That’s normal. Instead of re-enabling acceleration:

• Adjust your DPI setting (hardware button or software control)
• Modify the system pointer speed slider
• Fine-tune in-game sensitivity

The goal is to achieve comfortable speed without reintroducing variable scaling.

4. How to Test Mouse Acceleration Off

To test mouse acceleration off, try this simple method:

1. Place your cursor at a fixed starting point
2. Move your mouse slowly 3–4 inches to the right
3. Return to the starting position
4. Now move the mouse the same physical distance—but much faster

If acceleration is disabled, the cursor should land in nearly the same place both times. If the fast movement travels farther, acceleration is still active somewhere.

You can also draw straight lines in a paint program to visually compare movement consistency.

By verifying settings, checking drivers, and testing movement behavior, you can confidently confirm that mouse acceleration is fully disabled—and that your input is now predictable and precise.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is mouse acceleration?

Mouse acceleration is a feature that links the speed of your physical mouse movement to the distance your cursor travels on screen. When enabled, moving the mouse faster makes the pointer travel farther—even if the physical distance is the same. This creates variable scaling instead of a consistent 1:1 movement relationship.

Will my mouse feel slower after turning acceleration off?

Possibly, yes. When you disable mouse acceleration, your cursor movement becomes strictly 1:1 with your physical hand movement. Previously, fast swipes were boosted automatically. After turning it off, you may need to increase your DPI or adjust the system sensitivity slider to restore your preferred speed—without reintroducing acceleration.

Does disabling mouse acceleration improve gaming performance?

For most competitive players, yes. Disabling acceleration helps build consistent muscle memory because the same hand movement always produces the same on-screen movement. Many professional FPS players prefer acceleration off for predictable aim control and long-term consistency.

How can I confirm mouse acceleration is really disabled?

You can test this manually:

1. Move your mouse a fixed distance slowly.
2. Repeat the same physical movement quickly.
3. Compare the cursor positions.

If both movements land in the same spot, acceleration is off. If the fast movement travels farther, it’s still enabled somewhere. You can also use online mouse testing tools or draw straight lines in a paint program to visually compare movement consistency.

On Linux, acceleration still feels active. What should I do?

After changing the accel-profile to flat, you may need to log out or restart your system. Also check whether another desktop environment (like KDE Plasma) or mouse driver utility is overriding GNOME settings.

How do I adjust mouse speed after disabling acceleration?

Instead of turning acceleration back on, adjust:

• Your mouse’s DPI setting
• The pointer speed slider in system settings
• In-game sensitivity (for gamers)

This maintains linear input while fine-tuning overall speed.

What about trackpads—do they behave differently?

Yes. On macOS, trackpads have separate tracking and gesture settings under Accessibility and Trackpad options. Windows touchpads also have independent sensitivity settings. These devices often use their own scaling behavior, separate from traditional mouse acceleration settings.

Will disabling acceleration affect normal office use?

For most users, the difference in everyday tasks like browsing or document editing is minimal. The cursor simply moves in a consistent, predictable way. The biggest benefit appears in tasks that require precision—such as gaming, graphic design, or detailed editing.