Where are the mouse settings?
Pointer settings are a reliable signal of what a system expects to be plugged into it. We read the settings tree of all 43 systems in the catalogue and recorded where each one keeps it.
What each system calls it
9 of the 43 operating systems in our catalogue have this setting, and between them they use four different labels for it:
| Name on screen | Systems |
|---|---|
| Mouse | 5 |
| Trackpad | 2 |
| Touchpad | 1 |
| Pointer Control | 1 |
The most common is Mouse, on 5 of the 9. If that is not the word on your screen, the table above is the rest of the vocabulary to try.
Where it lives on each system
These are the shortest paths from the first settings screen on the newest release of each system. 8 of the 9 are within two taps; the rest sit deeper, and the table shows how much deeper.
| System | Path | Taps |
|---|---|---|
| Mac OS X 10.6 | Trackpad | 1 |
| macOS 27 Golden Gate | Trackpad | 1 |
| Windows 98 98 SE | Mouse | 1 |
| ChromeOS 151 | Device › Mouse | 2 |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | Mouse & Touchpad › Touchpad | 2 |
| visionOS 27 | Eyes & Hands › Pointer Control | 2 |
| Windows 11 | Bluetooth & devices › Mouse | 2 |
| Windows XP SP3 | Printers and Other Hardware › Mouse | 2 |
| Samsung Tizen TV Tizen 10 | Connected Devices › Device Manager › Mouse | 3 |
Each system name above opens the real menu in the simulator, so you can walk the path before you touch your own device.
Why the names came out this way
A system with a Trackpad screen assumes a laptop. One with Mouse assumes a desk. Pointer Control is the accessibility framing — it appears on touch systems that support a pointer for people who cannot use a touchscreen comfortably.
If you have connected a mouse to a tablet and cannot find the speed setting, that last name is the one to look for, and it will be filed under accessibility rather than under hardware.
Find it on your own device
If your system is not in the table, or the label on your screen is different again, there are three ways through it:
- Search every system at once for a setting by name — it looks inside all 43 trees, not just the one you are holding.
- Open your own system in the settings simulator and click to the screen without changing anything real.
- Follow the step-by-step guide to changing the system language, or see where that setting lives on every system.
Related settings in the same part of the menu:
- Where are the date and time settings?
- Where is the 24-hour time setting?
- Where are the keyboard settings?
All of it comes from the same catalogue: 43 systems, 135 versions, published as an open dataset.
Try it yourself, on the real menusOpen any of 43 operating systems in your browser and walk the Settings tree exactly as it appears on the device. No download, no account.Frequently asked questions
Where are the mouse settings on most systems?
On 8 of the 9 systems that have it, within two taps of the first settings screen. The most common label is “Mouse”, used by 5 of them. The table above gives the exact path for each system.
Why can I not find it by searching my settings?
Because settings search matches the label your system uses, and there are four different labels in use for this one setting. Searching for the word your previous device used is the single most common reason a setting appears to be missing.
How many systems have this setting at all?
9 of the 43 operating systems we catalogue. The rest either have no hardware for it or fold the behaviour into something else, which is why a feature that feels universal often is not.