This hidden Windows 11 feature is back in testing after over a year-long hiatus — but you can get it right now

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In simpler terms, Windows 11 is planning to introduce an accessibility enhancement aimed at helping users more easily locate their mouse pointer. This feature, found in the Windows 11 Build 27913, employs a crosshair-like design using intersecting lines to clearly show the cursor’s position.

Previously tested, this particular feature was absent from Windows 11 Build 26085 approximately one and a half years back. However, indications suggest that it’s poised for a comeback in the operating system now.

According to user phantomofearth’s observation, the mouse pointer’s crosshair is currently invisible. To make it visible again, you can utilize a tool like ViVeTool. Its corresponding feature ID is 27829265.

This novel characteristic is exclusive to the Canary Channel for now, but you can activate it on the most recent versions of the Dev and Beta Channels as well, by employing the same ID.

In Build 27891, the item was already present. However, I’m uncertain if it was concealed within a specific feature ID. (July 31, 2025)

As a tech-savvy individual, if you find yourself drawn to the sleek design of the mouse crosshair feature, there’s no need to patiently wait for it to pass through the Insider testing phase. Instead, you can swiftly obtain this very functionality by leveraging PowerToys, a handy collection of tools that enhance your Windows experience.

PowerToys

As a researcher, I’m thrilled to learn that the crosshair mouse feature is undergoing testing on Windows 11. However, there’s no need to wait for its official release as the PowerToys toolkit, which is freely accessible, already incorporates this functionality.

PowerToys is an assortment of useful tools compiled into a single application, which I highly favor among the Windows 11 applications and would gladly suggest it to anyone.

One advantage of using PowerToys is that you can turn on or off its various functions at will. Unlike some applications that might continue running with extra features even when not in use, PowerToys won’t clutter up your system with unnecessary background processes. Since there are many useful tools within PowerToys, it’s wise to select only the ones you need regularly to avoid overwhelming yourself with too many shortcuts to remember.

In PowerToys, you’ll find a group of mouse tools, which includes the crosshair function that was previously concealed in the most recent Windows 11 Insider version.

The “Mouse Pointer Crosshairs” function can be located and adjusted within the Input/Output settings of PowerToys. Here, you can set a shortcut key to toggle the feature on or off, or even have it activate automatically upon launching PowerToys.

Adjust various characteristics of the Mouse Pointer Crosshair, such as its color, transparency level, line width, and even the size of the center dot in pixels.

In the area where you find PowerToys tools, consider experimenting with Find My Mouse and Mouse Highlighter. Find My Mouse softens the screen and outlines a circle around your cursor, while Mouse Highlighter leaves a highlighted circle at the spot where you click, which stays visible for approximately one second.

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2025-08-02 00:39