A “feature” called mouse acceleration has messed up our aim since Windows XP. Why is it enabled by default? Who knows? Why is it called “enhance pointer precision”? An even bigger mystery.
Disable it though and you’ll notice more consistent mouse movements immediately. This might be the edge you need to reach that next rank in Overwatch or CS:GO. This guide covers how to turn off mouse acceleration on almost every operating system and game that needs it.
What does mouse acceleration do?
With mouse acceleration is ON, the faster you move your mouse, the further the distance your cursor travels.
This feature is useful to make the most of a small mouse space but can be detrimental for activities that require accurate mouse movements like gaming.
Turning OFF mouse acceleration allows your mouse and cursor to travel at a 1:1 ratio with no relation to speed.
In theory, this improved consistency allows you to train your muscle memory better. Most professional gamers disable mouse acceleration for this reason.
How to disable mouse acceleration
To avoid all instances of mouse accel, you’ll need to disable it in both your operating system and in-game settings. Find your relevant instructions below.
Operating Systems
Windows 10
Step 2: Click on Additional mouse options.
Step 3: Go to the Pointer Options tab and uncheck Enhance pointer precision.
Step 4: Click Apply and OK.
Windows 7 & 8
Note: These screenshots are from Windows 8, but the steps for Windows 7 are exactly the same.
Step 1: Open up your Start Menu and type in “mouse”. Click on Mouse.
Step 2: Go to the Pointer Options tab and uncheck Enhance pointer precision.
Step 3: Click Apply and OK.
Mac
Step 1: Open Terminal, located in the
Step 1a (optional): To check your current mouse acceleration settings, type in the following command and hit Enter.
defaults
Step 2: Type in the following command and hit Enter to disable mouse acceleration.
defaults
Step 3: Restart your Mac to apply changes.
Games
CS:GO
Step 2: Go to Keyboard/Mouse > Keyboard & Mouse Settings.
Step 3: Turn Raw Input ON and Mouse Acceleration
Your settings should save automatically.
Black Ops 2
Step 1: Right click the game in your Steam library and select Properties.
Step 2: Click SET LAUNCH OPTIONS.
Step 3: Type in the following code and click OK.
–
Razer Synapse has also been known to cause mouse accel in Black Ops 2. Closing Razer Synapse before you launch your game fixes this.
Fallout 4
Step 1: Open the file Fallout4.ini in your Documents>My Games>Fallout4 folder.
Step 2: Scroll down to [Controls] and add the following code underneath.
bMouseAcceleration=0
Step 3: Open Fallout4Prefs.ini in the same folder and add the following code under [Display].
bForceIgnoreSmoothness=1
Step 4: Open Fallout4Prefs.ini in your game’s installation folder (C:\Program Files [x86]\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 4\Fallout4) and add
bForceIgnoreSmoothness=1
Fallout: New Vegas
Step 2: Add the following lines of code under the [Controls] section.
fForegroundMouseAccelBase=0
fForegroundMouseAccelTop=0
fForegroundMouseBase=0
fForegroundMouseMult=0
Step 3: Save the file and you’re all set.
Fortnite
The line “bDisableMouseAcceleration=False” in GameUserSettings.ini caused players to believe Fortnite had mouse acceleration. But a Reddit comment by Epic Games’ Michael Noland confirms “there is no mouse acceleration or mouse smoothing in FN
Monster Hunter World
Unfortunately, the erratic mouse movements you feel in Monster Hunter World isn’t caused by mouse acceleration. The game inaccurately inputs data from your mouse because it was built for game controllers. We suggest playing with a game controller.
Overwatch
Overwatch uses raw input so it is unaffected by any mouse acceleration.
Skyrim
Step 1: Go to \Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\skyrim\Skyrim and open SkyrimPrefs.ini.
Step 2: Under [Controls], change “bMouseAcceleration=1” to “bMouseAcceleration=0“.
Step 3: Save the file and you’re done!
Other Tweaks to Improve Your Aim
Your aiming potential just soared because you disabled “Enhance pointer precision”. Good stuff. But before you go off and train your aim with your new settings, you should know these additional tweaks you can make to help your cause.
Find your perfect sensitivity
Your mouse sensitivity is more consistent now that acceleration isn’t a factor. It’s crucial that you set it to a level you have maximum control. This will vary depending on your mouse grip and personal preferences.
When you have the time, try out the exercise explained in the video below by Professional Overwatch coach ioStux to find your perfect sensitivity.
Change Up Your Mousepad
After doing the exercise in the video above, you’ll likely find that your sensitivity has been set too high. Playing on a lower sens will allow for more accuracy and fine adjustments, but you’ll need more space to move your arm. This might mean having to get a bigger mousepad like the SteelSeries QCK Large Cloth.
In addition to upgrading to a bigger mousepad, you might also consider trying out a different type of mousepad too. Most people have only used cloth mousepads so plastic or aluminum surfaces don’t even cross their minds. I was in the same boat until I switched to a hard Razer mousepad. After a short adjustment period, I found that I was able to aim more precisely without having to worry about the varying friction of a cloth mousepad.
Finally, perhaps your mousepad size and type are fine but for some reason, you’re not able to make precise movements. There’s a chance your mousepad just needs a cleanin’!
The gunk that gathers on your mousepad over time is not only gross, it also adds random unnecessary friction. Follow our guide on how to clean a mousepad and you’ll be surprised how much better your mouse moves.
Get a Better Mouse
This one should be obvious but we thought was still worth mentioning. If you’re using a crappy Amazon Basics or Chinese-equivalent mouse, no changes to your settings will save you. Consider investing in a mouse specifically designed for FPS gaming like our all-around favorite, the Logitech G305.
BOOM Headshot
Too old a reference? Well, we hope this guide helps you get more headshots anyways, or whatever you need better aim for.
We plan to constantly update this guide so that no matter what operating system or game you’re on, you can reference this to get rid of mouse acceleration. Let us know in the comments below if there was anything we missed.
0 Comments