Mouse Pointer Scheme Registry Location in Windows

This article explains where the Windows Registry (Regedit) records user-specific configurations for active mouse pointer schemes and cursor profiles. It details the exact registry keys responsible for storing the currently active cursor paths, the user-defined scheme profiles, and how Windows maps these settings for the logged-in account.

Active Mouse Pointer Scheme Location

The active cursor settings for the currently logged-in user are stored in the following Registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors

Inside this key, Regedit stores the specific file paths to the cursor files (.cur or .ani) currently in use:

• (Default): Contains the name of the currently active mouse scheme (e.g., “Windows Default”, “Windows Black”, or a custom scheme name). If customized without saving as a scheme, this may be blank or contain “None”.
• Scheme Source: A DWORD value indicating the origin of the scheme (0 for system schemes, 1 for user-defined schemes, 2 for custom configurations).
• Cursor Values: Multiple String (REG_SZ) values represent individual pointer states and point directly to the respective cursor file path. Common entries include:
  • Arrow (Normal Select)
  • Help (Help Select)
  • AppStarting (Working in Background)
  • Wait (Busy)
  • Crosshair (Precision Select)
  • IBeam (Text Select)
  • NWPen (Handwriting)
  • No (Unavailable)
  • SizeNS (Vertical Resize)
  • SizeWE (Horizontal Resize)
  • SizeNWSE (Diagonal Resize 1)
  • SizeNESW (Diagonal Resize 2)
  • SizeAll (Move)
  • UpArrow (Alternate Select)
  • Hand (Link Select)

Saved User Scheme Profiles

When a user creates, customizes, or saves a named cursor profile, Windows stores the full scheme definitions in a dedicated subkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors\Schemes

In this key: * Each Value Name represents the name of a saved cursor scheme. * The Value Data is a comma-delimited REG_SZ string containing the ordered list of file paths for every cursor state used in that scheme.

System-Wide Default Schemes

For system-wide pointer schemes that serve as templates for all user profiles, Windows references the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel\Cursors\Schemes

When a user selects one of these default schemes in the Windows Mouse Properties dialog, the values are copied directly into HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors to become the active user profile. Direct manual edits made to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Cursors typically require a system sign-out and sign-in or a reload through the Control Panel to take visual effect.