How to Change the Cursor From a Hand to an Arrow

By Sarah Mollman

Updated September 28, 2017

Change your hand cursor to an arrow.
i arrow icon. (with clipping path) image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com

Sometimes due to systems restarts or operating system glitches, your mouse icon may be different than the default white arrow. Or it could have been changed from a previous user who did not change it back after they were done. Either way, if you are not a fan of the "hand" icon or anything other than the white arrow do not fret. Windows allows the user to switch the mouse icon as often as you want.

Click on the "Start" menu located on the lower left side of your computer's desktop. Once you have clicked the "Start" icon a list of options will open up. Please note that in Windows 7 and other Microsoft operating systems the "Start" menu is the standard multicolored Windows icon, it does not actually say "Start" on it unless you hold the mouse over it.

Click on the "Control Panel" option once you are in the "Start Menu" list. It will be located to the right along with other options such as "My Computer", "Documents", and "Pictures".

Double click the "Mouse" icon once you are in the Control Panel. Select the "Pointers" tab, which is next to the "Buttons" tab at the top.

Click on the "Normal Select" option that contains the white arrow. Once that is highlighted click "Apply" and then "OK".

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