If you’re unsatisfied with the slugging mouse pointer speed on your Mac, you can easily change it from System Preferences. But what if the maximum speed isn’t snappy enough for you? Luckily, there are a few things you can do to improve this situation. Check out these 4 ways to increase the mouse or trackpad speed on your Mac beyond its maximum limit.
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In This Article
Before you begin
Pushing the constraints laid down by macOS on your device’s hardware doesn’t always require a third-party app. You can push the speed of the mouse pointer beyond its limit by using the Terminal app on your Mac. If you know the right command, you can view the current speed of your mouse and push it to a level that goes beyond the preferences laid forward by the ‘System Preferences’.
Of course, if you want a cleaner and more UI-driven way to go about this task, there are a bunch of tools that can help you achieve it. Our three favourite third-party apps to control the mouse or trackpad speed are BetterTouchTool, USB Overdrive, and Mouse Acceleration Preference Pane.
Use Terminal to increase the mouse speed on your Mac
Step 1: Launch the Terminal app on your Mac.
Step 2: Enter the following command to view the current mouse speed:
defaults read -g com.apple.mouse.scaling
Step 3: Typically, the maximum pointer/mouse speed you can set from System Preferences is 3. Using the following command, you can set it up to 5:
defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling [enter the speed here]
Step 4: Restart your Mac.
Use USB Overdrive to increase mouse speed on your Mac
Step 1: Download and install the USB Overdrive tool on your Mac.
Step 2: Click the Apple logo at the top left corner of the screen and select System Preferences.
Step 3: Select USB Overdrive from the bottom of the screen.
Step 4: Click on Any mouse, any app and select your mouse.
Step 5: Use the sliders for speed and acceleration to increase their intensity.
Use BetterTouchTool to increase the mouse or trackpad speed on your Mac
Step 1: Download and install BetterTouchTool on your Mac.
Step 2: Launch BetterTouchTool on your Mac.
Step 3: Go to Basic Settings and select your Magic Mouse or Trackpad.
Step 4: Select Set mouse speed.
Step 5: Drag the slider to the right to increase the speed.
Use the Mouse Acceleration Preference Pane
Step 1: Download and install the Mouse Acceleration Preference Pane on your Mac.
Step 2: Launch the pane once it is installed on your device.
Step 3: Use the sliders for speed and acceleration to increase their intensity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the maximum mouse speed on a Mac?
Using System Preferences, you can set the maximum mouse pointer speed to 3.
How do I push the mouse speed on my Mac beyond its maximum limit without using a third-party app?
Go to Terminal, type defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling [enter the speed here], and pick a speed from 1 to 5. Once that’s done, restart your Mac.
Which tools can I use to increase the speed of my Mac’s mouse or trackpad?
Use apps like USB Overdrive, BetterTouchTool, and Mouse Acceleration Preference Pane to boost your Mac’s mouse or trackpad speed.
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Conclusion
These are the top 4 ways to increase your Mac’s mouse or trackpad speed beyond its maximum limit. Go to System Preferences>Mouse to change the speed natively. While you’re here, check out how you can mirror your iPhone to your Mac. If you have any other questions related to this task, let us know in the comments!