Although the mouse seems like a simple animal, its behavior can be customized in Windows 7. Very nice if you are left-handed or have trouble double-clicking.
Other Windows version
In this article, we describe how to adjust mouse settings in Windows 7. Do you have Windows 10? Then read the article ‘Mouse settings in Windows 10’.
Scroll through the text faster with the scroll wheel
If you have a mouse that, in addition to buttons, also has a wheel in the middle, you can adjust how many lines at the same time the mouse scrolls through the text. By default, the text moves three lines each time you turn the wheel, but you can also choose one or a hundred lines. And everything in between.
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. Click on the tab scroll wheel.
- Click in the field below ‘Shift this number of lines at a time’.
- Delete the current number and type a new number.
- click on OK.
Turn left and right
By default, the mouse is set to function optimally for right-handed use. If you want to click on something, use your index finger. However, if you are left-handed (and you use the mouse with the left), the so-called primary button is under the middle finger. Reverse the functions of mouse buttons if you like. This is not recommended for right-handers.
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. Click on the tab Buttons.
- Put a check in Flip primary and secondary button.
- click on OK.
The change takes effect immediately. If you still want to go back to the default setting, right-click on the check mark to remove the check mark again. In this article we also assume the normal settings of the left and right mouse buttons. So the left mouse button is the primary button.
Adjust double click speed
Double-clicking is a skill that takes some practice with some users. If you click too slowly, the computer will not register the action as a double click, but as two single clicks. If you want more time between clicks, adjust the speed.
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. Click on the tab Buttons.
- Move the bar under ‘Double Click Speed’ by clicking anywhere between ‘Slow’ and ‘Fast’.
- Double click on the yellow folder to test the setting.
- If the folder won’t open or close, try a slower setting.
- click on OK.
Turn on click lock
The click lock allows you to select and drag without holding down the mouse button. Setting is then done by briefly pressing the mouse button, release by pressing the mouse button again.
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. Click on the tab Buttons.
- Put a check in Enable Click Lock.
- The ‘Settings’ button is now available. Click here.
- Move the arrow between ‘Short’ and ‘Long’ to set the time of the click lock.
- click on OK > OK.
Adjust pointer speed
You can also set the speed at which the pointer moves across the screen:
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. Click on the tab Pointer options.
- Move the bar under “Select a pointer speed” by clicking anywhere between “Slow” and “Fast.”
- Move the mouse pointer over the screen or test if you have a nice speed.
- Adjust the speed further if necessary.
- click on OK.
Where’s the mouse?
Is the mouse pointer not visible on the screen or is the cursor lost in a text? You can find it again with a press of the Ctrl key. You have to set this:
- click on Start > Control Panel.
- click on Hardware and Sound.
- Under ‘Devices and Printers’, click Mouse.
- A window opens. A window opens. Click on the tab Pointer options.
- Put a check in Show pointer location when I press CTRL.
- click on OK.