Cursor Packs

How to install custom cursors on Windows

Works the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10, takes about five minutes, and needs no extra software.

  1. Download and extract the set

    Grab the .zip from any pack page and extract it to a permanent folder, for example C:\Windows\Cursors\MySet. Windows references the files in place, so do not leave them in Downloads.

  2. Open the mouse pointer settings

    On Windows 11: Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Mouse, then Additional mouse settings. On Windows 10: Settings, then Devices, then Mouse, then Additional mouse options. Both open the classic Mouse Properties dialog.

  3. Assign the cursors

    In the Pointers tab, select a role such as Normal Select, click Browse, and pick the matching .cur or .ani file from your folder. Repeat for the roles the set covers; sets on this site label every file with its role.

  4. Save the scheme and apply

    Click Save As and give the scheme a name, then click Apply. Saving a scheme lets you switch between sets later without re-assigning every file.

Shortcut: install.inf

Some sets ship an install.inf file. Right-click it, choose Install, and Windows registers the whole scheme in one go. Then open the Pointers tab and pick the new scheme from the dropdown. Sets on this site are plain .cur and .ani files, so the manual steps above always work.

Common questions

Are these cursor packs free?

Yes, every set in the archive was published for free by its maker. Each pack page shows the exact license: most sets are public domain, others ask for attribution or restrict commercial use. Check the license line before using a set in commercial work.

What is the difference between .cur and .ani files?

A .cur file is a static cursor image with a click point (hotspot). An .ani file is an animated cursor: several frames plus timing data. Windows plays the animation once the cursor is installed; web browsers only show the first frame in previews.

Are cursor files safe to download?

Both .cur and .ani are image formats, not programs, and nothing in them runs as code on a modern, patched Windows. As with anything downloaded, keep Windows updated and scan files if you are unsure.

Can I use these cursors on macOS or Linux?

Not directly. macOS has no user-facing cursor themes, and Linux desktops use the Xcursor format. Tools exist that convert .cur and .ani files to Xcursor themes; search for cur2xcur or win2xcur.

Why does my cursor revert after a restart?

Save your selection as a scheme in the Pointers tab (Save As), then apply it. If Windows still reverts, the files were probably in a temporary folder that got cleaned up; move the extracted files somewhere permanent such as C:\Windows\Cursors and select them again.

Ready to pick a set?

Browse 11,000+ cursor sets