Adjusting the Cursor Blink Rate

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated December 28, 2015)

Have you noticed how, sometimes, Microsoft uses different words to describe the exact same thing? For instance, if you are a Microsoft Word fan, you have undoubtedly seen reference to the "insertion point." This is the blinking cursor, on screen, that indicates where whatever you type will start to appear. In other programs this "insertion point" is simply referred to as a "cursor." In fact, that's what Windows refers to it as—the cursor.

In fact, Windows gives you a bit of control over that cursor. Specifically, you can adjust how quickly the cursor blinks on the screen. The way you do that is to follow these steps:

  1. Display the Control Panel.
  2. In the search box (upper-right corner of the Control Panel window) type "keyboard" (without the quotes). Windows displays several matching options.
  3. Click the Keyboard link. Windows displays the Keyboard Properties dialog box with the Speed tab selected. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Keyboard Properties dialog box.

  4. Use the Cursor Blink Rate slider to adjust how quickly the cursor blinks.
  5. Click on OK to close the Keyboard Properties dialog box.
  6. Close the Control Panel.

Any change you make to the cursor blink rate takes effect immediately.

 This tip (10044) applies to Windows 7, 8, and 10.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Creating Page Footers and Headers

Headers and footers can add a final, professional touch to your printed document. Here's the quick way to add the headers ...

Discover More

Defining a Shortcut for a Macro

You can make running macros very easy if you assign a shortcut key to the macro. This tip demonstrates how easy it is to ...

Discover More

Moving a Table Column

Want to move a column in a table very easily? You can do so by using the same editing techniques you are already using.

Discover More
More WindowsTips

Wiping a Drive

Want to easily improve the security of your old data? Here's an addition to the venerable format command that can help.

Discover More

Adjusting the Mouse for Left-Handed Users

Since Windows is so customizable, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has made accommodations for left-handed ...

Discover More

Generating a Power Efficiency Diagnostics Report

Your computer uses power to operate, and Windows has a great impact on how much power it uses. You can use a hidden ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is nine minus 6?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WindowsTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2018 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.