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Mouse Pointer Disappears in Text Fields on Windows 11 (How to Fix It)

Karly Wood

February 6, 2026

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Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If your mouse pointer disappears when typing in text fields on Windows 11, you’re dealing with a frustrating but very common system glitch. This usually happens in browsers, search bars, forms, or apps like Google Docs and Microsoft Office—making it hard to see where you’re typing.

The good news: this issue is software-related, not a hardware failure, and it can be fixed using the steps below.

Why the Mouse Pointer Disappears in Text Fields

On Windows 11, this issue is most often caused by:

• Graphics driver conflicts (NVIDIA or AMD)
• Multiplane Overlay (MPO) rendering bugs
• Browser hardware acceleration glitches
• Cursor color blending into white backgrounds
• Accessibility or high-DPI scaling conflicts

This problem is especially common in Chromium-based apps like Chrome and Edge.

Quick Fixes to Try First (2 Minutes)

Before changing system settings, try these fast checks:

Refresh the App or Page

Press F5 or Ctrl + R. Temporary rendering glitches often fix themselves after a refresh.

Reset Zoom Level

Press Ctrl + 0 to reset zoom to 100%. Extreme zoom levels can cause cursor misalignment.

Try Incognito Mode

Press Ctrl + Shift + N and open the same page.

• If the cursor works here, a browser extension is likely the cause.

Fix 1: Change the Text Select Cursor (Most Effective)

This is the top fix for Windows 11 users. It replaces the default thin I-beam with one that has a darker outline.

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R
2. Type main.cpl and press Enter
3. Open the Pointers tab
4. Under Customize, select Text Select
5. Click Browse
6. Choose beam_r.cur
7. Click Open → Apply → OK

Why this works:

The default cursor can blend into white or light backgrounds. The beam_r.cur version stays visible in all text fields.

Fix 2: Disable Hardware Acceleration (Chrome & Edge)

Browser rendering bugs are a major cause of disappearing cursors.

Steps for Chrome or Edge:

1. Open the browser
2. Click the three-dot menu
3. Go to Settings
4. Select System
5. Turn OFF “Use hardware acceleration when available”
6. Click Relaunch

This fix is especially effective in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Fix 3: Adjust Windows Accessibility Cursor Settings

Some pointer styles override default cursor colors.

Steps:

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Accessibility
3. Select Mouse pointer and touch
4. Set Mouse pointer style to Black or Inverted
5. Increase pointer size slightly if needed

This helps when the cursor is visible elsewhere but disappears only in text boxes.

Fix 4: Update or Roll Back Graphics Drivers

Cursor rendering issues are commonly linked to GPU drivers.

Affected hardware:

• NVIDIA
• AMD

What to do:

• Open Device Manager
• Expand Display adapters
• Right-click your GPU
• Choose Update driver

If the problem started after a recent update, try Roll Back Driver instead.

Fix 5: Disable Multiplane Overlay (Advanced Users)

Multiplane Overlay (MPO) can cause cursor and text rendering bugs in Windows 11.

This fix is recommended only if other methods fail and should be done carefully using official Microsoft guidance.

MPO issues are most visible in:

• Browsers
• Office apps
• High-refresh-rate displays

Fix 6: Test in Other Apps or Browsers

Try typing in:

• Notepad
• Microsoft Word
• Firefox

If the cursor works there but not elsewhere, the issue is app-specific—not system-wide.

Apps commonly affected include:

• Microsoft Office
• Google Docs
• Chromium-based apps

Common Causes and Best Fixes (Quick Table)

Final Thoughts

When the mouse pointer disappears in text fields on Windows 11, it’s almost always caused by cursor styling, GPU rendering, or browser acceleration issues—not faulty hardware.

For most users, changing the Text Select cursor or disabling hardware acceleration fixes the issue instantly and permanently.