How to Install Custom Mouse Cursors on Windows 10/11

To install custom mouse cursors on Windows 10 or 11, download a cursor pack (like Bibata from GitHub or any pack from DeviantArt), extract the ZIP file, right-click the install.inf file and select Install, then open Mouse Properties and choose your new cursor scheme from the Pointers tab. The whole process takes under two minutes and works the same way for every cursor pack.

Applies to: Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (23H2, 24H2, 25H2) | Last updated: April 1, 2026

Key Takeaways

• Bibata is a free, open-source cursor project on GitHub with themes like Amber, Classic, and Ice — plus macOS and Google-style cursors from the same developer.
• DeviantArt hosts hundreds of free cursor packs including Jepri Creations’ popular Windows 11 Cursors Concept, all installable the same way.
• Installation is identical for every cursor pack: extract the ZIP, right-click install.inf, click Install, then select the scheme in Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings > Pointers.
• Bibata Studio (bibata.live) lets you design custom cursors with your own colors and animations — free with limited downloads, or $1/month GitHub sponsorship for unlimited.

Quick Steps

1. Download a cursor pack from GitHub (github.com/ful1e5/Bibata_Cursor) or DeviantArt.
2. Extract the ZIP file to a folder.
3. Open the extracted folder and locate the install.inf file.
4. Right-click install.inf and select Install.
5. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings.
6. Go to the Pointers tab, select the new cursor scheme, click Apply then OK.

In This Guide

This guide covers three ways to get custom mouse cursors on Windows:

• Method 1: Bibata Cursors from GitHub — Free, open-source cursors including macOS and Google styles. (Recommended)
• Method 2: Cursors from DeviantArt — Hundreds of community-made cursor packs.
• Method 3: Create Your Own with Bibata Studio — Design custom colors and animations.

Custom cursors are one of the easiest ways to personalize your PC. If you’re looking for more ways to make Windows your own, check out my full Windows 11 desktop customization guide.

Method 1: Install Pre-Made Bibata Cursors from GitHub

Bibata is the most popular open-source cursor project on GitHub, and for good reason. It comes in three themes — Amber (warm yellow), Classic (black), and Ice (white) — and each theme has both Modern (rounded) and Original (sharp) styles. That gives you six cursor packs right out of the box.

Head over to github.com/ful1e5/Bibata_Cursor to get started. You’ll see all the available styles on the main page.

Click on the Releases tab on the right side of the page. Download the Windows version of the style you want — for example, Bibata-Modern-Classic-Windows.zip for the modern black cursor. If you see versions labeled “Right,” those are designed for left-handed mouse users with swapped buttons.

Once downloaded, extract the ZIP file. Inside you’ll find size options like Extra Large, Large, and Regular. Open the folder for your preferred size and locate the install.inf file. Right-click it and select Install. Windows will register the cursor pack automatically.

Now open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings. In the Mouse Properties window, go to the Pointers tab. Open the Scheme dropdown and you’ll see your newly installed Bibata cursor listed. Select it, click Apply, then OK. If you get a prompt asking to replace the existing scheme, just click Yes.

Bonus: macOS, Google, and BreezeX Cursors

The same developer behind Bibata also maintains several other cursor projects that install the exact same way. If you want the macOS cursor look on Windows, grab it from github.com/ful1e5/apple_cursor. It’s a faithful recreation of the Apple cursor set, and it looks surprisingly good on Windows.

There’s also a Google-style cursor and a BreezeX cursor (based on the KDE Breeze design) available from the same developer. All free, all open-source, all installed with the same right-click method. If you’re into Linux, Bibata actually comes pre-installed on distros like Linux Mint and Manjaro.

Method 2: Install Cursors from DeviantArt

DeviantArt is the other big source for custom cursors. The community there has been making cursor packs for years, and you’ll find everything from minimal designs to elaborate animated sets. You’ll need a free DeviantArt account to download files.

Go to deviantart.com and search for “mouse cursor.” You’ll see a mix of free and paid packs. One of the most popular is Jepri Creations’ “Windows 11 Cursors Concept v2” — it’s a refined version of the default Windows 11 cursor with cleaner lines and better animations. This pack comes in both dark and light versions.

Download the ZIP file and extract it. Inside, you’ll typically find folders for dark and light versions. Open the one you want, navigate to the cursor folder, and find the install.inf file. Right-click it and select Install.

Then open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings, go to the Pointers tab, select the new scheme from the dropdown, and click Apply. The cursor changes across different Windows actions too — you’ll see custom designs for resize handles, the loading spinner, text selection, and everything else.

Method 3: Create Your Own Custom Cursor with Bibata Studio

If none of the pre-made cursor packs are exactly what you want, you can design your own. Head to bibata.live and click on the Custom Cursor or Studio tab.

You’ll start by choosing a base style — Modern (rounded) or Original (sharp edges). From there, you can customize the base color, outline color, background, and even the individual watch/loading animation colors. The loading spinner has multiple color segments that spin at different speeds, so you can create some genuinely unique effects.

Tip: When entering hex color codes, make sure you include the hash symbol (#) at the beginning — for example, #1a1a2e instead of 1a1a2e. If you leave it out, the color will not render properly and the cursor may appear transparent.

Once you’re happy with the design, download the Windows version. Bibata Studio offers a limited number of free downloads per month. If the monthly limit has been reached, a $1/month GitHub sponsorship unlocks unlimited downloads — and you can cancel anytime after downloading what you need.

Install your custom cursor the same way as before — extract the ZIP, right-click install.inf, select Install, then choose the scheme in Mouse Properties.

How to Revert to the Default Windows Cursor

If you want to go back to the standard Windows cursor at any point, it takes about 10 seconds:

1. Open Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse > Additional mouse settings.
2. Go to the Pointers tab.
3. Select Windows Default from the Scheme dropdown.
4. Click Apply then OK.

Your cursor will immediately revert to the default. The custom cursor pack stays installed in case you want to switch back later.

Custom cursors are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to making Windows look and feel the way you want. You can also make your taskbar transparent, remove shortcut arrows from desktop icons, or use tools like Winhance and Windhawk for deeper UI customization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are custom mouse cursors safe to install on Windows?

Cursors from reputable sources like GitHub and DeviantArt are safe — they are just .cur and .ani image files, not executables. The install.inf file simply registers the cursor files with Windows. Always download from the original creator’s page rather than third-party reupload sites.

Do custom cursors work in all applications and games?

Custom cursors work across the Windows desktop and most applications. Some fullscreen games override the system cursor with their own. If a game uses a custom in-game cursor, your Windows cursor will not appear during gameplay.

Can I use the same cursor pack on multiple computers?

Yes. Just copy the downloaded ZIP file to another computer and repeat the installation process. The cursor files are self-contained and do not require any software to remain installed.

Does installing a custom cursor affect system performance?

No. Custom cursors use negligible system resources — they are small image files that Windows loads into memory once. Animated cursors (.ani files) may use slightly more resources than static ones, but the difference is imperceptible on any modern PC.