This post shows students and new users steps to use the mouse keys to move the mouse pointer in Windows 11. Windows comes with bunch of accessibility features, including increasing the mouse pointer, changing the mouse pointer color and others to help folks with low vision or some sort of vision impairments.
Windows also allows users to use the numeric keypad on their keyboard—instead of the mouse—to move the pointer. After you turn on Mouse keys, you can use the numeric keypad to move the mouse.
Before you use Mouse keys to click items on your screen, you must first select which mouse button you want to be the active button: the left button, the right one, or both.
With all the accessibility features available in Windows 11, one can be sure to use Windows in spite of disabilities, low or impaired vision.
Below is how to turn on Mouse keys in Windows 11
How to enable disable Mouse keys in Windows 11
As mentioned above, one can use the Mouse keys in Windows to move the mouse pointer in Windows 11. Below is how to do that.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for majority of its settings app. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from the System Settings pane.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + i shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Bluetooth & devices, select Mouse on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below.
On the Mouse settings pane, select the Mouse keys tile, and toggle the button to the On position to enable Mouse keys.
After turning it on, you must first select which mouse button you want to be the active button: the left button, the right one, or both.
| To | Press |
|---|---|
| Select the left mouse button | The forward slash (/) |
| Select both buttons | The asterisk (✲) |
| Select the right mouse button | The minus sign (-) |
After you choose a button, you can click items on your screen by using the keys below.
| To | Do this |
|---|---|
| Click an item | With the left button selected as your active button, point to the item, and then press 5 |
| Right-click an item | With the right button selected as your active button, point to the item and then press 5 |
| Double-click an item | With the left button selected as your active button, point to the item and press the plus sign (+) |
Press and hold the active mouse button to drag an item desired location, then release it.
| To | Do this |
|---|---|
| Drag an item | Point to the item and then press zero (0) |
| Drop an item | Point to the location where you want to move the item and then press the decimal point (.) |
How to disable Mouse keys in Windows 11
If Mouse keys is enabled and you wish to disable it, simply reverse the steps above by going to the Start menu ==> Settings ==> Accessibility ==> Mouse and toggle the button to the Off position.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to enable and use Mouse keys in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
