The cursor and pointer are both an indispensable tool in interacting with the computer system. However, at times, you would want the mouse cursor to just disappear. This is most especially wanted when you are playing a video game or watching a movie on Netflix or VLC on your computer. By default, the cursor is hidden after a number of seconds that it has not been used but if it doesn’t, then this guide is for you.
How to Hide Mouse Cursor on Media Players
If the cursor is still visible on your screen while watching a movie or video, then you can try to tap the period key on your keyboard. This will instantly hide the cursor from view. While, that keyboard shortcut works most of the time, there are times when it’s just being ignored by your system. If this happens, you can try out another keyboard trick to hide the cursor. Use the spacebar to pause and unpause the video. This method is seen to be effective in getting rid of the cursor from view.
How to Use a Third-Party Software to Hide Mouse Cursor in Windows 10
If you are looking for a solution to automatically hide the cursor on your Windows computer without having to rely on the in-built system function then using a third-party tool is the way to go.
There are quite a number of tools out there which you can use to hide the mouse cursor, but in this post we will be talking about the AutoHideMouseCursor Freeware.
This tool will automatically hide your mouse cursor & pointer while playing games or watching videos. Here’s how to set it up.
- Start by downloading the AutoHideMouseCursor Freeware.
- Extract and run the downloaded installer.
- The inactivity trigger is set to 5 seconds by default. But you can always adjust it to your preference. To adjust the time, move the slider on the lower-left side of the program window.
- In the Preferences heading, check the option labeled Start with Windows. This will ensure that the app runs every time your computer is shut down or restarted.
- Under the #Options menu, make sure the Always start minimized (ToTray) choice is enabled.
That’s it. You’re done with setting up AutoHideMouseCursor. The tool will start working after a period of inactivity. Your mouse cursor will now automatically hide.
How to Fix Issues with Hiding your Mouse Cursor on Windows 10
The methods we have mentioned above should be enough to keep your mouse cursor hidden when not in use. However, if you are still having trouble hiding the cursor in a particular game or app, it is possible that another app is running and preventing it from hiding. Investigate the active apps and try to quit those that you are not using.
Another culprit for this issue is the recording software that you are using. Some recording tools require the cursor to be always visible. If this is the case, you can start looking for an alternative recording app that doesn’t force the cursor to remain visible or the one that has an option to hide/unhide it depending on your requirement.
Wrapping It Up
Automatically hiding your mouse cursor can be a lifesaver at times when you only needed the keyboard to operate your computer. This will not only be helpful for leisure, the ones we mentioned above when you are playing a video game or watching a movie, but this can also prove helpful if you are editing a Word document or scrolling down a PDF file using your keyboard.
This Is a really handy app but beware it can play havoc with full screen gaming if you don’t disable it before playing.
Not good enough. Hide timer minimum is 2sec. That 2 sec too long.
For one app i use a lot of times i need it to be hidden instantly after i press button. 2 sec is just too long
This app simply stops working after like 10 minutes. Completely useless.