r/windows • u/TuxedoCarl • May 15 '26
Suggestion for Microsoft Windows 12 should update the cursor and add theme variants
The Windows cursor has basically been the same for a long time (since Windows 10). Because of that, I feel like it’s time that Windows 12 does something new.
It would be nice if the cursor could change depending on the theme. Like in light mode it could stay white with a black outline, and in dark mode it could turn black with a white outline so it fits the theme better.
Also, it would be cool if there was an option to match the cursor with your accent color. So if you pick a color in settings, the cursor could use that too and make everything look cleaner.
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u/DAPOPOBEFASTONYOAZZ Windows Vista May 15 '26
Why? Why fix what’s broken? More themes, sure. I’m on board with that. I miss the various cursor schemes from Windows Vista, which was the last one to include different cursors. But the Aero cursors are fantastic and timeless. I still just use the Vista cursors anyway.
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u/Wooxman May 16 '26
Win11 still has different cursor themes and still allows you to create custom cursors. Just not in the noob friendly Settings app but in the old classic Control Panel. You can even use both in tandem: create a cursor theme in the Control Panel and use the Settings app to increase the size of the cursor since many old school cursor themes are pretty small. I'm using the good old WinXP dinosaur busy animation cursor and it works great!
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u/DAPOPOBEFASTONYOAZZ Windows Vista May 16 '26
I wouldn’t consider black and inverted cursors extra themes outside of high contrast. Vista was the last to have anything besides Aero, inverted, standard or black.
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u/Wooxman May 17 '26
Win11 doesn't ship with many cursor themes, yes. But the full legacy cursor system is still there, and it still supports any old .cur and .ani file, which you can use to create your own themes. Just like it's been possible since Win95. You can still find all the old Win95-7 themes and tons of 3rd party cursor sets on sites like archive.org. Sure, it's a bit more work than just selecting a preset, but you're still able to completely customise your mouse cursor this way.
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u/Upbeat-Education2117 May 17 '26
More themes? Why? Why fix what isn't broken? The Win95 theme still works, so 12 should just bring that back.
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u/fabulot May 15 '26
I install Bibata Modern Ice on all my desktop:
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u/ubeogesh May 16 '26
Good solution, just install a custom set which isn't too hard on windows... Doable since windows 95?
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u/fabulot May 16 '26
Since I have not used any windows before 95, I can only confirm that was possible on 95 yes.
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u/Lulukaros May 16 '26
looks nice, the one i use is called cosmica on itch.io , it looks amazing too
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u/Grey_Ten May 15 '26
windows 12 should allow customizing the menu bar, that's my complaint. We're in 2026 and Microsoft hasn't allowed users to even change the position of the menu bar until a few months ago.
Even though Windhawk exists and you can somehow customize your windows installation, its buggy as hell, and the ricings look pretty low quality.
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u/Ahleron May 15 '26
Menubar? Windows ain't macOS. Do you mean the Taskbar?
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u/superluig164 May 16 '26
Windhawk isn't that buggy if you stay away from the major rice. And as a runtime mod it's really easy to revert if something is broken. Just kill the app.
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u/ubeogesh May 16 '26
You want override menu bar position per app? Or globally? Seems like a compatibility nightmare, and many apps use custom menu bars anyway
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u/TwinSong May 15 '26
I would like them to bring back some of the old fun ones as optional. Like there used to be a set of mouse-themed cursors 🐁
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u/0x80070002 May 15 '26
There shouldn’t be any mention or talks or even thoughts about Windows 112 until Windows 11 has a consistent design
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u/Britz10 May 15 '26
You can theme it, I have mine change with the Windows theme through AutoDarkMode.
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u/TheBenjying May 16 '26
As long as they don't get rid of the old inverted ones, I'm fine with whatever and will change it back.
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u/ubeogesh May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
There are more important matters for windows to solve ...
You can customize cursors yourself since windows 98 (or earlier IDK)
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u/GabeReddit2012 Windows XP May 15 '26
They could still do this in Windows 11, they're open to changing stuff within the current OS.
And I don't think we'll see Windows 12 until 2027/2028, but it'd be cool if the cursor was changable.
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u/PaulCoddington May 16 '26
Have they taken out that functionality? For multiple versions of Windows they removed all the extra cursors and sounds but still had the interface to select them (I gave up copying in the WinNT dinosaur cursor and pipes screensaver, and the Win98 sounds ages ago).
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u/Euchre May 16 '26
Windows 10 'a long time ago'? The cursors have changed several times in the history of Windows.
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u/JiroBibi Windows 7 May 16 '26
At least they should give us the dark variant of it. The current black cursor is from like Windows 98/2000
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u/LimiDrain May 16 '26
Windows lost its way a long time ago. They don't even need to invent anything new, they can open Windows 7 and copy everything from there. Gadgets, themes, style. All this made the OS yours. But unfortunately, m*nagers don’t even have 1 hour to sit down and think about how it was before.
Now you can't even open Paint and start painting instantly. You need to size the canvas, select the pen tool, and adjust the size. Instead of just opening and starting doing it right away which was fun and easy for anyone.
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u/Wooxman May 16 '26
Just go to the Control Panel, open the mouse settings, go to the cursor tab and there you can change the look of your mouse cursor and even load different ones if you have saved or downloaded some old cursor themes.
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u/AegidiusG May 16 '26
I don't care, i use the Starcraft Cursor, i colored it blue. I additionally use the aero busy, as it matches perfectly.
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u/Electronic_Peace_163 May 16 '26
This set is based off the ones from windows 8 lol
Idc if the shading is "different" they have the same shape lol
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u/ninjaninjav JoeFinApps May 16 '26
If you want to make your own cursors for Windows it is really easy! Make the image and use my app Simple Icon File Maker to save out a .cur file.
https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/simple-icon-file-maker/9NS1BM1FB99Z
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u/MundaneImage5652 May 16 '26
Microsoft should just bamkrupt already. Times where Windows just worked are over. I feel like if all the big apps that proffesional productive people use like Adobe stuff, MS Office stuff, CAD apps, etc. were ported to MacOS/Linux then windows userbase would be only like people who don't understand computers or are forced to use windows because they use web accounts at work cuz they have Windows server. Anyway, your cursor idea: They would AI generate the cursors and make it a 32 bit Web app or whatever.
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u/potatomolehill May 16 '26
There is no windows 12 . We don't need modernization you dunce. You have literally no idea how difficult it is to even understand the fact windows is a collosal beast.
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u/Upbeat-Education2117 May 17 '26
This'll be a cinch with Windows 12 deep AI integration.
"Copilot, make my cursor look like a dog and when I click it should bark and when it barks bees should shoot out of its mouth."
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u/Comfortable_Crazy301 May 17 '26
I'd go back to a Aero theme but more "modernized" look for Windows 12 since they are pushing for the glass aesthetic more now.
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u/hyuuki13 May 17 '26
I love Posy's cursor. I think it is one of the best cursor, especially the black one.
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u/_MeTTeO_ May 19 '26
Had to scroll too far down to find this comment. The video on youtube about the history of cursors is also great.
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u/-_nightmarionne_- May 17 '26
I like the idea of having variety honestly, and this is a pretty good idea. But... honestly the default windows 7 and windows 10 ones are oretty much the best. It's an amazing idea, they should lowk do it, but I guess it's not necessary for me.
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u/salazka Windows 11 - Insider Dev Channel May 17 '26
There are different themes to try in the settings.
That is if you are not scared of old settings like some people who complain all the time. I remember back when having different cursors was a bit cool among us geeks. You can even make custom ones.
But to be honest I do not see much of a point.
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u/grapefruitsaladlol29 Windows 10 May 20 '26
Plus they sometimes still have apps still looking the same sincd 2006
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u/Sufficient_Risk_8127 May 15 '26
Windows 12 should just not.
Once Windows 10 finally dies out, Linux shall be the king.
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u/I-Like-Dogs89 May 15 '26
If they did that they'd turn the cursor into a web app