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HP PCs - Mouse Features and Settings (Windows 10, 8)

Using your mouse

Changing the look of your mouse pointer

Changing mouse pointer speed

Adjusting mouse for right-hand or left-hand use

Adjusting double-click speed

Specifying a single-click or a double-click to open folders

This document applies to HP and Compaq computers with Windows 10 or 8.

This document explains how to use mouse features, and how to change or adjust mouse settings in Windows 10 or 8.

Using your mouse

The mouse is a hand-held or touchpad device used to work within the Windows environment. The following list describes basic mouse functions:

Point to and select objects on the screen.
Select and/or move data or files by dragging and dropping.
Start software applications and shortcuts, or open files.
Scroll app windows or web pages by clicking and holding a scroll bar, or by moving the mouse wheel (the third button wheel on some mouse models).

Use the following sections to learn more about how to use your mouse.

Mouse pointer

The mouse pointer is the graphic image of the cursor displayed on-screen when the mouse is active. As the pointer moves over objects, the image changes to reflect the associated function. For example, the standard pointing image of an arrow

is Normal Select. However, when the computer is processing a command, the Busy circle

displays on the screen.

See Changing the look of your mouse pointer for steps to customize the pointer.

Mouse clicks

The following list describes the types of mouse clicks:

Click - single press on the left mouse button; selects data and performs commands.
Double-click - two rapid presses on the left mouse button; opens files or folders, opens shortcuts (a double-click must be two clicks in rapid succession or it may be interpreted as two single clicks). See Adjusting double-click speed for steps to adjust the double-click speed.
Right-click - one press on the right mouse button (also known as alternate clicking); displays shortcut menus and drop-down menus. In some applications, right-clicking a menu item can access contextual information or specific help for that item.
Center-click - some mice support clicking the scroll wheel or a center mouse button. In some software applications and Internet browsers, clicking the scroll wheel once opens a scroll graphic allowing you to scroll up or down, depending on the placement of the mouse pointer.
Drag-and-drop or select - press and hold the left mouse button. When using the select feature within text, the text is selected or highlighted. Drag-and-drop can be used to rearrange tiles on the Windows 8 Start screen, or to close open apps. On the Windows desktop, you can use drag-and-drop to move files or folders:
- From one folder to another
- To the desktop
- From the desktop to a folder
- From any location to the Recycle Bin

Mouse wheel

The mouse wheel provides vertical scrolling and panning functions in applications with active scroll bars. Roll the mouse wheel

up or down to scroll, or press the mouse wheel to activate panning.

Some mouse wheels have tilt-wheel functionality that allows a horizontal action. Tilt the wheel to the left or right to move horizontally within text.

Changing the look of your mouse pointer

To change the mouse pointer (cursor) image:

In Windows, search for and open Change how the mouse pointer looks.
In the Mouse Properties window, click the Pointers tab.
- To choose a new pointer image: In the Customize box, click the pointer function (such as Normal Select), and click Browse. Select a pointer option from the list.
  
  Figure : Customize Mouse Properties
- To change the entire scheme of pointers: Click the down arrow in the Scheme field and select a new pointer scheme from the list.
Click OK to save your changes.

Changing mouse pointer speed

Use these steps to change the mouse pointer speed:

In Windows, search for and open Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
In the Mouse Properties window, click the Pointer Options tab.
In the Motion field, click and hold the slider while moving the mouse to the right or left, to adjust the mouse speed.

Figure : Pointer speed slider in Pointer Options
Click OK to save your changes.

Adjusting mouse for right-hand or left-hand use

Use the following steps to adjust the mouse for right-hand or left-hand use:

In Windows, search for and open Change your mouse settings.
Click the arrow in the Select your primary button box, then select Left if you want to use the left button for primary functions such as selecting and dragging, or select Right if you want to use the right button for primary functions.

Figure : Changing the mouse buttons (Windows 10 example)

Adjusting double-click speed

Use these steps to adjust the mouse double-click speed. If you prefer to open folders with a single-click rather than a double-click, see the next section, Specifying a single-click or a double-click to open folders.

In Windows, search for and open Change the mouse pointer display or speed.
In the Mouse Properties window, click the Buttons tab.
In the Double Click Speed section, click and hold the slider while moving the mouse to the right or left, to adjust the double-click speed.

Figure : Adjusting the double-click speed
Test the adjusted speed by double-clicking the folder to the right of the slide bar.

Figure : Double-click speed test
Click OK to save your changes.

Specifying a single-click or a double-click to open folders

Use the following steps to change how mouse clicks are used to open your folders and files:

In Windows, search for and open File Explorer Options.
In the File Explorer Options window, click the General tab.
In the Click items as follows area, click one of the following options:
- Single-click to open an item (point to select)
- Double-click to open an item (single-click to select)
Figure : Select the single-click or double-click option
Click OK to save your changes.

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