Does a Mac have mouse acceleration by default?

Yes. macOS moves the pointer further for fast movements and less for slow ones unless you turn off Pointer acceleration in Mouse settings, under Advanced.

How do I turn off mouse acceleration on macOS Tahoe?

The same way as on Sonoma and Sequoia: System Settings > Mouse > Advanced, then turn off Pointer acceleration.

Can I turn off acceleration for the trackpad?

Not with a built-in switch. Pointer acceleration is only in Mouse settings, and Trackpad settings only offer Tracking speed.

Why did mouse acceleration come back after the Terminal command?

Moving the Tracking speed slider resets it, and users report it doesn't always survive a restart. On macOS 14 or later, use the Pointer acceleration switch instead.

Can each mouse have its own pointer speed on a Mac?

Not in macOS, where Tracking speed covers every mouse. Scrollwise Pro gives each mouse its own pointer speed and acceleration setting.

Should I turn off mouse acceleration for gaming?

Many players do, because the same hand movement then always moves the same distance, which makes aiming more consistent. It's a preference: try it for a few days and raise Tracking speed if the pointer feels slow.

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Mac guide

How to turn off mouse acceleration on a Mac

By Aqib Javed · Updated Nov 2, 2026

On macOS 14 Sonoma and later, open System Settings > Mouse, click Advanced and turn off Pointer acceleration. The pointer then moves the same distance for the same hand movement, fast or slow; adjust Tracking speed to suit. On macOS 13 Ventura and earlier there is no switch, and the usual fix is a Terminal command. The switch applies to every mouse; Scrollwise Pro can turn acceleration off and set pointer speed for each mouse on its own.

What mouse acceleration does

By default, macOS moves the pointer further for fast mouse movements and more precisely for slow ones. That helps on a big screen with a small desk, but it means the same hand movement lands the pointer in a different place depending on how quickly you made it. Many players and designers find that hard to aim with, so they turn it off.

How to turn off pointer acceleration on macOS 14 Sonoma and later

Connect the mouse. Mouse settings only appear while a mouse is connected.
Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Mouse in the sidebar.
Click Advanced, turn off Pointer acceleration and close the window.
Set Tracking speed (under Point & Click on macOS 15 and later) until a comfortable hand movement crosses the screen.

Apple documents the same switch in the same place on macOS 15 Sequoia, macOS 26 Tahoe and macOS 27. It is only in Mouse settings: Trackpad settings have no acceleration switch.

How to turn off mouse acceleration on macOS Ventura and earlier

It isn't an Apple-documented setting. Users report it working on Ventura, but having to run it again after a restart.
Moving the Tracking speed slider afterwards puts acceleration back, which is also how you undo it.

Older versions have no switch. The command people use reads and then sets a hidden preference. Open Terminal, run the first line to see the current value, run the second to turn acceleration off, then log out and back in.

defaults read -g com.apple.mouse.scaling
defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -integer -1

Pointer too slow or too fast with a mouse

Tracking speed is the main control. Acceleration off makes small movements feel slower than before, so you may want a higher Tracking speed.
Tracking speed and the acceleration switch apply to every mouse you connect. A high-resolution gaming mouse and a small travel mouse get the same setting, so one of them usually feels wrong.
Many gaming mice have their own DPI buttons or software, which change the mouse's sensitivity before macOS sees it.
The trackpad has its own Tracking speed in Trackpad settings, so changing the mouse doesn't touch it.

Pointer speed per mouse with Scrollwise Pro

Download Scrollwise, drag it into Applications, open it and allow Accessibility access. Pointer settings are part of Scrollwise Pro, $2.99 once, with a 7-day free trial you start from the app.
Click the Scrollwise icon in the menu bar and pick the mouse's card.
Under Pointer, turn on Own pointer speed and drag Pointer speed.
Turn on Turn off pointer acceleration to make that mouse move exactly as far as your hand, fast or slow.

Your other mice and the trackpad keep the macOS settings. Scrollwise remembers what macOS had and puts it back when you clear the setting or quit the app. These pointer settings are for mice, the Magic Mouse included; the trackpad's pointer speed stays macOS's own.

Questions

Does a Mac have mouse acceleration by default?: Yes. macOS moves the pointer further for fast movements and less for slow ones unless you turn off Pointer acceleration in Mouse settings, under Advanced.
How do I turn off mouse acceleration on macOS Tahoe?: The same way as on Sonoma and Sequoia: System Settings > Mouse > Advanced, then turn off Pointer acceleration.
Can I turn off acceleration for the trackpad?: Not with a built-in switch. Pointer acceleration is only in Mouse settings, and Trackpad settings only offer Tracking speed.
Why did mouse acceleration come back after the Terminal command?: Moving the Tracking speed slider resets it, and users report it doesn't always survive a restart. On macOS 14 or later, use the Pointer acceleration switch instead.
Can each mouse have its own pointer speed on a Mac?: Not in macOS, where Tracking speed covers every mouse. Scrollwise Pro gives each mouse its own pointer speed and acceleration setting.
Should I turn off mouse acceleration for gaming?: Many players do, because the same hand movement then always moves the same distance, which makes aiming more consistent. It's a preference: try it for a few days and raise Tracking speed if the pointer feels slow.