What is DPI? How to adjust mouse DPI?

When you switch to a new computer, you may have noticed that the mouse cursor on the screen moves slower or faster than you are used to. How can different mice move so differently? Every time you move the mouse, a signal is sent to your computer and translated into cursor movement on the screen. This signal differs depending on the mouse DPI value. If you want a good mouse, DPI is one of the most important things to consider. What is the DPI you will see among the features when purchasing a mouse? We explain in this guide.

What is DPI?

DPI stands for Dots Per Inch; Dots per inch in Turkish. Also called linear dots per inch. DPI is a value that measures how sensitive your mouse is. The higher the mouse DPI value, the more sensitive the mouse is. As mentioned, DPI means dots per inch. For example; if your mouse is set to 800 DPI, the cursor moves 800 pixels for each short distance you move the mouse. If you increase the DPI value, your cursor will move faster.

Each mouse has a DPI value; some mice allow you to change the DPI by pressing a key or with the help of a program. Most standard mice have DPI ranging from 800 to 1600 DPI. Generally, the more expensive the mouse, the higher the DPI.

How does the mouse DPI value affect the experience?

Most standard PC users will run at 800 DPI or below without problems. High DPI mice are often used by gamers, graphic designers, and fast-paced people working with large screens. If you want lower DPI for precision stuff like drawing, aiming in FPS game, so it’s easier to control the cursor. But if you’re playing a game where you need to move the cursor quickly, you’ll need higher DPI.

Most high-end gaming mice have at least 5000 DPI. If cursor speed and response time are very important to you, you should prefer gaming mice. How high a DPI number you need also depends on how big your monitor is and how high the monitor’s resolution is. A higher resolution screen has more pixels; which requires higher DPI.

Many new computer mice allow you to instantly adjust the DPI with the help of keys on the controller or a special program. Even if you cannot adjust the mouse’s DPI, both Windows and Mac computers have settings to artificially increase the sensitivity of the mouse. But artificially increasing the sensitivity does not always work. An increase in the DPI signal may cause problems such as mouse cursor flickering. If you are using a high resolution monitor and need a high DPI mouse, you should buy a good high-end mouse that can reach at least 10,000 DPI.

What should be the mouse DPI setting? Is higher DPI always good?

Normal DPI range is around 400 – 800 DPI. This value can usually be lowered to 100 or increased to 26000 on the best gaming mice. Most mice have a polling rate of 125Hz, and normal high-performance mouse or gaming mouse 1000Hz, current high-end mice can go up to 8000. Some mouse manufacturers may advertise a high DPI value, but larger numbers are not always better, you should know when you should and should not set these values.

Too high a DPI value can create control issues; You can move the cursor to one end of the screen with a slight movement. A higher polling rate is always best, unless you’re using a low-end computer and the laptop or wireless mouse’s battery isn’t draining fast. What should the DPI be? The answer to the question depends on the comfort and physical possibilities of the person.

A less sensitive mouse requires more desk space to move around the screen and causes arm fatigue more quickly. A slightly higher DPI works better for people with limited desk space. The use of a high DPI mouse is a pain in the long run as it requires frequent and precise wrist adjustments. If you are doing precise graphic editing work or playing fast paced games on monitors with very high resolution and refresh rate, you should choose a high DPI mouse.

What is the mouse DPI key, how to set it?

Mouse DPI button makes DPI switching a lot easier; It helps you to adjust the DPI value depending on your need and preference. Your mouse can have a single DPI key or multiple DPI keys. The DPI button helps you switch between lower and higher DPI. So, how to set the mouse DPI button? Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Download the special program for your mouse.
2. The software will automatically detect your mouse.
3. You will see a mouse icon on your screen. Click the icon.
4. A three-dimensional view of the mouse button will appear.
5. Look for the mouse DPI key.
6. You get the option to disable it by clicking the DPI button. This method helps you to change the mouse DPI key.

Mouse DPI learning

Want to know the DPI of your mouse? Here are a few ways to find mouse sensitivity:

• Check out the manufacturer’s specifications page: Search the Internet for your make and model. If it’s not an unbranded mouse, chances are you’ll find a spec sheet that lists the DPI value.
• Install drivers: Again, if you are not using an unbranded mouse, you can download the software from the manufacturer’s website. Software usually allows you to change the functions of all the keys, including changing the mouse DPI setting. When you install the mouse drivers, a standalone program is usually installed with which you can access all the settings and options. The DPI setting is somewhere different in each manufacturer’s program, but you can easily find it.
• Use the DPI calculator (DPI analyzer): If you still can’t find the Mouse DPI value, the DPI calculator can be useful. For the most accurate results, uncheck the “Increase pointer precision” box in the pointer options section of the mouse properties. With this tool you can measure the actual DPI of the mouse and calculate the sensor accuracy.

Mouse DPI calculation steps

1. To accurately measure how far you move your mouse, draw cm lines on a piece of paper and make it a mousepad.
2. Enter the target distance for how far to move your mouse.
3. Click on the red plus sign and hold down the mouse button.
4. Move the mouse to the targeted distance on the paper.
5. The goal is not to put the red crosshair over the blue one. The goal is to physically move the mouse to the target distance and see where the red crosshair ends.
6. Stop recording motion by releasing the mouse button.

Adjusting mouse DPI

1. Click the start button and open Settings.
2. On the Settings page, click Devices.
3. On the Devices page, click Mouse.
4. On the mouse page, click “Additional mouse options” under Related Settings.
5. Go to Pointer Options.
6. Use “Choose your pointer speed” for DPI setting. Swipe left for DPI lowering, right for DPI up.

Most mice have buttons to change the DPI setting. In fact, some mice have screens showing the current setting, while others do not. If your mouse doesn’t have any buttons on it or its function is different, open the mouse’s software and look for the DPI change options. You can set DPI setting and even different settings if your mouse supports it and there are buttons to switch between settings. If the mouse does not have special software, you can adjust the pointer speed as you wish using the Control Panel settings.