How to Check Mouse DPI (Windows 10 & Mac OS)

If you are trying to shop for a gaming mouse, you´ve surely read in the description about how many DPI the mouse is rated at. This is probably one of the most overused terms you can find when shopping for a gaming mouse.

Is a high DPI really that important and how to check mouse DPI? These are two questions, we want to answer in this article.

• Best Gaming Mouse: Razer Naga Trinity
• Best For MOBA: Razer Nage Hex V2
• Best Comfort: Razer DeathAdder Elite
• Best For Lefties: SteelSeries Sensei 310

What Does DPI Stand For?

The term DPI (dots per inch) is an indicator of mouse speed and precision (not accuracy), at which you move across the monitor screen. The DPI of the mouse determines its sensitivity. In theory, if a mouse has 1600 DPI, then, if you move your mouse one inch (2.54 cm), the mouse pointer will move 1600 pixels. A sensitive mouse is great for gaming as the cursor is reacting to even small movements.

A higher DPI isn’t always better. You really don’t want your mouse cursor to fly on another site of the screen when you move your mouse a little bit. In fact, many competitive FPS game players set their mouse DPI to 1200 or even 800. Because lower DPI gives you precision.

So what DPI is best? Honestly, there is no one correct DPI number. It all comes down to feel, so it is on you which DPI settings you would prefer.

 

How to Check Mouse DPI

Do you want to know your mouse’s DPI? Check manufacturer’s specifications, you can do that on your mouse’s support website, or in its user manual. Another way to check it is to install drivers and the standalone app which you can run to get to all the settings and options. The third way is to use an online DPI analyzer.

To use the DPI tester properly, you first need to go into mouse settings in Windows. Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Mouse. Then click on the Pointer Options tab. To allow the most correct measurement of mouse DPI, you should unclick the Enhance pointer precision under the Motion section. In windows 10, go to the Start Menu, find Devices and then select the Mouse section on the left and Additional Mouse Options in the right side of the screen.

After you installed drivers of your mouse, (disable any pointer acceleration there if is enabled), you are ready to use the DPI analyzer. The instructions for the use of this DPI tester are very simple.

How to Change Mouse DPI

When you are using your mouse for standard PC work or web browsing, having a high DPI can be useful, but in most cases, it all comes down to the feel. Don´t like the DPI of your mouse? Then change it. It´s easy.

Change Mouse DPI With On-The-Fly Button

Gaming mice from brands like SteelSeries, Razer, ROG, HyperX, and so on, are equipped with a DPI on-the-fly button/switch which allows you to directly change the mouse DPI.

1. Find the on-the-fly DPI button on the mouse. On the top, bottom or side of the mouse.
2. Press or slide the button to change your mouse DPI.
3. You will see a notification on your monitor about the DPI change or an LCD will display the new settings.

Change Mouse DPI In Windows 10

1. Launch the Settings app from the Start Menu and select Devices.
2. On the Device screen, select the Mouse section – on the left panel, and then select Additional Mouse Options on the right side of the screen.
3. If done correctly, you should see the Mouse Properties window, where you can adjust mouse cursor speed.
4. To change it, select the Pointer Option tab
5. On the top of the tab is a slider labeled Select a pointer speed.

Change Mouse DPI On Mac

1. Click the Apple icon in – upper-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. In this window, click on Mouse.
4. Click on Point & Click.
5. Now you should see a Tracking Speed bar which is labeled “Slow” on the left and “Fast” on the right.
6. Drag the slider right to make the cursor move faster as you move the mouse, or left to slow it down.

Razer DeathAdder Elite

Fantastic comfort for your hand

The beauty of the DeathAdder Elite is that it is a versatile mouse. It can be used for playing real-time strategy games, first-person shooters, action RPGs or MOBAs. It is an excellent gaming mouse that is easy to grasp, well constructed, and performs amazingly across a wide variety of game genres. View Razer DeathAdder Elite on Amazon.

Logitech MX ERGO

Awesome thumb-operated trackball

In terms of ergonomic design, we like Logitech’s MX Ergo. Compared to a typical mouse, this advanced trackball actually decreases the muscular strain by 20 percent. The secret to this improvement in comfort is the exclusive, adjustable hinge design that allows for the highest level of individualized comfort. View Logitech MX ERGO on Amazon.

Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum

Awesome customization

After its release, Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum gained a reputation as one of the best all-purpose gaming mice. No wonder, the Proteus Spectrum is an evolutionary upgrade of the fan-favorite Proteus Core mouse with customizable RGB illumination. View Logitech G502 on Amazon.

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