# Mac OS X : Fixing or adjusting the mouse acceleration "feature" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 14, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676 "2006-04-14T17:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cagey\_Drifter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@Cagey\_Drifter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cagey_Drifter)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/1 "2006-04-14T17:14:56Z")
I finally figured out what drives me crazy about Macs. Aside from their non-standard keyboards, they have this totally moronic mouse acceleration “feature” that apparently can’t be turned off, as far as I can see. It is the reason that I feel like I’m rolling a boulder up a hill every time I try to get something done. Now that I’m working at a job that requires me to use a Mac, I feel like I’m quickly going crazy. How do I fix this shoddily-designed acceleration feature so I can use my mouse like a Windows mouse? Oh, and I don’t have administrator access, so anything that doesn’t require third-party software installation would be great. thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/2 "2006-04-14T18:53:32Z")
I found [this](http://www.knockknock.org.uk/mac/) - not sure if it requires Administrator access (isn’t that only required to modify the “Applications” directory?) but it’s gotta be worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/3 "2006-04-14T19:35:18Z")
Can you ask your boss to spring for a Microsoft mouse? They come with driver software that replicates a more Windows-like acceleration curve. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/4 "2006-04-14T19:45:51Z")
All these years I’ve pities Windows users for being stuck with the way mice behave under Windows only to discover that y’all actually _like_ 'em that way. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/5 "2006-04-14T20:46:48Z")
I’m using 10.4.5 on a G5, and my mouse doesn’t accelerate, it just moves linearly. Actually, my complaint is that even at maximum speed, it’s not quite as fast as it was on my old G4. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mac-os-x-fixing-or-adjusting-the-mouse-acceleration-feature/352676/6 "2006-04-15T02:18:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’m using 10.4.5 on a G5, and my mouse doesn’t accelerate, it just moves linearly. Actually, my complaint is that even at maximum speed, it’s not quite as fast as it was on my old G4. Really? It moves the same distance onscreen for 1/4" of travel on the mousepad regardless of whether you do it N I C E and S L O W or reallyfast?