How to speed up mouse tracking in OS X

*LTD* · 07:35 PM

Open a Terminal Window and type the following:

defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling 5.0

"5.0" being the number designating the speed. Change that number to whatever you like. I've got my Magic Mouse set to 150 or so.

This does not change the acceleration, just the scaling. Altering the setting via the preferences pane overrides the Terminal command.

Log out and back in to activate.

For a more complete solution, get USB Overdrive.

richard.mac · Oct 31, 2009, 11:24 PM

what is the value of full speed in Mouse preferences?

calderone · Oct 31, 2009, 11:56 PM

I set it to the highest in System Prefs and ran:

Code:

defaults read -g com.apple.mouse.scaling

And it returned a 3. So that is the fastest.

*LTD* · Nov 1, 2009, 09:24 AM

The more I use the Terminal for these little tricks, the more I love it.

If you know what you're doing you can do away with a lot of little 3rd party for-pay utilities completely.

I've also posted information on "How to kill mouse acceleration in OS X." Once I figure out how to turn that into a startup item during login (AppleScript, maybe), I'll be laughing.

I'll post more info about that later.

TheSpaz · Nov 4, 2009, 09:13 PM

This is the same exact thing as using Mouse Zoom. It just changes the cursor speed. It STILL doesn't feel like my Mighty Mouse.

*LTD* · Nov 5, 2009, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSpaz

This is the same exact thing as using Mouse Zoom. It just changes the cursor speed. It STILL doesn't feel like my Mighty Mouse.

Combine it with the kill mouse acceleration Terminal command and it might feel better. Speeding up tracking isn't all that great while leaving acceleration the way it is.

TheSpaz · Nov 5, 2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *LTD*

Combine it with the kill mouse acceleration Terminal command and it might feel better. Speeding up tracking isn't all that great while leaving acceleration the way it is.

That didn't provide tolerable results either. I'd rather just wait for Apple to fix the curve.

Is there anyway to customize the slow curve without affecting the fast movements?

soft · Nov 8, 2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *LTD*

Combine it with the kill mouse acceleration Terminal command and it might feel better. Speeding up tracking isn't all that great while leaving acceleration the way it is.

Killmouse seems to "work" but leaves the mouse in extreme speed.... and when I change the speed with Mouse Zoom or System preferences... it just resets again.

Any proper solution?

appleguy123 · Nov 8, 2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *LTD*

Open a Terminal Window and type the following:

defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling 5.0

8.0 works great for my magic mouse.

ctrlshft · Apr 19, 2011, 09:52 PM

just wanted to say this thread is awesome, the terminal commands helped immensely, MM is way to friggin slow at max by default. 8.0 is good.

Polydactyl · Apr 20, 2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soft

Killmouse seems to "work" but leaves the mouse in extreme speed.... and when I change the speed with Mouse Zoom or System preferences... it just resets again.

Any proper solution?

Set your speed first, then run Killmouse. Repeat as needed. It will take you 3-4 iterations of this to get it just right.

It's kind of a pain, but once you've got your mouse configured properly, you shouldn't have to go back into the mouse preferences again. You'll want to add a script to run Killmouse at startup too, since it resets when you reboot.

Oct 31, 2009, 11:11 PM	#1
LTD Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada	How to speed up mouse tracking in OS X Open a Terminal Window and type the following: defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling 5.0 "5.0" being the number designating the speed. Change that number to whatever you like. I've got my Magic Mouse set to 150 or so. This does not change the acceleration, just the scaling. Altering the setting via the preferences pane overrides the Terminal command. Log out and back in to activate. For a more complete solution, get USB Overdrive. Last edited by LTD; Nov 4, 2009 at 07:35 PM.
	0

Oct 31, 2009, 11:24 PM	#2
richard.mac macrumors 603 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: 51.50024, -0.12662	what is the value of full speed in Mouse preferences? __________________ http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4894/haxe.png If you can't innovate, I guess you just imitate, but it's never quite as good as the original.
	0

Oct 31, 2009, 11:56 PM	#3
calderone macrumors 68040 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seattle	I set it to the highest in System Prefs and ran: Code: defaults read -g com.apple.mouse.scaling And it returned a 3. So that is the fastest.
	0

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Nov 1, 2009, 09:24 AM	#4
LTD Thread Starter Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada	The more I use the Terminal for these little tricks, the more I love it. If you know what you're doing you can do away with a lot of little 3rd party for-pay utilities completely. I've also posted information on "How to kill mouse acceleration in OS X." Once I figure out how to turn that into a startup item during login (AppleScript, maybe), I'll be laughing. I'll post more info about that later.
	0

Nov 4, 2009, 09:13 PM	#5
TheSpaz Banned Join Date: Jun 2005	This is the same exact thing as using Mouse Zoom. It just changes the cursor speed. It STILL doesn't feel like my Mighty Mouse.
	0

Apr 19, 2011, 09:52 PM	#10
ctrlshft macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2010	just wanted to say this thread is awesome, the terminal commands helped immensely, MM is way to friggin slow at max by default. 8.0 is good.
	0