15 Best Mouse Cursor Schemes For Windows 7 And Windows 8.1

If you are bored with the Windows interface and you are tired of its default customization options, you should try some personalization packages that are found on the web. In this article we'll share 15 free mouse cursor schemes for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 that you can use to improve the visuals of your operating system. Let's get started:

1. Metro X Cursor Set

The Metro X package gives your computer a cursor scheme that is inspired by Windows 8.

Download page: Metro X Cursor Set

2. New Mac OS X Cursors

You might be tempted to try a set of cursors made to look like the ones from Mac OS X. This set contains six different styles of cursors. Install the INF file that matches the style you would like to use. Alternatively, install every INF for each style in the set.

Download page: New Mac OS X Cursors.

3. Gant Cursor Pack

This cursor set is based on the popular Gant icon set that is used for customizing Windows, Linux, etc. This set contains 2 color schemes: yellow and blue, each of which has two sets. In other words, there are a total of 4 sets of cursors, which are in 4 separate folders.

Download page: Gant Cursor Pack

4. Hello Cursor

For those who love the worldwide phenomenon that is Hello Kitty, here is a cursor set featuring the cute Japanese icon. This set does not contain an INF file. It also is not a complete set, meaning it only has the cursors illustrated in the image below. However it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description.

Download page: Hello Cursor

5. Direction

A more unusual set of pointers, which you might actually enjoy. You can see how they look in the picture below.

Download page: Direction.

6. Crystal Clear Cursors

This is a beautiful cursor scheme based on the popular Crystal project. The only one from the list that isn't from DeviantArt. This cursor pack does not include an INF file for an easy installation. However, it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description.

Download page: Crystal Clear Cursors

7. Mario Gant

A set of hand cursors based on the Super Mario character. Pretty awesome, right?

Download page: Mario Gant.

8. UNDERSized

A simple and small sized set of cursors for those who like really small icons.

Download page: UNDERSized.

9. Krystall

An unique and colorful icon set. This cursor pack does not include an INF file for an easy installation. However it can be used if you follow the recommendations shared in its description.

Download page: Kystall.

10. Oxygen Cursors

Originally created for KDE, this icon set was ported to Windows and is the most popular icon set of all time at DeviantArt. This set contains 37 different color schemes.

Download page: Oxygen Cursors.

11. Rainbow Cursors

This is a mouse cursor scheme based on Mac cursors that changes its color constantly. If you like vivid colors you'll love this cursor.

Download page: Rainbow Cursors.

12. Metro X3 Cursor Set

Earlier in this article we presented the Metro X Cursor Set. The X3 Cursor Set has almost the same pointers but in a wider variety of colors.

Download page: Metro X3 Cursor Set.

13. Zune'D Animated Cursors Set

Zune'D Animated Cursors Set is another colorful cursor scheme inspired by the old Microsoft Zune device.

Download page: Zune'D Animated Cursor Set.

14. Crystal Clear v2.1

The Crystal Clear v2.1 is a translucent mouse cursor set. If you want to see what is behind the pointer you should try this scheme.

Download page: Crystal Clear v2.1.

15. DIM Cursor

Probably, the most attractive mouse cursor scheme from this roundup, DIM pointers are inspired by video games. It has a discreet animation that changes depending on how you are using the mouse cursor.

Download page: DIM Cursor.

How to Install a Mouse Cursor Scheme

Although we have previously covered the different ways to change mouse pointers, mouse schemes downloaded via the Internet can be installed through an INF file (stands for information) that is usually included in the archive file that you download.
In most cases, a mouse cursor scheme is distributed in archive file like ".rar", ".zip" and so on. After downloading the archive file containing the cursors you want to install, extract it to a temporary location on your computer. If you have trouble extracting it, try 7-Zip, a powerful open source file archiver which supports almost all imaginable formats for archives.
Open the folder and locate the .INF file. Right-click or press and hold on it and select Install.

Next, open the the mouse pointer scheme customisation window. You should see the new scheme in the drop-down menu, in the Pointers tab.

Now press the OK button to complete the process. The new mouse cursor scheme will be applied.

If there is no INF file included in the archive, in order to install the new cursors manually, follow the directions found in this tutorial: How to Customize Mouse Cursors/Pointers in Windows 7 & Windows 8.