microsoft / microsoft/PowerToys

[Mouse Utilities] Add Auto-Hide Mouse Cursor After a Period of Inactivity

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Idea-Enhancement Needs-Triage Product-Find My Mouse
Dominant language
C
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Forks
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PR merge metrics
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Description

### Description of the new feature / enhancement

When the mouse cursor has not been moved for a predetermined amount of time, or if an assigned key combination has been pressed, the mouse becomes invisible until an input, user or automated, reveals it again.

### Scenario when this would be used?

- If you want to leave the screen on while a slideshow plays, but you don't want the mouse to be visible over it.

- Using PowerToys Awake, you want to leave the screen active on the desktop with alternating backgrounds while AFK to have the computer work on a download without going into sleep mode, but the mouse cursor can't be hidden completely, even if you drag it to the edge of the screen. This could be problematic for OLED screens that are susceptible to burn-in.

### Supporting information

This feature was allegedly implemented all the way back in Windows 95. Removing it was probably unnecessary.

Third-party apps that add this feature to Windows aren't exactly flawless, and don't integrate as perfectly as PowerToys does with the Windows ecosystem. It's a bit of a shame that users have to download an extra program just for such a relatively simple feature. Adding this feature removes the need to download another app, and it complements the PowerToys suite of tools and tweaks neatly.

Please and thank you!

Contributor guide

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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. Start by locating the Mouse Utilities component, then clarify the inactivity timeout, optional key combination, and input behavior; done means the cursor hides and reappears reliably in the described scenarios.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
desktop
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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