What is what to do when cursor disappears?

Okay, here's some information on what to do when your cursor disappears, in Markdown format with linked important subjects:

When your cursor disappears, it can be a frustrating problem. Here's a troubleshooting guide:

• Basic Checks:

  • Check your mouse/trackpad connection: Ensure your mouse is properly connected (wired or wireless). If wireless, check the batteries. For a trackpad, make sure it's enabled in your system settings.
  • Restart your computer: A simple restart can often resolve temporary glitches that cause the cursor to vanish.
  • Look for a "hide cursor while typing" setting: Many operating systems have a setting to automatically hide the cursor when you're typing. Check your mouse%20settings to see if this is enabled and disable it if needed.

• Operating System Specific Troubleshooting:

  • Windows:
    • Press Windows Key + Ctrl + Shift + B to restart your graphics driver. This is a quick fix for display-related issues.
    • Update your graphics%20card%20driver. Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause.
    • Run the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter (Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters > Hardware and Devices).
    • Check your mouse%20properties in Control Panel. Go to the "Pointer Options" tab and ensure "Show location of pointer when I press the CTRL key" is disabled (enabling it can help you find a lost cursor by pressing Ctrl).
  • macOS:
    • Check System Preferences > Accessibility > Display > Shake mouse pointer to locate. Enabling this feature makes the cursor temporarily larger when you shake the mouse.
    • Update your macOS%20operating%20system.
    • Reset the System Management Controller (SMC). Instructions for doing this vary depending on your Mac model. Refer to Apple's support documentation.
  • Linux:
    • Restart your display manager (e.g., sudo systemctl restart lightdm or sudo systemctl restart gdm3).
    • Ensure your display%20driver is properly installed and configured.
    • Use xset m default in a terminal to reset mouse settings to their defaults.
    • Try a different desktop environment to see if the issue is specific to your current environment.

• Other Considerations:

  • External Displays: If you're using an external monitor, ensure the monitor%20cable is securely connected. Try a different cable.
  • Conflicting Software: Some software can interfere with cursor display. Try closing recently installed or running applications.
  • Hardware Issues: In rare cases, a disappearing cursor can indicate a hardware problem with the mouse, trackpad, or graphics card. Test with a different mouse or trackpad to rule out a hardware failure.
  • Virtual Machines: If this happens inside a Virtual%20Machine, check the VM settings related to mouse integration. You might need to reinstall the VM tools.