Forum Discussion
Highlight Cursor During Presentations
Are there any plans for Microsoft to incorporate the ability to highlight a presenter's mouse cursor. A basic yellow halo and possibly have the ability to use "focus" to draw the viewer's attention to a specific area or feature? Maybe even have a function to emulate a laser pointer or some other tool to call attention to specific areas of the screen.
Rather than force the presenter to manually change their cursor through system settings or install some 3rd party software, making this a feature of MS Teams seems like a no brainer.
I did search and wasn't able to find a conversation with this subject. Sorry if this has been discussed before.
DavidDoyle There is an free app in the Microsoft store that works:
Link: below, or search for "mouse highlight" in the store.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/p/mouse-pointer-highlight/9p7sb9s4rq7z
There is also a more capable version created using AutoHotKey:
https://sites.google.com/site/boisvertlab/computer-stuff/online-teaching
23 Replies
- EricaToelle
Microsoft
There is a free Microsoft Windows utility called PowerToys that can highlight the mouse cursor. Windows manages the mouse so I don't think it's something Teams could provide. More information: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/powertoys/mouse-utilities#mouse-highlighter
To zoom in on a portion of your screen, use the Sysinternals tool called ZoomIt. Sysinternals is a Microsoft owned utility suite for managing Windows environments at scale. Find it here: ZoomIt - Sysinternals | Microsoft Learn
And finally, way after this question was originally posted, a laser pointer was added to Microsoft Teams 🙂: Laser point or draw on PowerPoint slides in Microsoft Teams meetings - Microsoft Support
PowerToys require an extra instalation, which ist mostly impossible on corporate computers without special permision. So it does not solve the main problem.
For example in company I work for two years ago I requested for permision for instalation "App Mouse pointer highlight im MS Store" and gues what, I still do not have it.
- EricaToelleHi Pawel, most organizations are likelier to allow you to install an app built by Microsoft rather than a random 3rd party app like "app mouse pointer highlight in Microsoft store." I would try submitting a request to install this Microsoft software and see how it goes.
DavidDoyle
It's typical MS Team styleWith bunch of "%^$%^@#!%$#^%$#&" functions.
But basic needed functions not found 404.DavidDoyle
I as well do agree with your proposal. This option should be basic offer in Teams.
I often see, that there is big problem with presentig CAD via Teams, when people can not see at what I am pointing.... this makes the discussion hard to lead and to follow.- When training I will typically use the "Windows Inverted Extra Large" mouse pointer as an easier way for attendees to track where I am at. It is great because it changes the pointer to a darker option when I am on a light background and a lighter option when I am on a darker background.
I would love to see some laser options in Teams. The only drawback to the pointer in PowerPoint is that you had to hold the CTRL down while you were holding your left-click down, so it can get unwieldy for some at times.- Since this post, you can now toggle the laser pointer on without holding down the CTRL key, by using the "Laser Pointer" tool when you are sharing using the "PowerPoint Live" option within Teams. If you are sharing your whole screen, then you can right-click on the background, trace to "Pointer Options" and toggle the "Laser Pointer" on.
One way of addressing the initial question is to turn on the mouse pointer locator option within Windows. When enabled it shows a radar blip when you hold down the CTRL key. The article walking you through it is located at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-mouse-pointer-fast-dbc1d222-778c-da15-5218-cb8336074554#:~:text=Find%20your%20mouse%20pointer%20fast%201%20In%20the,CTRL%20key%2C%20and%20then%20select%20OK.%20More%20items
- Thanks but this only applies to PowerPoint... I might add, this is a feature that was already available in PP outside of Teams.
PP is a fraction of what we screen share on a daily basis.
This was a really helpful link for me. It works! https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/find-your-mouse-pointer-fast-dbc1d222-778c-da15-5218-cb8336074554
Thanks for the reply KerronM
I use the mouse pointer "ping" often as I use three monitors and have a tendency to lose track of where my pointer has gotten off to.
As for presentations, especially with MS Teams, using the "ping" works but only when I happen to remember to click CTRL. A highlighted cursor is visible throughout a presentation or demonstration and much more effective. Again, this seems like a no-brainer for MS to include in Teams.
Thanks again.DavidDoyle I do agree with your proposal. This option should be offer in Teams. It is basic.
Hi DavidDoyle Kevin Stratvert (former MSFT employee) did a tutorial on this on YouTube: How to Highlight Mouse Pointer Windows 10 - YouTube
- Thanks Therese... I had seen his video and after dealing with the restrictions my employer has in place, I'm limited to few options. Would be nice to have any/all software that deals with screen presentation have cursor highlighting built in.
Thanks for the reply.
Hi, I'm certainly not aware of such a feature on the roadmap. If it's something you would like Microsoft to consider adding to Teams then you may create a Uservoice to request this feature at https://microsoftteams.uservoice.com/
Thanks PeterRising
That's too bad... seems like a basic function that should really have been part of the basic tools within Teams for presentations. It wouldn't be difficult and it's not like it's a new concept as PowerPoint already has pointer highlight features.
I've posted the suggestion to the forum you noted. Unfortunately that type of suggestion site has thousands of entries that tend to get lost.
Appreciate the reply.
DavidDoyle There is an free app in the Microsoft store that works:
Link: below, or search for "mouse highlight" in the store.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/p/mouse-pointer-highlight/9p7sb9s4rq7z
There is also a more capable version created using AutoHotKey:
https://sites.google.com/site/boisvertlab/computer-stuff/online-teaching
