> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.tella.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Customize the animated cursor

> Restyle, resize, smooth, and add click effects to the pointer in Effect → Cursor. Available for Mac and Windows app recordings made with the Animated or Hidden cursor, not System, web, or Chrome extension recordings.

Open **Effect** in the Tella editor (press `E`) to find **Cursor** settings, where you can restyle, resize, smooth, and add click effects to the pointer in Mac and Windows app recordings.

## Why can't I see Cursor settings?

The **Cursor** settings are available for eligible recordings from the Tella Mac and Windows apps. Record with **Animated** or **Hidden** so Tella can redraw the pointer without duplicating one already visible in the recording.

<Note>
  If you record with **System**, the pointer becomes part of the video and the **Cursor** settings are hidden. The web recorder and Chrome extension don't report a cursor setting, so these controls aren't available for those recordings.
</Note>

## How do I turn on the animated cursor?

Mac and Windows app recordings use the **Animated** cursor mode by default, so the animated cursor is already on when you open the video, unless you turned it off in a previous video. To turn it on yourself:

1. Open your video in the Tella editor.
2. Click **Effect** in the sidebar, or press `E`.
3. In **Cursor**, turn on **Cursor**.

To control only the current clip, expand **Advanced zoom settings** under **Zooms** and turn on **Adjust this clip only** before enabling the cursor.

## How do I customize the cursor?

Use the controls in **Cursor** to adjust its appearance:

* **Style:** click a cursor tile: macOS Sequoia, macOS Tahoe, macOS Golden Gate, Windows, or Touch.
* **Size:** drag the slider to make the cursor smaller or larger.

Expand **Advanced cursor settings** to control its movement and click effects:

* **Smooth movement:** soften the recorded cursor path.
* **Movement tilt:** tilt the cursor as it moves horizontally.
* **Click spring:** make the cursor shrink and spring back when you click.
* **Click ripple:** show a ripple around each click.
* **Hide when inactive:** fade the cursor out when it stops moving and bring it back when activity resumes.

<Note>
  For a new video, Tella starts the animated cursor at 2× size with **Movement tilt** and **Click spring** turned off unless it can reuse video-wide cursor settings you previously chose. Existing videos keep their current cursor settings.
</Note>

## Can I change the cursor on just one clip?

Cursor appearance settings apply across the video by default. With **Adjust this clip only** off, turning on **Cursor** enables it on the selected clip and on eligible clips that already have zooms. Tella skips clips recorded with **System** because their pointer is already part of the video.

Select another eligible clip and turn on **Cursor** there if it has no zooms yet. To customize only the current clip, expand **Advanced zoom settings** under **Zooms** and turn on **Adjust this clip only** before changing its cursor settings. Turn it off to make the clip use the video-wide styling again.

## Can I use the animated cursor with Auto Zoom?

On eligible Mac and Windows app recordings, **Auto Zoom** and **Cursor** use the same captured mouse data but control different things:

* Auto Zoom follows the pointer to frame the action.
* Cursor controls how the pointer itself looks and moves.

You can use either feature on its own or combine them. Chrome tab recordings can support Auto Zoom even though their cursor cannot be restyled. See [add zooms and screen effects](/docs/help/editing/add-a-zoom) to generate or edit zooms.


## Related topics

- [Where did the Zoom tool go?](/docs/help/faq/where-is-the-zoom-tool.md)
- [Record a video using the Mac app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-mac-app.md)
- [Add zooms and screen effects](/docs/help/editing/add-a-zoom.md)
- [Record with the Tella Windows app](/docs/help/recording/record-a-video-using-the-windows-app.md)
- [Customize embed settings](/docs/help/sharing/customize-embed-settings.md)


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