By default, macOS applies dynamic cursor acceleration curves to mouse and trackpad movement. You can disable acceleration to achieve linear 1:1 hardware sensor tracking.
Disabling Mouse Acceleration
Run the following command in Terminal:
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling -1
[!IMPORTANT] Log Out Required: You must log out of your macOS account and log back in (or restart) for the change to take effect. If you subsequently adjust Tracking Speed in System Settings -> Mouse, macOS resets this key and re-enables acceleration.
Restoring Default Acceleration
Open System Settings -> Mouse and move the Tracking Speed slider. Alternatively:
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling 1.5
Trackpad Acceleration
To disable acceleration specifically for the MacBook built-in trackpad or Magic Trackpad:
defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.trackpad.scaling -1
Log out and back in for the trackpad change to take effect.
Modern macOS Alternatives
Starting in macOS Sonoma (14.0+), Apple added a native toggle:
- Open System Settings -> Mouse -> Advanced...
- Toggle off Pointer Acceleration.
For older macOS versions or advanced customized curves, open-source utilities like LinearMouse or ExactMouse provide persistent linear profiles.