To change a mouse's polling rate, use the control your exact mouse supports, such as a polling-rate setting in the manufacturer's software, and pick only a value it lists. Then check the result with a repeatable movement test, because a number shown in software does not prove the mouse is reporting at that rate.
Whether the new rate actually helps you is a separate question. You answer it by comparing your usual game or task under the same conditions, not by assuming the highest number wins.
Find and Use the Control Your Mouse Supports
There is no single menu that works for every mouse. The route and the available rates depend on the brand, the model, and sometimes how the mouse is connected.
- Identify the exact mouse and how it is connected. Note the full model name, including any generation or "Wireless" label, and whether you are using a cable, a 2.4 GHz receiver, or Bluetooth. Connection matters: MouseTester.net notes that standard Bluetooth connections are limited to roughly 125 Hz, so a higher setting may only make sense on another mode. Don't borrow settings from a similar-looking model.
- Open the software or guide made for that model. Routes differ by brand. Razer's support guide for Synapse 4 says to launch Synapse 4, select the mouse from the Dashboard, open Performance, and choose a polling-rate preset. SteelSeries names Engine in its GG app as the place to tune polling rate on its mice. If you use our M5 Ultra, start with our M5 Ultra support guide for its driver and setup steps, and M3 owners can get the matching software from our M3 driver page.
- Choose only a rate the software shows for your mouse. Razer notes that polling-rate options vary by mouse, and some models offer more presets than others. A listed spec is not a menu path, either. SteelSeries lists 4000 Hz polling for the Aerox 3 Wireless Gen 2, but that listing alone doesn't tell you where to select it or which connection supports it. Follow your model's own instructions for applying the change.
- Stop if no control exists. If your mouse's documentation and software offer no polling-rate option, don't assume a Windows setting or a third-party utility can add one. Contact the manufacturer for that model before trying workarounds.
Check the Rate, Then Compare Usefulness
Seeing the new value in software tells you what you selected. A movement test tells you what the computer is actually receiving, within that test's limits. Run it the same way every time so the before and after numbers are comparable.
- Take a baseline before you change anything. Keep the same USB port or receiver, the same connection mode, and the same browser. Open TestUFO's rapid-circle polling test, start it, move the pointer very fast in a circle, and note the peak Hz it displays.
- Change the rate, then repeat the exact same test. Use the same movement for about the same length of time. If the peak reading moves in the direction of your new setting, that's a sign the change is reaching the computer.
- Read a low result carefully. TestUFO warns that your browser may not keep up with the full poll rate of high-end gaming mice. MouseTester.net's browser-limit estimate puts browser readings at roughly 125 to 250 Hz because browsers throttle mouse events, and it recommends dedicated desktop software for precise measurements at high rates. So a browser result below your setting is not proof the mouse failed. Our polling-rate test tool gives you another way to repeat the check, but a desktop measurement is the better choice when you need an exact high-frequency number.
Once the change is confirmed, decide if it's worth keeping. Play your usual game or run your normal aim routine at each supported rate. Keep the map, sensitivity, and movement pattern identical, and watch for stutter or uneven frame pacing. Keep the rate only if your own comparison shows a benefit, because no particular setting is guaranteed to improve performance. For very high rates, our 8K polling-rate test walks through checking frame time against system load. Valorant players can follow our Valorant polling-rate comparison for a game-specific version of that check.
FAQs
What does a polling rate number actually mean?
It's how many times per second the mouse reports its position to your computer, measured in hertz (Hz). Razer's guide gives this example: at 100 Hz, the mouse reports 100 times per second, or once every 10 milliseconds. Some brands call the same setting "report rate," so look for either label in your software.
What do a polling test's peak and average readings tell me?
MouseTester.net's peak and average definitions describe peak as the highest rate recorded during a session and average as the mouse's typical report rate during that session. A single high peak doesn't mean the mouse held that rate the whole time. Browser limits can affect both readings.
Is polling rate the same as DPI?
No. MouseTester.net separates the two: polling rate is how often the mouse sends its position to the computer, while DPI controls how far the cursor moves relative to how far you physically move the mouse. Changing one doesn't change the other, so test them separately.
