Cursor states explained

Your computer switches cursors constantly to tell you what will happen when you click. Windows has 17 standard cursors and macOS has 16; together that’s 21 different states. Here’s what each one means, shown with the Little Capybara set.

Each row below shows the state, when you see it, and what Windows and macOS call it. Hover the pictures if you’re on a computer — they animate the same way the real cursor does.

• Normal selectArrowThe everyday pointer. Seen most, and stands in for any cursor that’s missing.
• Link selectHand / PointingOver links and clickable buttons.
• Text selectIBeamOver text you can type in or select.
• BusyWaitThe app is busy and you can’t do anything yet — usually a spinner.
• Working in backgroundAppStartingBusy in the background but still usable — an arrow with a small spinner.Windows only
• Help selectHelp“What’s this?” help mode — an arrow with a question mark.
• Precision selectCrosshairFor precise picking, like screenshots or drawing.
• UnavailableNo / ForbiddenCan’t drop here / not available — usually a “no” sign.
• MoveSizeAll / MoveDragging a window or object in any direction.
• Vertical resizeSizeNS / Window N-SDragging a window’s top or bottom edge.
• Horizontal resizeSizeWE / Window E-WDragging a window’s left or right edge.
• Diagonal resize 1SizeNWSE / Window NW-SEDragging a window’s top-left or bottom-right corner.
• Diagonal resize 2SizeNESW / Window NE-SWDragging a window’s top-right or bottom-left corner.
• HandwritingNWPenWriting with a pen.Windows only
• Alternate selectUpArrowAlternate select — an upward arrow.Windows only
• Location selectPinPicking a location, like on a map.Windows only
• Person selectPersonPicking a person or contact.Windows only
• CopyCopyDragging to make a copy — an arrow with a plus.macOS only
• Make aliasAliasDragging to make an alias (shortcut) — an arrow with a curved arrow.macOS only
• Zoom inZoomInZoom in.macOS only
• Zoom outZoomOutZoom out.macOS only

What happens when a set doesn’t include a state?

Something has to be shown, so a missing state falls back to a related one: working in background uses busy, handwriting uses precision select, and everything else uses the normal arrow. That’s why the arrow is the most important cursor to get right.

Why Windows and macOS have different cursors

Twelve states exist on both systems. Windows adds working in background, handwriting, alternate select, location select and person select; macOS adds copy, make alias, zoom in and zoom out. Every CursorSkins skin covers all 21, so the same set looks complete on either system.