Change the cursor halo
The cursor halo is a ring that follows your pointer so viewers never lose it. It is on from the first launch and free forever. Open Settings, go to the Appearance tab, then pick a shape, one of five sizes and a color. This page covers every halo setting, including the click flash and automatic hiding.
Change the shape, size and color#
- Open SHARA’s Settings.Click the SHARA icon in the system tray, or right-click it and choose Settings. The window opens on the Appearance tab.
- Check that Enable Cursor Halo is on.It is the switch at the top of the Appearance tab, and it is on from the first launch. Ctrl+Win+H flips it from anywhere.
- Pick a Shape and a Size.The preview at the top of the window changes as you click.
- Click the Main swatch to choose a color.The halo updates as you change it.
Free to install. The halo never expires.
Download free fromView onMicrosoft StoreFree forever: cursor halo, click animation, Pen, Laser, Arrow, Text, Eraser, Screenshot and the Ctrl+Space Wheel. Every Pro tool is free for your first 14 days, with no card and no account. After that, Pro is a one-time purchase ($19.99 in the US). See pricing and the 14-day trial →
Pick a shape#
The Shape row has three choices: Circle, Squircle and Rhombus. Squircle, a square with rounded corners, is the default. The Magnifier lens takes the same shape as your halo.
Pick a size#
The Size row has three buttons: S, M and a third that holds L, XL and XXL. Click the third button again to step to the next size; the three dots on it show which one you are on. Medium is the default.
| Size | Halo diameter | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| S | 100 px | |
| M | 160 px | Default |
| L | 240 px | Third button, first click |
| XL | 320 px | Third button, second click |
| XXL | 400 px | Third button, third click |
A bigger halo is easier to find on a 4K screen or a projector. The Wheel grows with it, up to a limit.
Change the size without opening Settings
- Click the Halo display settings button on the preview.It opens the Halo display panel.
- Under Size shortcut, record a hotkey, or choose a mouse button: Middle, Mouse 4 (Back) or Mouse 5 (Forward).Both are off by default.
- Press your shortcut to step the size.Each press goes Small, then Medium, then your large size (the last of L, XL or XXL you picked), then back to Small.
Pick a color#
The Main swatch sets the halo color. The default is green (#00FF7F).
- Click the Main swatch.The color picker opens. Choose a color and confirm.
- Right-click the swatch to switch your color off and on.Off returns the halo to the default green. Your pick is kept for when you switch it back on.
Set the click flash#
The Clicks row on the Appearance tab sets what the halo does when you click. Viewers see every click, which helps in a lesson or a demo.
| Setting | What it does | Free or trial |
|---|---|---|
| None | No flash. | Free forever |
| Anim | The halo flashes white on every click. This is the default. | Free forever |
| Ripple | A ripple spreads from the click. | Free for 14 days |
| L-Click and R-Click colors | Gives left and right clicks their own flash colors (defaults #00A3FF and #FF0055). Without them the flash is white. | Free for 14 days |
To set left and right click colors, click the L-Click or R-Click swatch below the Main swatch and pick a color. Right-click a swatch to turn that color off and on.
Hide the halo when you are idle or typing#
By default the halo hides itself when you stop using it, so it does not sit on your work. Click Halo display settings on the preview to change this under Automatic hiding:
- Never. The halo stays on screen.
- Auto. The default. It hides when you are idle and while you type.
- Idle. It hides only when the mouse has been still for the Inactivity timeout (1 to 60 seconds, 10 by default).
- Type. It hides only while you type. SHARA counts it as typing when your hand has left the mouse and text keys follow one another.
The halo stays visible while the Wheel is open, while you draw, in a PowerPoint slide show and on duplicated displays, whatever you choose. Moving the mouse brings it back.
Which halo settings are free#
These are the halo settings, grouped by whether they last. Settings marked PRO in the app are the 14-day ones. The trial page explains what happens when the 14 days end.
| Halo setting | Free or trial |
|---|---|
| Shape (Circle, Squircle, Rhombus) | Free forever |
| Size (S, M, L, XL, XXL) and the size shortcut | Free forever |
| Main color | Free forever |
| Border Weight (Thin, Bold, Extra) | Free forever |
| Clicks: None and Anim (white flash) | Free forever |
| Automatic hiding and Inactivity timeout | Free forever |
| Clicks: Ripple, and L-Click and R-Click colors | Free for 14 days, then locked |
| Glow, Border Style (Dash, Dot), Inner Accent, Tilt Effect, Attention effect | Free for 14 days, then locked |
If it doesn’t work#
If it doesn’t work
- No halo on screen. Press Ctrl+Win+H to switch it on, and check Enable Cursor Halo on the Appearance tab. If SHARA as a whole is off, Ctrl+Win+Z turns it back on. Under Automatic hiding, Never keeps the halo on screen.
- The halo is too small to see. Click the third Size button again for XL or XXL, or make the color brighter.
- Viewers can’t see the halo or your ink. Share the screen, not a window.
- A setting is locked. Ripple, glow, borders, tilt and click colors were part of your 14 days. See what stays free.
- Ctrl+Win+H does nothing. Another app may hold the keys. Rebind the halo hotkey.
Halo questions#
Is the SHARA cursor halo free?
What size is the halo?
How do I turn the halo off?
Why does the halo flash white when I click?
Does the halo show in Teams, Zoom or OBS?
What is a squircle?
More in Features: Magnifier · Keystroke pill · Whiteboard and colors · Screenshot.