What is a .cur file?
Windows Cursor · Image · Microsoft · 1985
A .cur file is a Windows mouse cursor image. It uses the same structure as the ICO icon format but adds a hotspot, the exact pixel that counts as the click point.
What is a .cur file used for?
CUR files store one or more small images at different sizes, like an icon, plus the cursor hotspot. The header is almost identical to ICO, differing only in the image-type field (2 for a cursor, 1 for an icon).
Animated cursors use the separate .ani format. You create and edit .cur files in cursor editors, and Windows uses them through the mouse settings.
How to open a .cur file
The .cur format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .cur file.
Windows
- RealWorld Cursor Editor
- GIMP
- IrfanView
macOS
- GIMP
- image editors with ICO support
Linux
- GIMP
- ImageMagick
How to convert a .cur file
You can convert a .cur file to png, ico using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.cur file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .cur file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for CUR. For a full breakdown, see the CUR file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 00 00 02 00 | 0 | cursor (icon files use 00 00 01 00) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .cur file?
A .cur file is a Windows mouse cursor image. It uses the same structure as the ICO icon format but adds a hotspot, the exact pixel that counts as the click point.
How do I open a .cur file?
Use a cursor editor like RealWorld Cursor Editor, or open it as an image in GIMP or IrfanView.
What is the difference between CUR and ICO?
They share the same structure, but a CUR is a mouse cursor with a click hotspot, while an ICO is an application or file icon.
How do I use a .cur file as my cursor?
On Windows, open Mouse settings, go to Pointers, pick a pointer role and browse to the .cur file.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: