Why Is My Raw Accel Not Working? Common Causes and Fixes (2026)
Raw Accel is a powerful mouse acceleration tool used by thousands of gamers and power users. When it works properly, it feels smooth and predictable, giving you precise control over your cursor movement.
However, many users face situations where Raw Accel doesn't seem to work as expected. Whether the acceleration isn't applying, the settings won't save, or the cursor feels wrong, there's almost always a fixable cause behind the issue.
This guide covers the most common problems and their solutions, so you can get Raw Accel working properly again.
1. Raw Accel Installed But Nothing Changes
One of the most common complaints is that Raw Accel appears to be installed, but the mouse movement feels exactly the same as before. This usually means that acceleration has not been properly enabled or applied.
How To Fix This
- Open Raw Accel by right-clicking on RawAccel.exe and selecting Run as Administrator.
- Make sure the Enable Acceleration checkbox is checked.
- Click Apply Changes to activate your settings.
- Restart your computer to ensure the driver loads the new configuration.
If acceleration is enabled but you still notice no change, double-check your acceleration curve settings. A very flat or minimal curve may not produce a noticeable difference at normal mouse speeds.
2. Raw Accel Not Running As Administrator
Raw Accel requires administrator privileges to function correctly. Since it operates at the system driver level, it needs elevated permissions to communicate with the driver, apply settings, and save configurations.
How To Fix This
- Right-click on RawAccel.exe and select Run as Administrator.
- To make this permanent, right-click RawAccel.exe, go to Properties, then the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box that says Run this program as an administrator.
- Click Apply, then OK.
This ensures Raw Accel always launches with the required permissions, preventing many common issues.
3. Settings Are Not Saving
If your Raw Accel settings reset or disappear every time you close and reopen the app, it is usually a permissions issue or antivirus interference.
How To Fix This
- Run as Administrator: Without elevated permissions, Raw Accel may not be able to write to its configuration files. Always run the app as administrator.
- Antivirus whitelist: Some security software may block Raw Accel from modifying files on disk. Add the entire Raw Accel folder to your antivirus safe list or exclusion list.
- Check folder permissions: Make sure the Raw Accel folder is not set to read-only. Right-click the folder, go to Properties, and uncheck Read-only if it is enabled.
4. Mouse Feels Jittery Or Stuttering
If your cursor feels shaky, jitters, or stutters after enabling Raw Accel, the issue is often related to polling rate conflicts or overlapping mouse software running in the background.
How To Fix This
- Lower your mouse polling rate: Try reducing the polling rate from 1000Hz to 500Hz. Some systems handle lower polling rates more smoothly when a driver-level tool like Raw Accel is active.
- Close conflicting mouse software: Programs like these can interfere with Raw Accel:
- Logitech G HUB
- Razer Synapse
- SteelSeries GG
- Corsair iCUE
- Close these programs from the system tray and Task Manager, then test if the jitter stops.
- If the issue resolves, you can re-enable the mouse software one at a time to identify which one causes the conflict.
5. Raw Accel Driver Not Loaded Properly
The Raw Accel driver is the core component that makes acceleration work. If the driver is not loaded correctly, the app will open but have no effect on your mouse. This can happen after Windows updates, changes to Secure Boot settings, or an incomplete installation.
How To Fix This
- Uninstall Raw Accel completely using the built-in uninstaller or by following our How to Uninstall Raw Accel guide.
- Restart your computer after uninstalling.
- Reinstall Raw Accel as administrator by downloading the latest version from the official GitHub page or our download page.
- Restart again after installation to ensure the driver loads properly.
If Secure Boot is causing issues, check your BIOS/UEFI settings. Some driver installations require Secure Boot to be temporarily disabled, though this is rare for Raw Accel.
6. Conflict With Windows Mouse Settings
Windows has a built-in mouse acceleration feature called "Enhance Pointer Precision" that can conflict with Raw Accel. When both are active, mouse movement becomes unpredictable because two separate acceleration systems are trying to modify your input at the same time.
How To Fix This
- Open Windows Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices > Mouse.
- Click Additional mouse options (or search for "Mouse settings" in the Start menu).
- Go to the Pointer Options tab.
- Uncheck "Enhance pointer precision".
- Click Apply, then OK.
With Windows acceleration disabled, Raw Accel becomes the only system controlling your mouse acceleration, which gives you clean and predictable results. Microsoft's mouse settings guide explains this option in more detail.
7. Game Using Raw Input And Ignoring Acceleration
Some games, especially competitive FPS titles like Valorant, CS2, and Apex Legends, use raw mouse input and may have their own in-game acceleration settings. When a game has its own acceleration enabled, it can override or interfere with Raw Accel's output.
How To Fix This
- Disable in-game mouse acceleration: Check your game's mouse or input settings and turn off any built-in acceleration options.
- Test on the desktop first: Before testing in-game, make sure Raw Accel is working correctly on the Windows desktop. Move your mouse at different speeds and check if the acceleration curve applies.
- Check game-specific settings: Some games require specific launch options or configuration file changes to work properly with external acceleration tools.
For Valorant-specific settings, check our guide: Best Raw Accel Settings for Valorant.
8. Raw Accel Not Starting With Windows
If Raw Accel works fine when you open it manually but doesn't start automatically when you turn on your computer, the startup option may not be configured.
How To Fix This
- Option 1: Open Raw Accel, go to settings, and enable the "Run at Startup" option if available.
- Option 2: Add a shortcut to the Windows Startup folder manually:
- Press Win + R, type shell:startup, and press Enter.
- Create a shortcut of RawAccel.exe and place it in the Startup folder.
- Right-click the shortcut, go to Properties > Compatibility, and check Run as Administrator.
Note that the Raw Accel driver itself loads automatically on startup. The startup setting is only needed for the graphical application to launch automatically so you can see and adjust settings.
9. Antivirus Or Security Software Blocking
Some antivirus or security software may silently block Raw Accel's driver or application from running. This can happen because driver-level tools are sometimes flagged by heuristic security scans, even when they are completely safe.
How To Fix This
- Check your antivirus quarantine or blocked list: Look for any Raw Accel files that may have been quarantined or blocked. Restore them if found.
- Add Raw Accel to the safe list: Go to your antivirus settings and add the entire Raw Accel folder as an exception or exclusion.
- Temporarily disable real-time protection: As a test, briefly disable your antivirus real-time scanning, then try running Raw Accel. If it works, the antivirus is the cause and you need to add a permanent exception.
Raw Accel is open-source software, and any antivirus detection is a false positive when downloaded from the official source.
10. Using Incorrect Or Extreme Settings
Sometimes Raw Accel appears to not work because the settings being used are too extreme or don't match your mouse's DPI. Very high acceleration curves, wrong sensitivity multipliers, or mismatched DPI values can make the mouse feel broken even though Raw Accel is functioning correctly.
How To Fix This
- Reset to default settings: Start with Raw Accel's default values to establish a baseline.
- Make small adjustments: Change one setting at a time and test the result before making more changes.
- Confirm your actual DPI: Open your mouse's software (Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse, etc.) and verify the exact DPI value. Enter the correct DPI in Raw Accel to ensure accurate curve calculations.
- Use our tools: The Sensitivity Converter and eDPI Calculator can help you find settings that match your preferred feel.
Additional Resources
Microsoft explains how administrator permissions work in Windows and why certain programs need elevated access to function properly. Understanding this can help you troubleshoot many Raw Accel issues.
For a step-by-step installation walkthrough, read our guide: How to Install Raw Accel.
If you want to optimize your settings for competitive gaming, check out: Best Raw Accel Settings for Valorant.
Want to learn the basics of configuring Raw Accel? See: How to Use Raw Accel.
Curious about safety? Read: Is Raw Accel Safe?
Conclusion
Most Raw Accel issues come down to a few common causes: insufficient permissions, the driver not loading properly, conflicting software, or settings not being applied correctly.
The key steps to resolve almost any problem are:
- Always run Raw Accel as Administrator.
- Disable Windows "Enhance Pointer Precision" to avoid acceleration conflicts.
- Close conflicting mouse software like Logitech G HUB, Razer Synapse, and Corsair iCUE.
- Restart your computer after installation or driver changes.
- Use correct DPI values and start with moderate acceleration settings.
If none of the solutions above work, try a complete uninstall and clean reinstall. Follow our How to Uninstall Raw Accel guide for thorough removal, then reinstall using our installation guide.
Guides
How to Install Raw Accel
Step-by-step installation instructions for setting up Raw Accel on Windows 10 and 11.
Read More →
How to Uninstall Raw Accel
Learn how to completely remove Raw Accel from your system including driver cleanup.
Read More →
How to Use Raw Accel
A beginner-friendly guide to configuring Raw Accel from opening the app to finding your perfect settings.
Read More →