IBM PLANNING ANALYTICS · TROUBLESHOOTING

Mouse pointer missing in PAfE?
Two ways to bring it back.

Has your mouse pointer suddenly disappeared after signing in to Planning Analytics for Microsoft Excel? These two workarounds may help.

The short answer

First, turn off “Hide pointer while typing” in Windows. If that does not help, use the PAfE options to disconnect and clear the WebView2 profile settings. Then test signing in again: the effect may be temporary.

Go to the steps ↓What to know first ↗

Florian KaiserIBM Planning Analytics consultant

UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

The pointer disappears after signing in to PAfE.

This guide is for PAfE users on Windows whose mouse pointer becomes invisible after signing in. In the video, I describe two approaches that have helped me and my clients.

Before trying the second workaround

Save your work and have your sign-in details ready. Resetting the WebView2 profile disconnects your data sources and removes saved sign-in preferences and authentication cookies. You will need to sign in again afterwards.

STEP BY STEP

First the pointer setting, then the profile.

01

WINDOWS · VIDEO FROM 0:00

Turn off “Hide pointer while typing”

Open the Mouse settings in Windows.
Open the Additional mouse settings.
In the window, switch to Pointer Options.
Clear the checkbox for “Hide pointer while typing”.
Confirm with Apply and OK.

Return to Excel and check whether the mouse pointer is visible again. This Windows setting also affects applications beyond PAfE. As I mention in the video, this approach has not helped everyone.

02

PAfE · VIDEO FROM 0:35

Reset the WebView2 profile settings

In PAfE, open Options, then select IBM.
Scroll down to Webview2 management.
Select “Disconnect and Clear Webview2 Profile Settings”.
Then confirm with OK. Restart the application if necessary.
Sign in again and check the mouse pointer in Excel.

IBM documents this feature under Options → IBM → Webview2 management. If it is missing from your installation, check your PAfE version with your IT team before changing other settings.

AS OF · 16 SEPTEMBER 2026

What is confirmed — and what remains open?

These steps are workarounds. They do not guarantee that the problem will be permanently resolved in every environment.

DOCUMENTED FEATURE

The profile reset removes sign-in information.

The IBM documentation describes disconnecting all connected data sources and removing sign-in preferences such as “Remember me” and local authentication cookies. It confirms what the feature does, but does not establish a general fix for this mouse pointer issue.

USER EXPERIENCES

The problem may return after signing in again.

The IBM Community thread discusses both approaches. One user reports that the profile reset helped only for the active Excel session. Individual reports do not provide a complete list of affected PAfE versions.

TECHNICAL CONTEXT

A possible link to WebView2 is being investigated.

A public bug report in the Microsoft WebView2 project describes a cursor that remains invisible after a WebView window is closed and identifies Runtime 152.0.4191.53. This is a specific bug report, not a general statement about PAfE compatibility. The sources reviewed here do not establish a confirmed permanent PAfE fix.

IN PRACTICE

Check the result after each step.

In the video, I describe successful use of these approaches by me and my clients. For your own environment, use these checks:

1

STARTING POINT

Record the trigger

Is the pointer visible before signing in, then invisible in Excel afterwards? Note when the problem occurs.

2

WORKAROUND

Try one approach

Start with the Windows pointer setting. Check the result before also resetting the WebView2 profile.

3

CHECK

Sign in again

After signing out and back in, and restarting if necessary, check whether the pointer stays visible.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Any questions?

Do I need to use both workarounds?

No. Check the Windows pointer setting first. If it helps, there is no need to reset the profile as part of this test. If the problem remains, the second approach shown in the video is another option.

What does resetting WebView2 delete?

According to IBM, the action disconnects data sources and resets the WebView2 profile settings. This includes saved sign-in preferences and local authentication cookies. Expect to sign in again, and save your work first.

Why does the mouse pointer disappear again later?

The IBM Community thread also reports that resetting the profile can help only temporarily. A successful test in the current session therefore does not prove a permanent fix. Record which action causes the problem to return.

Which PAfE versions are affected?

The sources reviewed do not provide a complete, definitive list of affected or unaffected PAfE versions. Individual version references in a forum are not sufficient for that. Record the details of your own environment for a targeted investigation.

I cannot find the WebView2 option. What should I do?

IBM gives the path as “Options → IBM → Webview2 management”. Check with your IT team which PAfE version is installed and whether the feature is available. The linked guide to checking versions can help you gather this information.

Florian KaiserPlanning Analytics consultant

FROM EXPLANATION TO PRACTICE

Make PAfE work reliably every day.

Would you like to improve how you work with Planning Analytics and Excel, or investigate recurring issues in your PAfE environment? I can help you analyse your setup and develop it further.

Discuss your project ↗kontakt@florian-kaiser-consulting.de

Sources: IBM documentation, bug reports and video

Reviewed on 16 September 2026. Product documentation explains the feature; Community and GitHub posts describe specific experiences or bug reports. The video’s statement about a fix being developed reflects the situation at the time and is not a current release commitment.