Freaking Out? Why Your Warhammer Rogue Trader Cursor is Spinning & How to Fix It
Z
Zack Saadioui
8/11/2025
Freaking Out? Why Your Warhammer Rogue Trader Cursor is Spinning & How to Fix It
Hey everyone, so you've just updated Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, ready to dive back into the Koronus Expanse, & BAM – your cursor has decided to take on a life of its own. It's spinning, it's lagging, it's jumping all over the screen. SUPER frustrating, right? You’re not alone in this. Turns out, a whole bunch of us have been dealing with weird cursor bugs, especially after patches.
Honestly, it seems like with every update from Owlcat Games, while some things get fixed, new little gremlins pop into the machine. & the mouse cursor seems to be a favorite target. While a non-stop spinning cursor is a peculiar one, it's likely part of a larger family of cursor-related headaches that players have been reporting since the game's launch.
So, let's get into what's likely going on & more importantly, how you can fix it.
What’s the Deal with the Rogue Trader Cursor Bugs?
Here's the thing: there isn't one single, official reason why your cursor might be going haywire. It's often a combination of things. Based on what players have been digging into, the issues usually boil down to a few culprits:
Input Conflicts: This is a BIG one. It seems the game's engine sometimes gets into a wrestling match with Windows for control of your mouse. A Reddit user pointed out that they had to delete a file related to "overwrite controls" to solve their problem, which points to this kind of conflict.
Outdated or Redundant Files: After an update, sometimes old files are left behind that don't play nice with the new ones. One of the most commonly cited fixes is deleting a specific .dll file that is apparently redundant but causes a lot of problems.
Controller & Peripheral Confusion: The game can get confused if you have multiple input devices plugged in. Joysticks, controllers, even some high-end gaming mice with their own software can cause conflicts.
Graphics & Display Settings: Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the most effective. V-sync, resolution settings, & playing in fullscreen can all, for some reason, make the cursor act up.
It's a complex game, & these kinds of technical snags are pretty common, especially for a CRPG with so many interlocking systems. Now, let’s get to the good stuff: the fixes.
How to Stop the Spinning: A Troubleshooting Guide
We're going to start with the easiest fixes & work our way down to the more involved ones. Chances are, one of these will get you sorted.
1. The "Have You Tried Turning It Off & On Again?" Tier
I know, I know, it's the oldest trick in the book, but seriously, don't skip it.
Restart Your PC: A simple reboot can solve a surprising number of issues. It clears out temporary files & can reset any weird states that your system might have gotten into.
Verify Game Files: This is a must-do after any update. It checks to see if any files from the update were corrupted or installed incorrectly. To do this:
Right-click on Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader in your Steam library.
Go to "Properties."
Click on the "Installed Files" tab.
Click "Verify integrity of game files."
This has worked for a ton of players.
2. The Most Likely Culprit: Deleting a Pesky File
This is probably the most effective fix I've seen for Rogue Trader's cursor problems. It seems the game has a file that can cause all sorts of input lag & stuttering.
Delete
1
Rewired_DirectInput.dll
: This little file seems to be a major source of conflict. A developer on the Steam forums even recommended deleting it. Here's how to find it:
Right-click on the game in your Steam library & go to "Manage" > "Browse local files."
This will open up the game's installation folder.
Find the file named
1
Rewired_DirectInput.dll
& delete it. Don't worry, the game will run fine without it.
For a lot of people, this one simple step has completely fixed their cursor issues.
3. Fiddling with In-Game Settings
If the first two steps didn't work, it's time to dig into the game's settings.
Adjust Your Display Mode: Try switching from fullscreen to windowed mode, or borderless windowed. This can sometimes resolve conflicts with your desktop resolution & the game.
Turn Off V-Sync: V-sync is designed to prevent screen tearing, but it can also introduce input lag. Go into the graphics settings & turn it off.
Cap Your FPS: While you're in the graphics settings, try capping your frame rate to 60. This can stabilize performance & sometimes calms down a misbehaving cursor.
Check Your Control Settings: There's a weird bug where some of the control settings can reset to zero after a restart. Go into "Options" > "Controls" & make sure the sliders for "Screen edge scrolling speed," "Rotation speed of the camera with mouse," etc., are set to around 50%.
4. Dealing with External Conflicts
If your cursor is still throwing a fit, the problem might be outside of the game itself.
Disconnect Other Peripherals: Unplug any controllers, joysticks, or other USB devices you're not using. The game can sometimes get confused about which input device it should be listening to.
Update Your Graphics Drivers: This is always a good idea for any gaming issue. Head to the NVIDIA or AMD website & make sure you have the latest drivers for your graphics card.
Check for Software Conflicts: Overlays from programs like Discord, GeForce Experience, or even some mouse & keyboard software can interfere with the game. Try disabling these to see if it makes a difference.
When Your Business Needs to Be as Reliable as the Imperial Guard
Dealing with technical glitches like a spinning cursor can be a HUGE pain. It stops you from enjoying your game, & in the world of business, similar interruptions can be a lot more costly. When customers are trying to get information from your website, the last thing you want is for them to run into a frustrating experience.
This is where having a solid system for customer engagement comes in. For instance, if you're running a business & want to provide instant, 24/7 support to your website visitors, a tool like Arsturn can be a game-changer. Arsturn helps businesses build no-code AI chatbots that are trained on their own data. This means that instead of a customer getting frustrated & leaving, they can get their questions answered right away, leading to a much better experience & more conversions. It's all about providing that smooth, uninterrupted service that keeps people engaged.
The Nitty-Gritty: More Advanced Solutions
If you've tried everything above & you're still stuck, there are a few more things you can try. These are a bit more involved, so proceed with caution.
Run as Administrator: Navigate to the game's installation folder, right-click on the .exe file, & select "Run as administrator." This can sometimes resolve permission issues.
Update Your BIOS: This is a more advanced step, but an outdated BIOS can cause all sorts of strange problems. Check your motherboard manufacturer's website for instructions.
A Clean Reinstall: The last resort. Uninstall the game, delete the game folder to make sure no old files are left behind, & then reinstall it. It's a pain, but sometimes it's the only way to get a completely fresh start.
The Bottom Line
A spinning cursor in Warhammer: Rogue Trader is a super annoying problem, but the good news is that it's almost certainly fixable. The issue is likely tied to the same bugs that cause other cursor problems, like freezing & jumping. By working your way through these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to get back to purging xenos & exploring the void in no time.
Start with the simple stuff like verifying your game files & deleting that pesky .dll. Those two things seem to solve the problem for the vast majority of players.
I hope this was helpful! Let me know if you found another fix that worked for you. Good luck, Lord Captain.