DPI vs in-game sensitivity: which one should you change?

New players tweak both and end up chasing their tail. The short version: pick a mouse DPI once, then only ever adjust the in-game slider. Here's why that order matters.

What each one actually is

• DPI (dots per inch) is a hardware setting on the mouse — how many counts it reports per inch of movement. It's the same in every app and game.
• In-game sensitivity is a software multiplier each game applies on top of those counts.

Multiply them together and you get eDPI (effective DPI = DPI × in-game sens) — the single number that actually describes how fast you turn in that game. Two players with very different DPI can have identical aim if their eDPI matches.

Why you should lock DPI and tune sens

Very high DPI can introduce sensor smoothing or jitter on some mice, and tiny DPI steps are awkward to fine-tune. The in-game slider is precise and consistent. So the pro approach is:

• Pick a clean DPI in your sensor's comfortable range (800 is the safe default; 400 and 1600 are also common).
• Leave it there forever, across every game.
• Do all your aim tuning with the in-game sensitivity, then express the result as cm/360 so it transfers between titles.

Match it everywhere without the math

Once you've settled on a DPI and a feel you like, convert that exact turn speed into every other game so you never relearn your aim:

Open the free Sensitivity & FOV Converter →

It works from your DPI and sens, shows your eDPI and cm/360, and converts across 15+ games. More guides and free tools at CheatService.

Bottom line

DPI is a dial you set once. Sensitivity is the dial you actually play with. Fix the first, tune the second, and keep your cm/360 consistent everywhere.