How to Enable Eye Control With a Compatible Tobii Device on Windows 11

Windows 11 includes a built-in Eye Control feature that lets you operate your computer using only your eyes when paired with a compatible Tobii eye tracker. This accessibility tool enables you to move the mouse cursor, click, type, and launch apps by looking at the screen. The feature works with Tobii Eye Tracker 4C, Tobii 5, and select integrated eye-tracking hardware in laptops from Dell, HP, Lenovo, and others. This article explains how to set up Eye Control from scratch, configure it for daily use, and avoid common setup mistakes.

What Eye Control Does and What You Need Before Setup

Eye Control is a Windows 11 accessibility feature that replaces traditional mouse and keyboard input with gaze-based interaction. When enabled, a small launchpad appears on screen with buttons for mouse control, keyboard, text-to-speech, and system commands. You select items by staring at them for a set dwell time or by using an external switch.

Before you begin, verify the following prerequisites:

• A compatible Tobii eye tracker: Tobii Eye Tracker 4C, Tobii 5, or a laptop with built-in Tobii eye tracking such as Dell XPS 15/17, HP Spectre x360, or Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 and later.
• Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer. Older builds may lack the full Eye Control launchpad.
• The Tobii Experience app installed from the Microsoft Store. This app manages driver updates, device calibration, and provides the eye-tracking engine used by Windows.
• Administrator rights on the PC to install drivers and enable the feature.

If your device has built-in Tobii hardware, the Tobii Experience app is often preinstalled. If not, download it manually from the Microsoft Store before proceeding.

Steps to Enable Eye Control With a Tobii Device

Follow these steps in order. Skipping the Tobii Experience app installation will cause Eye Control to fail to detect the tracker.

1. Install the Tobii Experience app from the Microsoft Store
   Open the Start menu, type Store, and press Enter. Search for Tobii Experience and select the app developed by Tobii AB. Click Install and wait for the download to finish. Launch the app once installed. If prompted, allow the app to access your eye tracker. The app will display a connection status showing your Tobii device model.
2. Calibrate the eye tracker using the Tobii Experience app
   In the Tobii Experience app, go to the Calibration tab. Click Start Calibration. Follow the on-screen instructions: a dot moves around the screen, and you follow it with your eyes without moving your head. The calibration takes about 30 seconds. Repeat if the app reports low accuracy. Without calibration, Windows Eye Control may misinterpret your gaze.
3. Enable Eye Control in Windows 11 Settings
   Press the Windows key and type Eye control. Select Eye control settings from the search results. In the Settings app, toggle the switch under Eye control to On. A small launchpad with a circular icon appears at the top center of your screen. If the toggle is grayed out, the Tobii device is not detected. Go back to step 1 and verify the Tobii Experience app shows Connected.
4. Adjust dwell time and pointer speed
   In the same Eye control settings page, select Dwell time. Choose a duration between 0.5 and 2 seconds. A shorter dwell time speeds up selection but may cause accidental clicks. Set Pointer speed to control how fast the cursor moves when you look at a screen edge. Test with the slider and adjust until the cursor follows your gaze smoothly.
5. Use the Eye Control launchpad to test basic functions
   Look at the launchpad icon to expand it. The launchpad includes buttons for Mouse, Keyboard, Text-to-speech, and Settings. Select Mouse by staring at it for the dwell time you set. A gaze pointer appears. Look at a screen element to move the cursor there. To click, dwell on the target until the click action triggers. Practice with the Start menu or a desktop icon.
6. Set Eye Control to start automatically at sign-in
   In Eye control settings, turn on the option Start Eye control after sign-in. This saves you from manually enabling it each time you log in. The launchpad will appear immediately after you enter your password or use Windows Hello.

Common Mistakes and Limitations to Avoid

Eye Control toggle is grayed out in Settings

This happens when Windows does not detect a compatible Tobii device. Open the Tobii Experience app and confirm it shows Connected. If it says No device found, unplug the USB cable and plug it into a different USB 3.0 port. Avoid using USB hubs or extension cables. Restart the PC after reconnecting. If the issue persists, update the Tobii driver through the Tobii Experience app by going to Settings > Check for updates.

Cursor moves erratically or does not follow gaze accurately

Poor calibration is the most common cause. Recalibrate in the Tobii Experience app. Ensure the room lighting is even and you are sitting about 24 to 30 inches from the screen. Remove glasses with strong reflections or clean the lenses. If you wear bifocals or progressive lenses, tilt your head slightly so the tracker sees your iris clearly. For laptop users, avoid using the screen in tent or tablet mode with an external eye tracker.

Eye Control launchpad disappears or freezes

Press Win + Shift + O to toggle Eye Control off and on again. If the launchpad does not reappear, close the Tobii Experience app using Task Manager, then reopen it. In rare cases, a Windows update may break the eye-tracking service. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates and remove the most recent quality update. Reboot and test Eye Control again.

Typing with the eye keyboard is too slow

The eye keyboard uses dwell-based selection by default. To speed up typing, enable the Word prediction option in the Eye Control launchpad. Select the Settings gear icon on the launchpad, then toggle Use word prediction. This reduces the number of dwell selections needed per word. You can also connect a physical switch or game controller to trigger clicks without dwell, but that requires separate hardware setup.

Eye Control vs Traditional Input Methods: Key Differences

Item	Eye Control With Tobii	Mouse and Keyboard
Input method	Gaze + dwell or switch	Physical hand movements
Setup time	5 to 10 minutes including calibration	None required
Accuracy	Dependent on calibration and lighting	Consistent regardless of environment
Speed for common tasks	Slower for typing, comparable for pointing	Faster for most tasks
Accessibility benefit	Enables hands-free operation	Requires fine motor control

Eye Control is not a replacement for a mouse and keyboard for all users. It is an assistive technology designed for people who cannot use their hands, or as a supplementary input for hands-free scenarios like while eating or presenting.

You can now enable and calibrate Eye Control with a compatible Tobii device on Windows 11. Start with the Tobii Experience app to ensure your tracker is connected and calibrated. Then turn on Eye Control in Settings and adjust dwell time to match your comfort level. For advanced use, explore the Text-to-speech button on the launchpad to have Windows read selected text aloud using your gaze.