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Mac
How to Change the Scroll Direction on a Mac Download Article A guide to changing the mouse wheel or trackpad scrolling direction on a MacBook or Mac desktop Co-authored by Stan Kats and Megaera Lorenz, PhD
Last Updated: June 20, 2025 Fact Checked
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Trackpad Scrolling
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Mouse Wheel Scrolling
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This article was co-authored by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 220,710 times.
To change the scroll direction for your Mac's trackpad, click the Apple menu → click System Settings → select Trackpad → click Scroll & Zoom → toggle Natural scrolling on or off. The process is almost identical for a mouse.
Things You Should Know
For a trackpad, you'll find scrolling preferences in System Settings > Trackpad > Scroll & Zoom.
For a mouse, including Apple Magic Mouse, your preferences are in System Settings > Mouse.
Toggle the “Natural scrolling” switch on or off to reverse the scrolling direction.
Steps
Method 1 Method 1 of 2:
Trackpad Scrolling
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1 Click the Apple menu. This is the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2 Click System Settings. In older versions of macOS, select System Preferences instead.[1]X Expert Source Stan KatsCybersecurity ExpertExpert Interview Advertisement
3 Click Trackpad. You may need to scroll down in the menu bar on the left side of the System Settings window to find it. In earlier versions of macOS, it will be in the main System Preferences window.[2]X Expert Source Stan KatsCybersecurity ExpertExpert Interview
You can change many things in your trackpad settings, like tracking speed and double-click speed.[3]X Expert Source Stan KatsCybersecurity ExpertExpert Interview
4 Click the Scroll & Zoom tab. It’s at the top of the window.
5 Click the Natural scrolling toggle switch. When this is enabled, swiping down on the trackpad with two fingers will scroll up and vice-versa.[4]XResearch source When this is disabled, swiping down will scroll down.
In older macOS versions, you’ll see a checkbox instead of a toggle switch next to the text Scroll direction: Natural.
Advertisement Method 2 Method 2 of 2:
Mouse Wheel Scrolling
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1 Click the Apple menu. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen.
2 Click System Settings. In older macOS versions, you’ll see System Preferences instead.
3 Click Mouse. If a mouse is hooked up to your Mac, you’ll see this option in the menu on the left side of the System Settings window. You may have to scroll down to find it.
In older versions of macOS, look for the Mouse icon in the main System Preferences window.
4 Click the Natural scrolling toggle switch. When this is enabled, moving the wheel down will scroll up and vice-versa. If you disable this option, moving the wheel down will scroll down, and moving it up will scroll up.[5]XResearch source
If you’re using an older macOS version, you may see a check box next to Scroll direction: Natural instead.
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Tips
If your Mac has both a trackpad and a mouse, changing the scroll direction for one will also change it for the other. If you want to change them independently, you’ll need a third-party app such as Scroll Reverser, Unnatural Scroll Wheels, or MOS. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
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References
↑ Stan Kats. Cybersecurity Expert. Expert Interview
↑ Stan Kats. Cybersecurity Expert. Expert Interview
↑ Stan Kats. Cybersecurity Expert. Expert Interview
Co-authored by: Stan Kats Professional Technologist This article was co-authored by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals. This article has been viewed 220,710 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 3Updated: June 20, 2025 Views: 220,710 Categories: Mac In other languages Italian Spanish German Portuguese Japanese
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Stan Kats Professional Technologist Click a star to vote Co-authors: 3Updated: June 20, 2025 Views: 220,710
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Download Article A guide to changing the mouse wheel or trackpad scrolling direction on a MacBook or Mac desktop Co-authored by Stan Kats and Megaera Lorenz, PhD 
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Co-authored by: Stan Kats Professional Technologist This article was co-authored by Stan Kats and by wikiHow staff writer, Megaera Lorenz, PhD. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan's Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals. This article has been viewed 220,710 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 3 Updated: June 20, 2025 Views: 220,710 Categories: Mac In other languages Italian Spanish German Portuguese Japanese 
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451 
1 Click the Apple menu. This is the 
Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen. 
2 Click System Settings. In older versions of macOS, select System Preferences instead.[1] Advertisement 
3 Click Trackpad. You may need to scroll down in the menu bar on the left side of the System Settings window to find it. In earlier versions of macOS, it will be in the main System Preferences window.[2] 
4 Click the Scroll & Zoom tab. It’s at the top of the window. 
5 Click the Natural scrolling toggle switch. When this is enabled, swiping down on the trackpad with two fingers will scroll up and vice-versa.[4] When this is disabled, swiping down will scroll down. 
1 Click the Apple menu. Click the 
2 Click System Settings. In older macOS versions, you’ll see System Preferences instead. 
3 Click Mouse. If a mouse is hooked up to your Mac, you’ll see this option in the menu on the left side of the System Settings window. You may have to scroll down to find it. 
4 Click the Natural scrolling toggle switch. When this is enabled, moving the wheel down will scroll up and vice-versa. If you disable this option, moving the wheel down will scroll down, and moving it up will scroll up.[5] 
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