Learn every trackpad gesture your Mac knows

Why it happens

Mac trackpad gestures aren't obvious until someone shows you, and many are switched off or set to a finger count you might not expect. Trackpad settings list them all on three tabs and play a demo for each. It's the quickest way to learn them and to turn on the ones you like.

How to fix it

1. Click the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then click Trackpad in the sidebar.

   Trackpad

2. Start on Point & Click. Hover over each option, such as Tap to click or Secondary click, and watch the video show what your fingers do.

   Trackpad›Point & Click

3. Click Scroll & Zoom for scrolling, pinching to zoom, Smart zoom and Rotate.

   Trackpad›Scroll & Zoom

4. Click More Gestures for moving around your Mac. Swipe between full-screen applications is how you switch desktops, and Mission Control, App Exposé and Notification Center are here too.

   Trackpad›More Gestures

5. Turn on any gesture you want. Where there's a pop-up next to it, choose how many fingers it uses, then try it straight away.

Still not fixed?

1. Looking for three-finger drag? It's in Accessibility. Open Pointer Control, click Trackpad Options… and turn on Use trackpad for dragging, then choose the three-finger style.

   Accessibility›Pointer Control›Trackpad Options…

2. Using a Magic Mouse? Its gestures are in Mouse settings, with the same kind of hover videos.

   Mouse

3. No Trackpad in the sidebar on a desktop Mac? Connect your Magic Trackpad first, then reopen System Settings.

4. If a gesture doesn't work, check it's turned on and use exactly the number of fingers shown in its pop-up. Rest your fingers lightly and keep them slightly apart.

5. If the trackpad doesn't respond to clicks or touches at all, even after a restart, it may be a hardware fault. Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider.