Trackpad scrolling is too slow or too fast on your Mac

Why it happens

Trackpad settings handle gestures and scroll direction, but the speed of scrolling lives in Accessibility, which is why it's easy to miss. The slider controls how far a page moves for each swipe of two fingers. It's separate from Tracking speed, which only changes how fast the pointer moves.

How to fix it

1. Choose Apple menu > System Settings, scroll down the sidebar and click Accessibility, then Pointer Control.

2. Click Trackpad Options… and drag Scroll speed. Move it right if scrolling feels heavy, or left if pages fly past.

   Accessibility›Pointer Control›Trackpad Options…›Scroll speed

3. Scroll a long web page with two fingers to try it, then adjust again until it feels right. Close the options panel when you are done.

Still not fixed?

1. If pages keep gliding after your fingers lift, or stop dead, look at Use inertia when scrolling in the same Trackpad Options panel. On, the page coasts a little; off, it stops as soon as you do.

   Accessibility›Pointer Control›Trackpad Options…›Use inertia when scrolling

2. Scrolling the wrong way, rather than at the wrong speed? That's Natural scrolling in Trackpad settings, under Scroll & Zoom.

   Trackpad›Scroll & Zoom›Natural scrolling

3. Using a mouse too? Its scroll speed is a separate slider. In Pointer Control, click Mouse Options… and drag Scroll speed there.

   Accessibility›Pointer Control›Mouse Options…›Scroll speed

4. If scrolling is jumpy or stops halfway, clean the trackpad with a soft, slightly damp lint-free cloth and dry your fingers. If it's only slow in one app, check that app's own settings or update it.

5. If scrolling stays jerky or ignores your fingers after a restart, the trackpad may be faulty. That's hardware, so contact Apple Support or a repair shop.