Make the pointer move faster on your Mac trackpad

Why it happens

Tracking speed sets how far the pointer travels for each movement of your finger. Set low, you need long swipes to cross the screen, which is tiring on a big display. Raising it lets small movements go further.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, and click Trackpad in the sidebar.

2. Click Point & Click and find Tracking speed.

   Trackpad›Point & Click›Tracking speed

3. Drag the slider toward Fast a little at a time, trying the pointer as you go.

4. Stop when you can cross the screen in one comfortable swipe but can still land on small buttons.

Still not fixed?

1. Using a mouse instead? It has its own slider. Open Mouse settings while the mouse is connected.

   Mouse›Tracking speed

2. Pointer jerky rather than slow? Clean the trackpad and dry your fingers. For a Magic Trackpad, charge it and keep it close to your Mac.

3. If the pointer stutters, freezes or ignores your fingers even after a restart, contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. The trackpad may have a hardware fault.