Want to change the default scroll direction of the touchpad on your laptop running Windows 10? Do you want to invert the touchpad scroll direction on Windows 10? In this guide, we will see how to change the touchpad scroll direction in Windows 10.
Everyone knows how to scroll down a page or window with a touchpad. With default settings, on most notebooks, you need to move your finger(s) from the top of the touchpad to the bottom to scroll down a window or page. Likewise, scrolling in reverse direction will move up a page or window.
Although most users prefer to scroll down a page by moving a finger(s) from the top to the bottom of the touchpad, some users prefer the other way i.e., moving from the bottom of the touchpad to the top to scroll down a page.
If you have recently installed or upgraded to Windows 10 and not happy with the default scrolling direction of the touchpad, you can easily change the touchpad scroll direction with a few clicks.
Complete the directions in one of the given below methods to change the touchpad scroll direction in Windows 10. Note that these instructions are for notebooks equipped with touchpads from Synaptics (most laptops use Synaptics). These directions might not work for other touchpads like Elan.
Method 1 of 3
Reverse touchpad scroll direction in Windows 10 via Settings
Note that this method works only if your laptop is equipped with a precision touchpad. If not equipped, refer to the instructions in Method 2 (scroll down to see).
Step 1: Navigate to Settings > Devices > Touchpad.
Step 2: In the Scrolling direction drop-down box, depending on your need, select either Down motion scrolls up or Down motion scrolls down option. That’s it!
Method 2 of 3
Change touchpad scroll direction via Control Panel
Step 1: In the Start search box or Run command dialog, type Main.cpl, and then press Enter key to open Mouse Properties.
Step 2: Switch to the last (extreme right) tab. Depending on your laptop’s brand and model, the last tab could be Device Settings, Touchpad Settings, TouchPad, or ThinkPad, as shown in the picture below.
Step 3: Click the Settings button (as shown in the picture above). On some notebooks, you might need to select your touchpad’s entry in the devices list to activate the Settings button.
Step 4: Once the touchpad settings panel is opened, switch to the Scroll tab.
Step 5: Look for the setting named Switch direction, Reverse direction or Reverse scrolling direction, and turn on or off the same to change the scroll direction.
If you’re running an older version of the touchpad, you might see the following screen instead of the one shown above. In that case, Expand MultiFinger Gestures tree, select two-finger scrolling, click the gear icon next to it, and then turn on or off Enable reverse scrolling direction setting.
Method 3 of 3
Another way to change touchpad scrolling direction in Windows 10
Step 1: Open the Settings app by either clicking its icon in the Start menu or simultaneously pressing Windows + I keys.
Step 2: Click Devices (Bluetooth, printers, mouse) and click Mouse & touchpad.
Step 3: Scroll down, under Related settings, you will find Additional mouse options link. Click on the link to open Mouse Properties.
Step 4: From here onwards, follow the step 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Method 1 to change touchpad scroll direction in Windows 10.
Do let us know if there are other ways to change the default scroll direction in Windows 10.
Our how-to turn on or off two-finger scrolling in Windows 10 guide might also interest you.
