How to change the trackpad speed on a Mac
2 min read · 4 steps · Updated 4 October 2026
Open System Settings, click Trackpad, and drag the Tracking speed slider toward Fast or Slow. It sets how fast the pointer moves across the screen when you move your finger on the trackpad.
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26
- App
- System Settings
- Path
- System Settings › Trackpad › Tracking speed
- Real screenshots
- 4 of 4 steps
- Checked
- October 2026
- Sources
- 1 official, linked below
On a large screen the pointer can feel sluggish, and on a small one too jumpy. Tracking speed is the setting for that.
The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.
Step by step
Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Click Trackpad in the sidebar
Trackpad is near the bottom of the sidebar, below Keyboard. Scroll down to find it.
Drag the Tracking speed slider
It is the first row of the Point & Click tab, from Slow to Fast.
Set how firmly you must press
Click, the next row, sets how firmly you must press the trackpad to take action: Light, Medium or Firm.
Good to know
The direction of scrolling is on the Scroll & Zoom tab: how to change the scroll direction on a Mac.
In short: System Settings, Trackpad, Tracking speed.
Links checked on 3 October 2026. Rules and prices change. Check the official source before you act.