Mac trackpad gestures: the full list and how to change them

howtosimply.com/guides/mac-trackpad-gestures-the-full-list-and-how-to-change-them/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

9 of 9 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

9 of 9 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Click with one finger

   Press the trackpad down until it clicks. To click with a light tap instead, switch on Tap to click (Tap with one finger) under System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click.

   On our MacBook Neo, Tap to click was switched off and the Point & Click tab had no Force Click rows.

   Done

2. 

   Use two fingers to right-click, scroll and zoom

   Click with two fingers for a secondary click; on our MacBook Neo, Secondary click is set to Click with Two Fingers. Slide two fingers to scroll, pinch to zoom, double-tap with two fingers for Smart zoom and rotate two fingers to turn a photo.

   On the Scroll & Zoom tab, Natural scrolling, Zoom in or out, Smart zoom and Rotate were all switched on.

   Done

3. 

   Use two fingers for pages and notifications

   Swipe left or right with two fingers to go back or forward a page; More Gestures lists this as Swipe between pages, Scroll Left or Right with Two Fingers. Swipe left from the right edge with two fingers to open Notification Center.

   Done

4. 

   Tap with three fingers to look up a word

   Switch on Look up & data detectors under Point & Click, then tap a word or link with three fingers. On our MacBook Neo this switch was off.

   Done

5. 

   Swipe with three fingers for Mission Control and desktops

   Swipe up with three fingers to open Mission Control. Swipe left or right with three fingers to move between full-screen applications and desktops.

   App Exposé is set to Off until you choose a gesture for it under More Gestures.

   Done

6. 

   Use your thumb and three fingers

   Spread your thumb and three fingers apart to show the desktop (Show Desktop). On our MacBook Neo, More Gestures also lists Apps: Pinch with thumb and three fingers.

   Done

7. 

   Change or switch off a gesture

   Choose Apple menu > System Settings and click Trackpad in the sidebar. The tabs Point & Click, Scroll & Zoom and More Gestures list every gesture with a preview; switch one off or pick a different gesture from its menu.

   Done

8. 

   Open Trackpad Options for dragging

   Dragging is set elsewhere: go to System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control and click Trackpad Options….

   Done

9. 

   Switch on trackpad dragging

   Switch on Use trackpad for dragging, then choose a style from the Dragging style menu. Apple's gesture page describes three-finger drag: drag items with three fingers, then click or tap to drop them. Click OK.

   On our MacBook Neo, Use trackpad for dragging was off and Dragging style was greyed out, showing Without Drag Lock.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Force Click option On our MacBook Neo, Point & Click has no Force Click rows; Look up & data detectors is a switch for Tap with three fingers.
• No dragging option in Trackpad settings It is under System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options….
• Dragging style is greyed out Switch on Use trackpad for dragging first; the Dragging style menu cannot be opened while it is off.
• No Launchpad gesture On our MacBook Neo, More Gestures lists Apps, Pinch with thumb and three fingers, instead.

If this does not work

• Tapping does nothing Tap to click may be off. Switch it on under Trackpad > Point & Click.
• App Exposé does not respond It is set to Off by default. Choose a gesture from its menu under More Gestures.
• Scrolling goes the wrong way Switch off Natural scrolling (Content tracks finger movement) under Scroll & Zoom.
• The built-in trackpad stops working with a mouse connected Switch off Ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present in Accessibility > Pointer Control.

About this guide

The trackpad understands far more than pointing and clicking; here is every gesture macOS 27 lists, sorted by the number of fingers, and where to change them.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Several gestures can be set to three or four fingers. If one in this list does not react on your Mac, look in the Trackpad settings to see which is selected.

Apple says that on a Magic Mouse you click on the right side for a secondary click, slide one finger to scroll, double-tap with one finger for smart zoom, double-tap with two fingers for Mission Control, and swipe with two fingers to move between full-screen apps.

Related: how to right-click on a Mac, how to change the scroll direction on a Mac and how to use Mission Control and multiple desktops on a Mac.

In short: Apple menu > System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click, Scroll & Zoom or More Gestures; dragging: Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options…