Change Scroll Direction on Mac: Natural vs Traditional

If your Mac’s scroll wheel or trackpad moves content in the opposite direction you expect, you can flip it in a few clicks. This guide shows you how to change the scroll direction on a Mac, covering both the trackpad and a mouse, and explains the difference between “natural” and “traditional” scrolling.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS (any recent version works; the steps are nearly identical).
• If you use a mouse, it must be connected and recognized by your Mac (wired or wireless).
• Administrator access to your user account (usually your normal login is enough).

Step-by-Step

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences). Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings (on macOS Ventura and later) or System Preferences (on macOS Monterey and earlier).
2. Go to the relevant settings pane. In System Settings, scroll down and click Trackpad or Mouse in the left sidebar. In System Preferences, click Trackpad or Mouse in the main window.
3. Find the scroll direction toggle. Look for a checkbox labeled Scroll direction: Natural (or Natural scrolling). It’s usually at the top of the pane.
4. Uncheck the box to disable natural scrolling. When unchecked, the scroll direction reverses: swiping up on the trackpad or rolling the wheel up will move the page up (traditional direction). If you want to keep natural scrolling, leave it checked.
5. Close the settings window. Your change is saved immediately. Test the scroll direction in any window or webpage to confirm it feels right.
6. Adjust trackpad and mouse separately (if needed). Your Mac remembers the setting for the trackpad and for a mouse independently. If you use both, you may need to repeat steps 2–4 for each device.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong device. The toggle in the Trackpad pane only affects the built-in trackpad or a Magic Trackpad. The Mouse pane affects only a mouse. If you’re using a mouse and changed the trackpad setting, nothing will happen.
• Assuming it applies to all apps. Some third-party apps (like certain graphics or video editors) have their own scroll settings that can override the system default. Check the app’s preferences if the change doesn’t take effect there.
• Forgetting to test after closing settings. The change applies instantly, but if you don’t test, you might think it didn’t work when it actually did.

Tips

• Use the same direction for both devices. If you switch between a trackpad and a mouse, keeping both at the same setting avoids confusion. Some people prefer natural on the trackpad but traditional on the mouse—set them separately to match your muscle memory.
• Try it for a few days. Natural scrolling mimics a touchscreen: you push content up to see what’s above. If you’re new to Mac, give it a week before deciding it’s not for you.
• Use third-party tools for per-app settings. Apps like Scroll Reverser (free) let you set scroll direction per device or per app, which can be handy if you need different behavior in different programs.
• Remember the setting is per-user. If you share your Mac with someone else, each account can have its own scroll preference.

Troubleshooting

If the scroll direction doesn’t change after unchecking the box:

1. Make sure you’re looking at the correct pane for the device you’re using. If you’re using a mouse, check the Mouse pane, not the Trackpad.
2. Restart the app you’re testing in. Some apps cache the setting at launch.
3. Restart your Mac. This clears any temporary glitches.
4. If you’re using a third-party mouse, check if its own software (like Logitech Options) has a scroll direction setting that overrides macOS. Open that software and adjust it there.
5. Check if you have any accessibility features enabled that might affect scrolling (System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control).

If the setting keeps reverting:

• Make sure you’re not using a “managed” Mac (e.g., from an employer) that enforces settings via policy.
• Reset the NVRAM (on Intel Macs) by restarting and holding Option+Command+P+R until you hear the startup chime twice. On Apple Silicon Macs, this is rarely needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac scroll “backwards” by default?

macOS uses “natural” scrolling by default, which mimics a touchscreen: you drag content down to see what’s below, and up to see what’s above. This feels intuitive on trackpads but can feel reversed when you’re used to a traditional mouse wheel.

Can I have different scroll directions for trackpad and mouse?

Yes. The Trackpad and Mouse panes in System Settings are independent. You can uncheck “Natural” for the mouse and leave it checked for the trackpad, or vice versa.

Does this setting affect the Magic Mouse’s touch surface?

Yes, the Mouse pane controls the Magic Mouse’s scroll behavior, including its touch-sensitive top surface.

Will changing scroll direction affect my keyboard arrow keys?

No. The scroll direction setting only affects the trackpad and mouse. Arrow keys and page up/down keys always move the viewport in the traditional direction (up arrow scrolls up).

Why doesn’t the change apply to my external mouse?

If you’re using a non-Apple mouse, it may have its own driver software that overrides macOS settings. Check the mouse manufacturer’s software (e.g., Logitech Options, Razer Synapse) for a scroll direction option.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to toggle scroll direction?

No, macOS doesn’t provide a built-in keyboard shortcut for this. You’ll need to change it in System Settings, or use a third-party utility if you want a quick toggle.

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