How to Enable Two-Finger Scroll on Windows Laptops

If you wish to navigate web pages and documents more efficiently using your laptop’s touchpad, Windows’ two-finger scrolling setting is an excellent option. This feature allows you to scroll up and down by swiping with two fingers on your touchpad. Here is a guide to enabling two-finger scrolling on Windows 10.

How to Enable the Two-Finger Scroll Option on Windows 10

Windows supports a variety of touchpad gestures, and understanding the most useful ones can significantly enhance your experience. The two-finger scroll gesture, frequently used, allows you to scroll vertically by moving two fingers on the touchpad.

Should this gesture not function, the simplest solution is to verify that two-finger scrolling is enabled on your device.

To verify and enable the setting, start by clicking the Start button, then select Settings.

• Click on Devices.
• Then, click on Touchpad on the left menu.

To enable the feature, scroll until you find the Scroll and Zoom section. Under this section, you will see a checkbox labeled Drag two fingers to scroll. Check this box if it is not already checked.

Once enabled, you can now use two fingers to scroll through web pages and documents. To do this, click within a scrollable window, place two fingers on the touchpad, and move them up or down. It’s usually most comfortable to use your index and middle fingers.

How to Customize the Two-Finger Scroll on Windows 10

If you find the scroll direction to be counterintuitive, you can easily change it.

You can specify the scroll direction through a drop-down menu labeled Scrolling direction, located just below the enabled checkbox.

• Downward motion scrolls down makes the page move downwards as you move your fingers down, mimicking the scroll bar’s action.
• Downward motion scrolls up makes the page move upwards as you swipe down with your fingers, similar to how mobile devices work.

Experiment with both settings to see which one feels more natural to you.

How to Enable or Disable Two-Finger Scrolling in Inactive Windows

Did you know that you can scroll in a window without clicking into it? This feature lets you use two-finger scrolling on a background window.

This can be useful if you like to keep your flow without switching focus between windows constantly. Conversely, some might prefer scrolling to affect only the active window. You can toggle this feature based on your preference.

Go to the Devices settings page as previously explained. This time, click on Mouse instead of Touchpad.

Locate the toggle labeled Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them and switch it on or off per your preference.

What If the Two-Finger Scrolling Feature Still Doesn’t Work?

If these steps do not resolve your issue, or if the checkbox was already checked, there might be a driver-related problem.

Try updating your touchpad drivers through Windows Update or your laptop manufacturer’s website. Refer to our guide on updating drivers for detailed steps.

If you already have the latest driver, consider installing an older version. If the feature worked before but stopped after an update, rolling back the driver may solve the problem.

With two-finger scrolling now enabled, you are all set to navigate web pages and documents effortlessly.