Fix: TrackPad Scroll Not Working on MacOS

Kevin ArrowsUpdated on July 22, 2021
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer

Many Mac users reported touchpad scroll not working problem. Some are unable to scroll up and down anytime, and in any app, using the built-in 2-finger scrolling gesture. For others, the scrolling feature works fine after booting up, but it stops a couple of minutes later.

The problem occurs on various OS X and MacOS versions (reported on OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2, OS X Mavericks, OS X Yosemite, OS X El Capitan, macOS Sierra).

The Cause of the Problem

In most cases, when users are experiencing this problem, the other (3-finger and 4-finger) gestures work just fine. Only the two-finger scrolling does not work properly. That indicates that there is not a hardware issue with your touchpad. (Make sure if others gestures works on your touchpad.)

This problem seems to happen after an OS update. In that case, more than likely this is caused by the global preferences which hold touchpad information. What happens is the computer keeps the old settings, while the updated OS requires new ones.  This software misunderstanding leads to a non-working touchpad. Here is how can you fix that.

Fix #1: Use Terminal to Enable 2-Finger Scrolling

By default, global preference settings are hidden in OS X and macOS. However, you can use Terminal to enable them and fix the two-finger scrolling gesture.

  1. Launch Terminal (Go > Applications > Utilities > Terminal).
  2. Now, type the following command in it.

defaults write -g com.apple.trackpad.scrollBehavior 2

  1. Press Enter, close the terminal and restart your Mac.

Now, try the 2-finger scrolling gesture. If your touchpad is not working, continue with the next fix.

Fix #2: Adjust System Preferences

  1. Go to Mouse & Trackpad settings (Click on Apple logo on the menu bar > System Preferences > Accessibility > Mouse & Trackpad).
  2. Make sure the Scrolling box is checked.
  3. Now, choose “with inertia” in the drop-down next to it.
  4. Click OK.

Fix #3: Disable 2-Finger Swipe Between Pages

This method helps if your 2-finger scrolling feature doesn’t work in web browsers (Chrome and Firefox).

  1. Quit any browser.
  2. Click on Apple logo on the menu bar and choose System Preferences.
  3. Choose View > Trackpad from the System Preferences menu (or double-click the Trackpad icon in the System Preferences window).
  4. Click the More Gestures tab.
  5. Now, disable Swipe between pages.
  6. Launch Chrome or Firefox and test if it works.

I hope we helped you to fix your touchpad scrolling feature. Now, let us know what did work for you, in the comment section below.

Kevin ArrowsUpdated on July 22, 2021
Kevin is a certified Network Engineer
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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Kevin Arrows


Kevin Arrows is a highly experienced and knowledgeable technology specialist with over a decade of industry experience. He holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification and has a deep passion for staying up-to-date on the latest tech developments. Kevin has written extensively on a wide range of tech-related topics, showcasing his expertise and knowledge in areas such as software development, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. His contributions to the tech field have been widely recognized and respected by his peers, and he is highly regarded for his ability to explain complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.

Comments

12
    KK
    KBrent Alexander KThomas May 7, 2019

    Guess they dont want people not posting things don’t work. What worked for me was actually toggling the scrolling settings.

    Reply
    GB
    Gregory Becker Nov 7, 2019

    Thank you Appuals; fix #2 worked for me.

    Reply
    KC
    Kylie Chow Dec 29, 2019

    This helped so much! The first fix worked like a charm. Thank you.

    Reply
    EM
    EmanGaming232 Nov 10, 2020

    It didn’t work for me. I tried all three fixes.

    Reply
      MZ
      Muhammad Zubyan Author Nov 11, 2020

      That’s unfortunate please try these steps and let me know if this helps.1. Open System Preferences, Go to Accessibility.
      2. Use your keyboard to scroll down on the left to Mouse & Trackpad.
      3. Click the Trackpad Options button.
      4. Un-check Scrolling and click OK.
      5. Click the Trackpad Options button.
      6. Check Scrolling again and click OK.Now restart your Mac and check if your issue is fixed. Hope this helps! Keep me updated.

      Reply
        DB
        Doug Bohm Dec 14, 2021

        I’ve tried everything as well. I get down to the 3rd step and the Trackpad Option is not visible. If I go to the trackpad menu directly in System Preferences, it says “No Trackpad Found” and the search pinwheel keeps turning forever. I can click and move the mouse but there is no two-finger scrolling. It’s annoying as hell.

        Reply
          MZ
          Muhammad Zubyan Author Dec 19, 2021

          I personally think that it can be a hardware issue but you can try this article and let me know how it goes: https://appuals.com/fix-mac…

    RO
    Ryan O'Connor Oct 27, 2021

    Only the last fix got excel online working for me. The horizontal scrolling just kept navigating history in chrome.

    Reply
    GG
    GG Feb 21, 2022

    thanks really helpfull, now I can srolling with two fingers.

    Reply
    EL
    Elisei Jul 17, 2022

    I’ve disabled “Low power mode” and “Optimise video streaming while on battery” from System Preferences -> Battery, and It works for me.

    Reply
    FI
    Fishback Jul 21, 2022

    Fix #2 worked (using updated description by MZG below.) I toggled the scrolling with inertia off and back on. Did not require a restart. Thanks Kevin and MZG!

    Reply
    BE
    Ben Jan 25, 2023

    thanks so much for the help!

    Reply