On a MacBook, the gestures in Apple’s Multi-Touch guide are performed on the trackpad—not by tapping or swiping the display. MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models have built-in trackpads, so you can use these gestures without a touchscreen or an extra accessory. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Trackpad to see demonstrations and adjust the gestures available on your Mac.
Where to find MacBook trackpad gestures
Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Trackpad. The current settings are grouped under Point & Click, Scroll & Zoom, and More Gestures. Select a gesture to see its demonstration and, where offered, change its action or turn it off. Apple notes that this panel requires a Mac with a built-in trackpad or a wireless trackpad connected to it.
The available controls depend on your Mac, trackpad, and macOS version. Your panel may not show every gesture described below, and some actions can use three or four fingers depending on the version. See Apple’s Trackpad settings guide and Multi-Touch gesture guide for current demonstrations.
Common gestures and what they do
| Action | Gesture | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Click | Tap with one finger if Tap to click is enabled; otherwise, press the trackpad. | Point & Click |
| Secondary click | Click or tap with two fingers, depending on your settings. | Point & Click |
| Scroll | Slide two fingers up or down. | Scroll & Zoom |
| Zoom | Pinch with two fingers. | Scroll & Zoom |
| Smart Zoom | Double-tap with two fingers. | Scroll & Zoom |
| Rotate an item | Move two fingers around each other. | Scroll & Zoom |
| Move between pages | Swipe with two fingers. | More Gestures |
| Navigate windows and spaces | Swipe with three or four fingers for Mission Control, App Exposé, or full-screen app switching, depending on your Mac and settings. | More Gestures |
| Show the desktop | Spread your thumb and three fingers apart. | More Gestures |
| Look up a word or use data detectors | Tap with three fingers, if the gesture is available and configured. | Point & Click or the available gesture options |
These are Apple-documented examples, not a promise that every Mac offers every action or the same finger count. Check the demonstration in your own Trackpad settings before relying on a particular gesture.
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How to change gestures without losing familiar controls
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Trackpad.
- Review the demonstrations under Point & Click, Scroll & Zoom, and More Gestures to identify the action you want to keep or change.
- Use the control beside an available gesture to choose another offered action or turn that gesture off. Not every gesture can be reassigned, and the choices vary by device.
- Before experimenting, note or screenshot your existing selections. Apple’s cited instructions do not describe a general export, backup, or restore feature for these preferences.
- Try the changed gesture in an app where it is useful. If it disrupts a familiar action, return to the same setting and restore the choice you recorded.
Settings can also control tap-to-click, secondary click, natural scrolling, zoom, Smart Zoom, rotation, page navigation, full-screen app navigation, Notification Centre, Mission Control, App Exposé, and Show Desktop. Which options appear depends on the hardware and macOS version.
Turn on three-finger drag separately
Three-finger drag is not configured in the main Trackpad gesture list. Apple places it in Accessibility settings, and says it is available on trackpads that support Force Touch.
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- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. On some macOS versions, the relevant section is named Mouse & Trackpad.
- Open Trackpad Options.
- Enable trackpad dragging, then choose Three Finger Drag.
The labels vary by macOS version. Follow Apple’s version-specific directions in Turn on three finger drag for your Mac trackpad if the names or controls on your screen differ.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Do you need a touchscreen or an external trackpad?
No touchscreen is needed for the gestures in this guide: they are trackpad gestures, and MacBook Air and MacBook Pro have trackpads built in. Apple also documents connecting a wireless trackpad, including Magic Trackpad, for people who want gesture input at a desk; it is optional. Apple’s overview of using a keyboard, mouse, and trackpad with Mac covers connected input devices.
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