With Windows 11, you define the meaning of every touchpad tap, swipe, and pinch. Do you want a three-finger tap to open the Settings menu? You got it! Would you like to tap a single finger to single-click? Done! Learn how to curate touchpad gestures, cursor speed, and more to use your Windows 11 laptop your way.
Get started with Touchpad gestures
If you’re ready to match all touchpad gestures to your personal preferences, follow these steps to get started:
- Open Windows 11 settings by selecting Windows logo key + I or the Windows icon (four squares) and choosing Settings.
- Select the drawer icon in the upper-left corner of the Settings window.
- Scroll down to select Bluetooth & devices.
- Select Touchpad. Now that you’re in Touchpad settings, you can determine your preferred shortcuts for all your gestures and taps.
Touchpad options
Use the touchpad your way by choosing from hundreds of configuration options. Here are the primary options you’ll find in Touchpad settings.
Cursor speed
Do you like your cursor to move at a snail’s pace, lightning speed, or a nice, mellow middle of the road? You can adjust and choose the speed that works for you.
Taps
Control touchpad sensitivity, from super-responsive to needing a stronger tap to react, and choose from these tap options.
- Tap with a single finger to single-click.
- Tap with two fingers to right-click.
- Tap twice and drag to multi-select.
- Press the lower right corner of the touchpad to right-click.
If you’re not finding the tap option you want, see more possibilities in Touchpad > Advanced gestures.
Scroll & zoom
Decide on scrolling motion (whether down motion scrolls up or down the screen), whether two fingers can be used to scroll, and if pinching in and out controls your zoom.
Three-finger and four-finger gestures
In the Touchpad menu, choose the action for three-finger and four-finger swipes and taps from a short list of options, including switching between apps, desktops, or sound settings. In Touchpad > Advanced gestures, you can take more control of three-finger and four-finger movements; select from a wider range of options for each of these movements: tap, swipe up, swipe down, swipe left, and swipe right.
More touchpad settings
When you navigate to Touchpad > More touchpad options, the Mouse properties window opens. There, choose from several pointer types and schemes, button configurations, and more.
Touchpad tips and tricks
With all the touchpad gestures available, you can design your own personalized user experience. Here are a few tips and tricks to find what works best for you.
- Do more with media. If you use your device for creating, viewing, or listening to media, you might curate your touchpad to enhance those experiences. Try the Change audio and volume setting in the Three-finger or Four-finger gestures area of Touchpad settings. You can also choose for one tap to Play/pause.
- Browse better. Scroll, click, and zoom with just a few taps and swipes. If browsing is one of your main Windows 11 activities, you might design your touchpad gestures with that in mind. Try toggling on Pinch to zoom, Drag two fingers to scroll, and Tap with a single finger to single-click.
- Multitask like a pro. If you’re moving between apps and desktops to attend to a wide range of tasks, your touchpad configuration can simplify those transitions. Try the Switch apps and show desktop setting in the Three-finger or Four-finger gestures area of Touchpad settings. Now you can swipe up for the Multitasking view.
Once you choose the touchpad gestures that work best for you, you’ll be swiping and tapping to your heart’s content. For more ways to get the most out of your Windows 11 laptop, head to the Windows Learning Center.
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Windows 11 offers some new great features that are also easily customizable. So, setting them according to your needs will create a more pleasant and original digital environment.
Among others, touchpad and touchscreen functionalities are extremely popular and require specific attention.
Because we want to always keep you up to date, today’s article will explore how to personalize Touchpad Gestures in Windows 11. But before anything else, let’s look at the supported ones and why to use each one.
How can I easily set Windows 11 Touchpad Gestures?
1. Customize Zoom & Scroll Gestures
- Navigate again to the Touchpad page, from the Windows 11 Settings Menu.
- Expand the Scroll & Zoom section.
- Now you can manage Scroll & Zoom Touchpad Gestures.
2. Set Three-Finger Gestures
2.1 Swipes
- Go to the Touchpad page, from the Settings menu.
- Expand the Three-finger gestures option.
- Windows 11 comes with existing templates to start with for using three-finger swipe gestures.
NOTE
Windows 11 comes with existing templates to start with for using three-finger swipe gestures. To find out more about them, make sure you keep on reading.
2.2 Taps
- Navigate again to the Touchpad page, located in the Windows 11 Settings menu.
- Expand the Three-finger gestures option.
- Look at the Taps section, then click on Open search.
- Now, you can customize your Taps options.
2.3 Three-Finger Gestures options in Windows 11
As mentioned before, Windows 11 three-finger swipe gestures offer specific templates, so take a look at the list below and discover how great they are:
- Switch apps and show desktop – This option is set by default and allows you to switch among apps using the three-finger sideways swipe gesture. When you swipe up, you’ll have the Mutlitasking view and if you choose swipe down Desktop will show.
- Switch desktops and show desktop – In case you choose this one, you’ll be able to switch among desktop instead of apps using the three-finger sideways swipe gesture, while other two swipe gestures will have the same function as they did in the previous preset.
- Change audio and volume – Last, but not least, this preset is more adequate for music or podcasts passionates. If you enable this one in Windows 11, you’ll be able to turn up or down your volume using the three-finger up/down swipe gesture respectively. In addtion, its side ways will allow you to jump to previous/next song currently present in your queue.
Similar to the three-finger swipe gestures, taps ones come with multiple options, as you can see below:
2.4 How can I customize the Three-Finger Gestures option?
The great part is that you can map your own peripherals specs (like keyboard shortcuts or mouse actions) for both Swipe and Taps Three-Finger Gestures. This would help if you feel like presets provided by Windows 11 are not that useful for your needs.
Fortunately, it is extremely simple to do that. And you only have to navigate to the already known Touchpad page, then access the Advanced gestures options.
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1. Hit the Windows key, then open the Settings menu.
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2. Click on Bluetooth & devices, then navigate to Touchpad.
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3. To reveal the needed gestures, click on Taps.
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4. There, checkmark the options you want. Note that you can choose multiple preferences.
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5. You can also select the level of Touchpad Sensitivity.
Personalize tap gestures on Windows 11 touchpad
You can personalize the tap gestures settings on your touchpad by going into Control Panel. The tap gestures are enabled by default as soon as you connect the touchpad. Afterwards, you can easily configure touchpad sensitivity and tapping settings.
So, as you can see, there are multiple ways to set Touchpad Gestures in Windows 11. You can also use them when you connect your Apple Pro Vision headset to your PC since the eyes don’t work as a cursor with PCs.
If you customize them according to your day-to-day needs, ensure you’ll get a more pleasant and accessible workplace.
What Touchpad Gestures are supported in Windows 11?
Tap Gestures
Tap and swipe represent two common gestures for devices like laptops or tablets.
The Tap gestures detect one or more fingers pressing the touchpad briefly. Maybe it sounds complex, but keep in mind that they do nothing but allow you to select certain items during your day-to-day work.
When a supported precision touchpad is installed, these are always enabled on a Windows PC.
Zoom & Scroll Gestures
Considering the Scroll gesture, it does exactly what it says. Thus, you can use it to scroll conveniently without reaching out to the window’s scroll bar you need to search in.
Similarly, the Zoom Gesture allows you to zoom in or out of a certain box. You usually do this by pinching or expanding with two fingers on your touchpad.
Three-Finger Gestures
These are the most customizable parts of the Touchpad gestures. Windows 11 allows you to be more specific and configure three-finger swipes and taps to do as you please.
Keep in mind that if you have a touchscreen PC, a touch keyboard can be a handy tool to use your device as a tablet. There, checking how to quickly enable your touch keyboard on Windows 11 would be a great idea.
Also, take a look at these great touchpads for Windows PC you should definitely try.
In case there are other touchpad-related aspects that you’re concerned about, do not hesitate to notify us by leaving a comment in the section below.
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Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).
For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.
Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.
Если вы работаете на ноутбуке с Windows 11 и преимущественно используете тачпад или же ваше устройство оснащено сенсорным экраном, совсем не лишним будет знать и уметь пользоваться поддерживаемыми ими жестами.
В этой инструкции — полезные жесты тачпада Windows 11, а также жесты, поддерживаемые при работе с сенсорным экраном в этой же системе.
Жесты тачпада в Windows 11
Чтобы познакомиться с поддерживаемыми жестами тачпада, вы всегда можете зайти в Параметры Windows 11, открыть пункт «Bluetooth и устройства», а затем — «Сенсорная панель». Там вы увидите несколько разделов, в которых можно посмотреть, какие жесты поддерживаются и что они выполняют.
По порядку перечислю доступные по умолчанию жесты тачпада далее:
- При использовании одного пальца: касание — один щелчок или выбор элемента, два касания и перетаскивание — выбор нескольких элементов, нажатие на правый нижний угол тачпада — имитация правого щелчка мышью.
- Жесты двумя пальцами: касание — имитация правого клика мышью, перетаскивание — прокрутка (как колесом мыши), сведение и разведение пальцев — увеличение и уменьшение масштаба (например, при просмотре фото).
- Жесты тремя пальцами: движение снизу вверх — отображение открытых окон и рабочих столов, движение снизу вверх — свернуть все окна, движение слева направо или наоборот — переключение между запущенными приложениями. Касание — открыть поиск.
- Жесты четырьмя пальцами: движение вверх — показать открытые окна и рабочие столы, движение вниз — свернуть все окна, движение влево и вправо — переключение между виртуальными рабочими столами. Касание — открыть Центр уведомлений.
Жесты с использованием 3-х и 4-х пальцев можно настраивать в упомянутом разделе параметров, например, перенастроить их для управления воспроизведением мультимедиа и громкостью.
Учитывайте, что для работы жестов тачпада в Windows 11 необходимо, чтобы ноутбук был оснащен современным тачпадом, поддерживающим такие жесты (precision touchpad) и на него должны быть установлены соответствующие драйверы — если вы не уверены в последнем пункте, вручную скачайте и установите драйвер тачпада с официального сайта производителя вашего ноутбука именно для вашей модели устройства.
Жесты сенсорного экрана
Если ваше устройство с Windows 11 оснащено сенсорным экраном, вы можете использовать следующие жесты:
- Простое касание для выбора элемента.
- Перетаскивание двумя пальцами для прокрутки.
- Сведение и разведение пальцев для изменения масштаба просматриваемого документа или фото.
- Касание и удерживание — открыть контекстное меню (как правый клик мышью).
- Смахивание тремя пальцами вверх — показать все открытые окна.
- Смахивание тремя пальцами вниз — свернуть все окна.
- Жест тремя пальцами слева направо или справа налево — переключение между открытыми окнами программ.
- Жест одним пальцем от левого угла вправо — просмотреть виджеты (мини-приложения).
- Жест четырьмя пальцами влево или вправо — переключение между виртуальными рабочими столами.
Quick Tips
- Ensure your touchpad is clean so that Windows can accurately read your finger movements.
- Consider resetting your touchpad settings and running the hardware and devices troubleshooter to resolve the issue.
- If the problem persists, update or reinstall the touchpad drivers.
Fix 1: Enable Touchpad Gestures
The first thing you need to do is review the touchpad settings on your PC and ensure that gesture controls are enabled. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
Step 2: Enable the switch next to Touchpad if it isn’t already.
Step 3: Under the Gestures & interaction section, use the checkboxes to enable all the gestures.
Fix 2: Reset Touchpad Settings
If touchpad gestures don’t work after you enable them, try resetting all the touchpad settings. This should help fix any issues caused by misconfigured settings.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + I to open the Settings app and head to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.
Step 2: Click the Reset button under Touchpad.
Fix 3: Run Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter
The Hardware and Devices troubleshooter on Windows can automatically detect and resolve any common hardware-related issues. This tool comes in handy when Windows can’t detect a new piece of hardware or when devices, such as the touchpad, stop responding.
Step 1: Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box. Type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic in the box and press Enter.
Step 2: In the Hardware and Devices window, click Next and Windows will scan your system for any issues.
If the tool finds any problems, follow the on-screen instructions to apply the recommended fixes. After that, restart your PC and check if the issue is still there.
Fix 4: Update the Touchpad Driver
The touchpad driver on your PC allows Windows to communicate with your touchpad. If that driver is outdated or broken, the touchpad will not function properly. In that case, you should consider updating your PC’s touchpad driver using the Device Manager.
Step 1: Right-click on the Start icon and select Device Manager from the list.
Step 2: Double-click on Mice and other pointing devices to expand it.
Step 3: Right-click on the touchpad driver and select Update driver from the menu that appears.
Follow the on-screen prompts to finish updating the driver and then see if the issue is still there.
If updating the driver does not help, the touchpad driver may be corrupt. In that case, uninstall the driver using the Device Manager and restart your PC. Windows will automatically install the missing driver during boot.
Fix 5: Check BIOS Settings
BIOS (or Basic Input Output System) is software that lets you configure your PC’s hardware functions. So, if Windows 11 is still not responding to touchpad gestures, you can enable the advanced touchpad option from BIOS. Here’s how:
Step 1: Press the Windows key + S to open the search menu. Type recovery options in the box and press Enter.
Step 2: Click the Restart now button next to Advanced startup. Select Restart now to confirm.
Step 3: Wait for the PC to reboot and then head to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > UEFI Firmware Settings.
Step 4: Once you’re in BIOS, go to the Main tab. Then, use the arrow keys to navigate to the Touchpad option, press Enter, and select the Advanced option.
Step 5: Finally, press F10 to save changes and exit BIOS.
Restart your PC after this, and the touchpad gestures should work in Windows 11.
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The touchpad is an essential part of any laptop, replacing the traditional mouse with a low-profile solution that still allows you to point, click, and do everything you’d expect to do. For many years, touchpads on Windows laptops weren’t that great, since each one was made by a different company and had different drivers, not to mention they were often too small and uncomfortable. Thankfully, that’s changed in recent years.
Touchpads on Windows 11 laptops not only tend to be larger, but they also support custom gestures that let you do more than just replace your mouse. These gestures can make it easier to change between virtual desktops or adjust the volume, for example. In the past, these would have been different for each laptop and some may not have even supported them, but thanks to the introduction of precision touchpads, which are now standard on Windows laptops, you’re pretty much guaranteed to have support. If you’re interested in customizing touchpad gestures on your laptop, here’s how to do it.
Customize basic touchpad gestures in Windows 11
There are two tiers of customization available, and we’ll start with the more basic one. This lets you choose to tweak the way one- and two-finger gestures work, and also set custom gestures for three and four fingers. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click Bluetooth & devices in the side menu.
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Choose Touchpad.
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You’ll be directly in the touchpad gesture customization
- Under Taps, you can set the touchpad sensitivity and disable some of the default behaviors. For example, tapping with one finger generally equates to a mouse click, but you can disable that if you want to use the physical button on the touchpad instead.
- Under Scroll & zoom, you can disable the ability to scroll by moving two fingers up and down on the touchpad. You can also use the Scrolling direction setting to choose which way scrolling works based on the direction you move your fingers. By default, a touchpad acts like a phone, where moving your finger down scrolls up.
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Three-finger gestures let you choose what happens when you swipe or tap three fingers on the touchpad.
- For swipe gestures, you can choose Nothing, Switch apps and show desktop, Switch desktops and show desktop, or Change audio and volume. The gestures available for each option are shown when you select them.
- For taps, you can choose Nothing, Open Search, Notification Center, Play/pause, and Middle mouse button.
- Four-finger gestures let you choose what happens when swiping or tapping four fingers on the touchpad. The options are the same as for three-finger gestures.
- Changes are saved and applied automatically.
This is the method that makes the most sense to most people because swipe gestures are grouped under a unifying setting, so the actions are all related to each other. For example, the Change audio and volume option lets you adjust the volume by swiping up or down and skip tracks by swiping sideways. However, if you have a specific workflow and you want each gesture to do something completely different, you can customize more advanced gestures.
Customize advanced gestures
Advanced touchpad customizations let you assign custom actions to every swipe gesture with three or four fingers on the touchpad. Instead of multiple actions grouped together, you can individually choose custom actions for swiping up, down, left, and right, as well as tapping. You also have more actions you can assign to these gestures. Here’s how to use them:
- Open the Settings app.
- Click Bluetooth & devices in the side menu.
- Choose Touchpad.
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Click Advanced gestures at the bottom of the page.
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Under Configure three-finger gestures and Configure four-finger gestures, you can choose individual actions for each gesture with either three or four fingers. This makes a total of ten custom actions you can set.
- For taps, there are a total of seven actions that can be assigned. For gestures, there are a total of 19 actions to choose from for each gesture.
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One of these actions is a Custom shortcut that lets you record a keyboard shortcut that you want to be executed when performing the associated gesture or tap. For this:
- Click Start recording to begin recording the keys you want to be registered with the shortcut.
- Press the keys you want to be registered when you perform the touchpad gesture.
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Click Stop recording and the shortcut will be saved.
- Changes are saved and applied automatically.
These advanced gestures are ideal for proficient users that want specific actions done more quickly without being limited to the templates provided in the general settings. You have a lot more flexibility here, and you can greatly boost your productivity to make use of these options.
If your device doesn’t just have a touchpad but also a touchscreen, Windows 11 version 22H2 also introduced some touch gestures you can use. You can’t customize them that much, but you can check out our guide on Windows 11 touch gestures to learn more.