Change the scroll direction on Mac

To change which way scrolling moves the page, open System Settings → Trackpad → Scroll & Zoom (or System Settings → Mouse) and toggle Natural scrolling. On, the page follows your fingers; off, you get the classic desktop direction. It's one checkbox, instantly reversible, and it applies to every app.

The two directions, explained

There are only two states, and it helps to picture each before you pick:

• Natural scrolling on (the macOS default) — the content sticks to your fingers. Push two fingers up and the page slides up, showing what was below, like dragging paper or swiping a phone.
• Natural scrolling off — the classic desktop direction. Fingers up scrolls the page up, matching a traditional mouse wheel and the way Windows behaves.

Neither is more correct; it comes down to whether your instinct is "move the page" or "move the view." Trying both for a minute each is the fastest way to know which one your hands already expect.

Change it in System Settings

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. For a trackpad: click Trackpad → Scroll & Zoom and toggle Natural scrolling.
3. For a mouse: click Mouse and toggle Natural scrolling there.

The switch flips live — scroll a window and you'll feel it change immediately. Keep in mind macOS uses one shared direction for both devices, so changing the trackpad also changes the mouse and vice versa. The steps are the same across macOS 13, 14, and 15.

Change it from the Terminal

# Classic direction (natural scrolling off)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.swipescrolldirection -bool false

# Natural direction (the default)
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.swipescrolldirection -bool true

The false value gives the classic direction, true restores Apple's natural default. Unlike the live toggle, the Terminal change waits until you log out and back in, because the direction is read at login. To wipe your custom setting and return to stock, run defaults delete NSGlobalDomain com.apple.swipescrolldirection.

Direction is only half of scroll feel

Once the direction is right, two neighbours shape how scrolling feels: speed and inertia. Speed sets how far one gesture or wheel-notch carries the page, and inertia decides whether the page keeps gliding after you let go. Both live near this setting, and tuning them together — direction, then speed, then momentum — is what makes scrolling feel like yours rather than a compromise.

It applies everywhere, all at once

One reason to get this right once is reach: the scroll direction is system-wide, so it governs Safari, Finder, Mail, Preview, Xcode, and every third-party app in the same stroke. There's no per-app override to keep straight and nothing to configure again when you install something new. That consistency is the point — your hands learn a single rule and it holds across the whole Mac. It also follows your user account, so a fresh login or a newly installed app inherits the direction you chose without any extra step.

Dial in the speed next

Happy with the direction but the page moves too far or too little per swipe? Adjust it with how to change scroll speed on Mac, then you've got both halves of scroll feel set the way you like.