Enable Two-Finger Scrolling in Ubuntu: A Quick Guide
You enable two-finger scrolling in Ubuntu by configuring your touchpad settings within the system’s control panel.
Two-finger scrolling lets you scroll up and down through documents and web pages simply by sliding two fingers across your laptop’s touchpad.
This makes navigating your PC much smoother, especially if you don’t use an external mouse. Most modern laptops support this feature, and it’s readily available in current Ubuntu versions like Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
You can easily switch this setting on or off whenever you like. This lets you tailor your scrolling experience to exactly how you work.
Open Settings, then select Mouse & Touchpad. Ensure Touchpad is toggled On, then toggle Two-finger Scrolling to the On position. This enables scrolling with two fingers on your Ubuntu laptop’s touchpad.
How to turn on or off two-finger scrolling in Ubuntu Linux
As we’ve covered, if your device has a touchpad, you can click, double-click, drag, and scroll using only the touchpad, no separate hardware buttons needed.
Below is how to do that.
Ubuntu Linux has a centralized location for the majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating, you can manage everything from the System Settings panel.
Alternatively, click on the System menu at the top-right corner of the top bar on your desktop.
On the System menu, select Settings, as highlighted below.
Click on Mouse & Touchpad tile in the Settings app to open the panel.
In the System Settings -> Mouse & Touchpad panel, under Touchpad, toggle the Touchpad button to the On position to enable.
The Touchpad section only shows up if your system actually has a touchpad. Also, the touchpad needs to be enabled before you can configure additional settings under Touchpad.
Once Touchpad is enabled, toggle the Two-finger Scrolling button to the On position to enable.
To disable it, toggle the button to the Off position.
That should do it! You can now close the Settings app.
Wrapping Up:
- Enabling or disabling Two-finger scrolling in Ubuntu Linux can greatly enhance the user experience for touchpad users.
- The centralized location for system settings in Ubuntu Linux makes accessing and modifying touchpad preferences easy.
- The visual aids in this post provide helpful guidance for users adjusting their touchpad settings.
- Have additional insights to share or spotted an error? Feel free to use the comment section below to provide feedback or suggestions.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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