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How to Change Mouse Scrolling Direction in Windows 11

Richard
Written by
Richard
Feb 4, 2026 Updated Apr 1, 2026 3 min read
How to Change Mouse Scrolling Direction in Windows 11
How to Change Mouse Scrolling Direction in Windows 11

Is your mouse scrolling feeling a bit off? Maybe it feels backward or just not right for you. This guide walks you through changing how your mouse scrolls in Windows 11.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Settings, then Bluetooth & devices, then Mouse. Under “Multiple displays,” toggle “Scroll inactive windows when I hover over them” to change the scrolling direction.

What is Mouse Scrolling Direction?

Mouse scrolling direction tells you how the stuff on your screen moves when you roll your mouse wheel, and Windows 11 lets you change this setting to what feels best for you.

  • Rolling the wheel up moves the page up.
  • Rolling the wheel down moves the page down.

But Windows 11 can do the opposite. This is known as reverse scrolling: Turning the wheel up moves the page down, and turning it down moves the page up.

  • Rolling the wheel up moves the page down.
  • Rolling the wheel down moves the page up.

You can pick which way feels best to you. There are two main options:

  • Reverse Scrolling: The page moves opposite to your wheel direction.
  • Natural Scrolling: The page moves the same way as your wheel direction.

How to Change Mouse Scrolling Direction in 🪟 Windows 11

Step 1Find Your Mouse Device ID

  1. Press ⊞ Win+R on your keyboard. A small box will pop up.
  2. Type devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Device Manager will open.
  3. Find Mice and other pointing devices and click the arrow next to it to expand the list.
  4. Double-click on your mouse device. A window will open showing its properties.
  5. Click the Details tab.
  6. Click the drop-down menu labeled Property.
  7. Select Device instance path.
  8. Look at the value that appears. It starts with HID and VID. Write this down or copy it. You’ll need it soon.
Finding HIDVID path in Device Manager
Finding HIDVID path in Device Manager

To start changing your mouse scrolling direction in Windows 11, you first need to find your mouse’s unique ID, which you can do by opening the Device Manager.

Step 2Open the Registry Editor

  1. Press ⊞ Win+R again.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
  3. A prompt may appear asking for permission. Click Yes to allow it. ⚠️ Requires admin privileges
  4. For more help, check out this guide: How to Open Registry Editor in Windows 11

Step 3Find Your Mouse in the Registry

  1. In the Registry Editor, go to this location: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\HID
  2. Look through the folders inside. Find the one that matches the HID and VID number you copied earlier.
  3. Open that folder. Inside, find and open the Device Parameters folder.

Step 4Change the Scrolling Direction

  1. On the right side of the window, look for an entry called FlipFlopWheel.
  2. If you see it, double-click it to open it.
  3. Change the value to one of these:
    • 0 = Reverse scrolling (the default setting)
    • 1 = Natural scrolling (works like a smartphone)
  4. If you don’t see FlipFlopWheel, right-click on an empty space on the right side. Choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it FlipFlopWheel.
  5. Then double-click it and set the value to 1 for natural scrolling.
FlipFlopWheel registry setting
FlipFlopWheel registry setting

Now that you’ve found your mouse’s ID, you can change the scrolling direction in Windows 11 by looking for the FlipFlopWheel setting in the Registry Editor and adjusting its value.

Step 5 Restart Your Computer

  1. Restart your PC to apply the changes. This makes sure everything works right.

Summary

Changing your mouse scrolling direction in Windows 11 involves a few steps in the Registry Editor to find and adjust the FlipFlopWheel setting, and then restarting your PC to see the change.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

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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