How to Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures in Windows 11
Four-finger swipe gestures on Windows 11 let you switch between open apps, show your desktop, or change audio volume using quick finger movements on your laptop trackpad. These built-in shortcuts work on any precision touchpad running Windows 11 version 22H2 or newer.
You can change what these swipes do in the Settings app to match how you work. Adjusting these settings helps you move around your screen fast without needing an external mouse.
Go to Settings , then Bluetooth & devices, and select Touchpad. Expand Four-finger gestures and choose your desired action from the Swipes menu.
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures in Settings
- Open Settings (Win+I).
- Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Then click on Touchpad on the right side. (see screenshot below)
You can change four-finger swipe gestures in Windows 11 by opening the Settings app, navigating to the touchpad settings menu, and choosing a new action from the drop-down menu. This lets you customize what happens when you swipe across your laptop touchpad with four fingers, such as switching between open apps or changing the audio volume.
- Click on Four-finger gestures to expand it.
- Select one of these options in the Swipes drop menu:
- Nothing
- Switch apps and show desktop
- Switch desktops and show desktop (default)
- Change audio and volume
- You can now close Settings.
Option Two
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures Using Registry
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures to “Nothing”
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v FourFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures to “Switch apps and show desktop”
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v FourFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures to “Switch desktops and show desktop”
This configuration serves as the default setting.
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v FourFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures to “Change audio and volume”
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v FourFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
Option Three
Change Touchpad Four-finger Advanced Swipe Gestures in Settings
- Open Settings (Win+I).
- Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Then click on Touchpad on the right side.
- Click on Advanced gestures.
- Under Configure four-finger gestures, select the action you want in each gesture drop menu.
- You can now close Settings.
Summary
Three distinct methods exist for updating four-finger swipe gestures on your Windows 11 touchpad.
The Settings app provides the most direct route. Exploring the Registry or the Advanced gestures section within Settings yields granular control over gesture functions.
How do I change the gesture settings?
Swiping right or left inside apps navigates back to the previous screen. Reaching the initial screen triggers a return to the home screen.
How do I disable four finger swipe?
Disabling this feature prevents corner swipes from performing any actions, functioning like a standard app exit without capturing screenshots or generating new notes.
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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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