How to Change Touchpad Four-finger Swipe Gestures in Windows 11
Changing touchpad four-finger swipe gestures in Windows 11 lets you control PC actions with simple finger movements.
These gestures are shortcuts that let you quickly switch between apps or see your desktop without using your mouse. Windows 11 offers these customisable actions for a smoother experience.
You can change these gestures for your precision touchpad, which supports advanced multi-touch features. This is available on most modern laptops running Windows 11.
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)
Changing what happens when you swipe with four fingers on your Windows 11 touchpad is possible within the Settings app. To change these gestures, open Settings, then navigate to Bluetooth & devices, and click on Touchpad.
- 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 is 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
You've now learned three ways to change your touchpad's four-finger swipe gestures in Windows 11.
The Settings app provides the most direct method. For more granular control over gesture functions, consider exploring the Registry or the Advanced gestures section within Settings.
How do I change the gesture settings?
For apps, swiping right or left can take you back to the previous screen. If you're on the very first screen and swipe right or left, you'll return to your home screen.
How do I disable four finger swipe?
You can disable this feature. Once disabled, swiping from the corners will do nothing, acting like a normal app exit without triggering screenshots or new notes.
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Richard
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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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