How to Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures in Windows 11
Windows 11 three-finger swipe gestures let you control your PC faster with quick swipes on your touchpad. These gestures can switch between open apps, manage your virtual desktops, or adjust your audio settings.
This feature is built into most Windows 11 laptops that have a ‘precision touchpad.’ A precision touchpad is designed to recognize gestures accurately.
For example, you can set a three-finger swipe to switch apps and show your desktop all at once, or change the audio and volume without opening any menus.
Go to Settings Bluetooth & devices Touchpad Three-finger gestures. Select your desired action from the Swipes dropdown menu to customize what three-finger swipes do.
Option One
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures in Settings
Change your touchpad’s three-finger swipe gestures in Windows 11 through the Settings app. Open Settings, navigate to Bluetooth & devices, then select Touchpad. Under Three-finger gestures, choose your desired action from the Swipes dropdown menu.- Open Settings by pressing
Win+I. - Click on Bluetooth & devices on the left side. Then click on Touchpad on the right side. Open Touchpad settings
- Click on Three-finger gestures to open it.
- Choose what you want from the Swipes dropdown menu. Your options are:
- Nothing
- Switch apps and show desktop (this is the default)
- Switch desktops and show desktop
- Change audio and volume
- You can now close Settings.
Option Two
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures Using Registry
For those comfortable with advanced system adjustments, the Windows Registry offers another way to modify touchpad gestures. For instance, you can prevent three-finger swipes from functioning by applying a specific registry change. This method allows you to set touchpad gestures to ‘Nothing’ or other available options.
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures to “Nothing”
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v ThreeFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures to “Switch apps and show desktop”
This is the default setting.
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v ThreeFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures to "Switch desktops and show desktop"
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v ThreeFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
Change Touchpad Three-finger Swipe Gestures to "Change audio and volume"
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\PrecisionTouchPad" /v ThreeFingerSlideEnabled /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
Summary
Changing your touchpad gestures in Windows 11 is achievable through two primary methods, catering to different levels of user comfort.
How do you customize the Trackpad gestures on a Mac?
This article focuses on Windows 11. Information on Mac trackpad gestures can be found within System Settings (or System Preferences) under the Trackpad menu. There you can disable a gesture, change its type, and learn which gestures work with your Mac. Tap with one finger to click.
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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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