Two-finger scrolling is a handy feature that lets you move up and down a page using two fingers on your device's touchpad. It makes you more productive and saves you from having to press keys on the keyboard or drag a scroll bar with a mouse. Like any other feature, though, it can occasionally run into problems.
If two-finger scrolling isn't working on your device, here are some fixes you can try.
1. Start with a few preliminary checks
The trackpad on some laptops can stop working properly. Before moving on to more involved fixes, try the following, since they may resolve the problem quickly:
- If this is your first time using two-finger scrolling, make sure you're doing it correctly.
- If the problem occurs in one particular app, close and reopen that app.
- Restart your device to clear up any temporary glitches.
- If you use a keyboard with a built-in touchpad, such as the keyboards on Surface Pro models, detach it and reattach it.
- Similarly, if you're having trouble with a Bluetooth keyboard, disconnect it and reconnect it.
- Using a third-party app to adjust touchpad gestures can also cause problems. You may need to reinstall the app or remove it entirely. Keep in mind that two-finger scrolling is already built into Windows.
If these initial fixes don't solve the problem, you may need to try some other troubleshooting steps.
2. Make sure two-finger scrolling is turned on
To use two-finger scrolling, you need to enable it in your device's settings. If the feature was accidentally turned off, simply turning it back on should get it working again. Follow these steps to enable two-finger scrolling on Windows 10.
For Windows 11 users:
1. Search for Settings in Windows Search and open the Settings app.
2. Select Bluetooth and devices from the left sidebar.
3. Go to Touchpad on the right side.
Opening the touchpad settings in the Windows Settings app
4. Click Scroll and Zoom.
5. Check the box next to Drag two fingers to scroll.
Keep in mind that if you don't see this option in the touchpad settings, your device may not support the feature.
3. Make sure the touchpad isn't dirty or wet
Dust or debris on the touchpad, liquid spilled on it, and even dirty or wet fingers can interfere with two-finger scrolling. To clean the touchpad, wipe it with a soft, dry cloth until all visible debris or smudges are gone.
4. Check for app-specific issues
If two-finger scrolling doesn't work in one particular app, the app may not support the feature, or the feature may have been turned off in the app's settings.
To find out whether the app supports it, visit the app's official website. If it isn't supported, you can look for another app with similar functionality. If two-finger scrolling is available in the app, find out how to enable it. Depending on the app, the option may be tucked away in the Settings menu. Turn it on, and you should be able to scroll with two fingers.
5. Update the touchpad driver
Two-finger scrolling may not work if the touchpad driver is outdated or incompatible with the current operating system. To fix this, update the touchpad driver on Windows by following these steps:
- Right-click the Start button and select Task Manager.
- Expand the Human Interface Devices category or Mice and other pointing devices.
- Identify the touchpad driver. On Surface laptops, it may be called HID-Compliant Touchpad. The name can vary from device to device, though, so look up the specifics for your device.
- Right-click the driver and select Update Driver.
- Select Search automatically for updated driver software.
Windows will automatically search for and install the latest driver for your device. If the automatic update doesn't solve the problem, you can download and install the driver manually from the manufacturer's website.
6. Manually install the latest driver
Go to your laptop manufacturer's website, enter your laptop model or any other details requested, and download the matching touchpad driver. Drivers usually come as executable files. Once it's downloaded, just run the file and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the installation.
If the downloaded driver file isn't an executable, you'll need to install it manually with these steps:
- Open Task Manager and expand the Human Interface Devices category or Mice and other pointing devices.
- Right-click the touchpad driver and select Update driver.
- Select Browse my computer for drivers.
- Select the downloaded driver file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
7. Reinstall the touchpad driver
If neither the automatic nor the manual driver update solves the problem, try reinstalling the driver. Just right-click the touchpad driver and select Uninstall device. Then restart your computer, and Windows will reinstall the driver automatically. If that doesn't work, you can download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's website. Make sure you have an external mouse or a touchscreen to use, though, because the touchpad may not work.
8. Reset the touchpad settings
If you changed your touchpad settings recently and two-finger scrolling stopped working afterward, you may have altered something along the way. Resetting the touchpad settings will undo any incorrect configuration. To reset the touchpad settings:
- Right-click the Start button and select Settings.
- Go to the Bluetooth and Devices tab on the left side.
- Click Touchpad and expand the Touchpad menu.
- If the Reset button is grayed out, uncheck the box next to Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected. This may turn off the touchpad, so keep an external mouse handy so you can move the pointer and reset the touchpad settings.
- Finally, click Reset.
If the steps above don't help, or if you run into another touchpad problem, it could be a hardware issue. In that case, take the laptop to a service center to have it inspected and repaired.
