Change scroll direction in System Settings
On a Mac, you can reverse the direction your mouse wheel scrolls by opening System Settings and toggling a single option. The setting is called Natural scrolling, and turning it off makes the scroll wheel work the way it does on Windows machines and older Macs — scroll up to move up the page, scroll down to move down.
Open System Settings (the gear icon in your dock or Applications folder). Click Mouse in the sidebar. Look for the Scroll direction section. If the toggle next to Natural scrolling is on (blue), click it to turn it off. Your mouse scroll will reverse immediately.
If you do not see a Mouse option in System Settings, your mouse may not have a scroll wheel or may not be recognized by your Mac. Wireless mice sometimes need to be re-paired, and older mice may need a driver update from the manufacturer.
Key Takeaways
- Natural scrolling is on by default on all Macs and makes the scroll wheel move content in the direction your fingers move on a trackpad.
- Turning off Natural scrolling in System Settings > Mouse reverses the scroll direction to match Windows behavior.
- The change takes effect immediately and applies only to your mouse, not your trackpad.
- If you cannot find the Mouse option in System Settings, your mouse may not be properly connected or recognized by your Mac.
Why Mac uses Natural scrolling by default
Apple introduced Natural scrolling with macOS Lion in 2011 to match the way trackpads work. When you swipe two fingers down on a trackpad, the page moves down — the same direction your fingers moved. Natural scrolling applies this same logic to the mouse wheel, so scrolling down moves the page down.
This feels intuitive on a trackpad but can feel backwards if you learned to use a mouse on Windows or an older Mac. The setting exists because different people find different directions natural depending on what device they learned on first.
Separate settings for mouse and trackpad
Your Mac keeps scroll direction settings separate for your mouse and trackpad. Turning off Natural scrolling for your mouse does not change how your trackpad scrolls. If you want to reverse the trackpad scroll direction too, open System Settings, click Trackpad, and toggle off Scroll direction: Natural.
This separation is useful if you switch between devices — you can have your mouse scroll one way and your trackpad scroll another. Most people keep Natural scrolling on for the trackpad and turn it off for the mouse, or vice versa, depending on which device they use more.
Troubleshooting when the Mouse option does not appear
If System Settings does not show a Mouse option, your mouse is either not connected or not recognized by your Mac. First, check that your mouse is powered on and within range if it is wireless. For Bluetooth mice, go to System Settings > Bluetooth and make sure your mouse appears in the list of connected devices.
If your mouse is listed but still does not appear in System Settings, try removing it and re-pairing it. Click the X next to your mouse name in the Bluetooth menu, then hold down the pairing button on your mouse and wait for it to appear in the list again. Some older or third-party mice may require a driver from the manufacturer's website to work with your Mac.
Using third-party software for advanced scroll control
If you need more control over scroll behavior — like adjusting scroll speed, setting different directions for different apps, or inverting only horizontal scrolling — third-party tools like Scroll Reverser or BetterMouse offer more options than System Settings provides.
These tools are not necessary for basic scroll reversal, but they are useful if you use multiple mice with different scroll preferences or if you want to change scroll direction for specific programs only. Most are free or low-cost and install as menu bar apps that run in the background.
Scroll direction on Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad
Apple's Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad both use Natural scrolling by default and share the same setting in System Settings. If you own both devices, toggling Natural scrolling in the Mouse settings affects only the Magic Mouse, and toggling it in the Trackpad settings affects only the Magic Trackpad.
The Magic Mouse is a trackpad disguised as a mouse — it responds to finger swipes the same way a trackpad does. Some people find it easier to keep Natural scrolling on for the Magic Mouse because it behaves like a trackpad, while others turn it off to match traditional mouse behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing scroll direction affect my trackpad too?
No. The Mouse and Trackpad settings are separate. Changing scroll direction for your mouse does not change how your trackpad scrolls. You can have your mouse scroll one way and your trackpad scroll the other way if you want.
Will reversing scroll direction affect all my apps?
Yes. Once you turn off Natural scrolling in System Settings, every app on your Mac will scroll in the reversed direction when you use your mouse. The change applies system-wide, not to individual programs.
Can I set different scroll directions for different mice?
System Settings does not support this — the scroll direction setting applies to all mice connected to your Mac. If you regularly switch between mice with different scroll preferences, third-party tools like Scroll Reverser can switch directions automatically based on which mouse is active.
My mouse scroll is not working at all. What should I do?
First, check that your mouse is powered on and paired to your Mac. Open System Settings > Bluetooth and look for your mouse in the list. If it is not there, try re-pairing it by holding the pairing button. If your mouse appears in Bluetooth but still does not scroll, the scroll wheel may be dirty — try cleaning it with a dry cloth or compressed air.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to toggle scroll direction?
No. You must open System Settings and toggle the Natural scrolling option manually. You cannot create a keyboard shortcut for this in the built-in Mac settings, though some third-party tools allow it.