Useful macOS defaults: Trackpad

Trackpad settings live in two domains. You often need to set both for a change to stick:

• com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad (for the Bluetooth Magic Trackpad)
• com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad (for the built-in trackpad on MacBooks)

Some settings also live in NSGlobalDomain.

After changing these, log out and back in for them to take full effect.

Tap to click

Let a light tap act as a click, instead of pressing the trackpad down:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad Clicking -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad Clicking -bool true

Also set it at the system level (needed for the login screen):

defaults -currentHost write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1
defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.mouse.tapBehavior -int 1

Secondary click (right click)

Set two-finger tap or click to act as a right click:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadRightClick -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadRightClick -bool true

You can also right click by clicking the bottom right corner:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadCornerSecondaryClick -int 2
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadCornerSecondaryClick -int 2

Values for corner click:

• 0 = off
• 1 = bottom left
• 2 = bottom right

Tracking speed

Set how fast the cursor moves relative to your finger. The range is 0 (slowest) to 3 (fastest). The default is about 1:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.trackpad.scaling -float 2.0

Scroll direction

Set whether scrolling follows your finger ("natural") or goes the other way:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain com.apple.swipescrolldirection -bool true

Set to true for natural scrolling (content follows your fingers). Set to false for the older direction. This also affects the mouse scroll wheel.

Three-finger drag

Move windows by dragging three fingers across the trackpad. This is hidden in the Accessibility settings:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadThreeFingerDrag -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadThreeFingerDrag -bool true

You also need to turn it on in the Accessibility framework:

defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad Dragging -bool true

In System Settings, this lives under Accessibility, then Pointer Control, then Trackpad Options, then Dragging style.

Swipe between pages

Swipe with two fingers to go back and forward in Safari and other apps:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain AppleEnableSwipeNavigateWithScrolls -bool true

Three-finger swipe between Spaces

Use three fingers to swipe between desktops:

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadThreeFingerHorizSwipeGesture -int 2
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadThreeFingerHorizSwipeGesture -int 2

Values:

• 0 = off
• 1 = swipe between pages
• 2 = swipe between Spaces

Pinch to zoom

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadPinch -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadPinch -bool true

Smart zoom (double-tap with two fingers)

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadTwoFingerDoubleTapGesture -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadTwoFingerDoubleTapGesture -bool true

Rotate with two fingers

defaults write com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad TrackpadRotate -bool true
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad TrackpadRotate -bool true

Force click and haptic feedback

On trackpads that support Force Touch, turn on force click (press harder for Quick Look and other features):

defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad ForceSuppressed -bool false
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad ActuateDetents -int 1

Set ForceSuppressed to true to turn off force click.

Haptic feedback strength

Set how strong the click feels on Force Touch trackpads:

defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad FirstClickThreshold -int 1
defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad SecondClickThreshold -int 1

Values:

• 0 = light
• 1 = medium
• 2 = firm

Silent clicking

On Force Touch trackpads, turn off the click sound:

defaults write com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad ActuationStrength -int 0

Set to 1 for normal click feedback.

Read all current trackpad settings

defaults read com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.trackpad
defaults read com.apple.AppleMultitouchTrackpad

Notes

You need to set both domains because macOS reads from different ones depending on whether you use the built-in trackpad or an external Magic Trackpad. If a setting does not seem to take effect, make sure you set it in both places.

Some trackpad settings also need NSGlobalDomain to be set (like tap to click and tracking speed). When in doubt, check all three:

defaults read NSGlobalDomain | grep -i trackpad
defaults read NSGlobalDomain | grep -i mouse
defaults read NSGlobalDomain | grep -i scroll

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