Symptoms
- Cursor moves fine but two-finger scrolling doesn't work
- Scrolling works in some apps but not others
- Scrolling direction feels reversed or inconsistent
- Scrolling worked before and stopped after an update
Likely causes
- CommonTwo-finger scroll gesture disabled or misconfigured in settingsGesture settings can be reset or disabled by an update.
- CommonOutdated or corrupted trackpad driverGesture recognition specifically relies on driver-level features that can break independently of basic tracking.
- PossibleApp-specific scrolling behavior differing from system gesturesSome older or non-standard apps handle scroll input differently.
- PossibleTrackpad surface too dirty to register two distinct touch points reliablyResidue can interfere with multi-touch gesture recognition specifically.
What to do
- Check trackpad settings to confirm two-finger scroll (or the equivalent gesture) is enabled.
- Clean the trackpad surface with a slightly damp microfiber cloth to improve multi-touch accuracy.
- Update the trackpad driver from the manufacturer's website rather than relying on a generic system driver.
- Test scrolling in multiple apps (a web browser and a document, for example) to see if it's app-specific.
- Try adjusting or resetting scroll direction settings if it feels reversed.
- Restart the laptop to rule out a temporary glitch affecting gesture recognition.
Tools and parts
- Microfiber cloth
When to call a pro
If scrolling still fails everywhere after driver updates and cleaning, a technician can check for a deeper trackpad hardware issue.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.