Apple Trackpad Gestures Cheat Sheet

Here’s a cheat sheet for some common trackpad gestures used on Apple devices:

Basic Gestures

  • Click:
    • Press down on the trackpad with one finger.
  • Secondary Click (Right Click):
    • Tap with two fingers, or click in the bottom-right corner.
  • Two-Finger Scroll:
    • Slide two fingers up or down to scroll.
  • Pinch to Zoom:
    • Pinch two fingers together to zoom out.
    • Spread two fingers apart to zoom in.

Navigation Gestures

  • Three-Finger Swipe Up:
    • Opens Mission Control for a view of all open windows.
  • Three-Finger Swipe Down:
    • Exposes the desktop, minimizing open windows.
  • Three-Finger Swipe Left/Right:
    • Switch between full-screen apps or desktop spaces.
  • Four-Finger Swipe Up:
    • Opens Launchpad for quick app access.
  • Four-Finger Swipe Left/Right:
    • Switch between desktops or full-screen apps.

App-Specific Gestures

  • Three-Finger Swipe Left/Right in Safari:
    • Navigates back and forward in web pages.
  • Two-Finger Swipe Left/Right in Photos:
    • Browses through photos.
  • Rotate with Two Fingers in Preview:
    • Rotates an image.

Spotlight Search

  • Three-Finger Tap:
    • Activates Spotlight search.

Text Editing

  • Three-Finger Tap on a Word:
    • Displays a dictionary definition.
  • Three-Finger Drag:
    • Moves selected text or objects.
  • Two-Finger Double Tap:
    • Zooms to the area under the pointer.

Mission Control and Spaces

  • Swipe Up with Four Fingers:
    • Opens Mission Control.
  • Swipe Left/Right with Four Fingers:
    • Switches between desktop spaces.

Accessibility Gestures

  • Zoom In/Out:
    • Use the Accessibility zoom gesture: Option + Command + "=" to zoom in and Option + Command + "-" to zoom out.
  • Accessibility Swipe:
    • Use the Accessibility swipe gesture: Option + Command + H to navigate through apps.

System Preferences

  • Adjust Trackpad Settings:
    • Open System Preferences > Trackpad to customize gesture settings.

Note

  • Gestures and their functionalities may vary depending on the trackpad model and the version of macOS.

Feel free to explore and customize these gestures based on your preferences. Trackpad gestures can significantly enhance your productivity and overall user experience on Apple devices.