How to Enable Two-Finger Scroll in Windows 11? Easy Guide

The two-finger scroll feature allows you to scroll vertically or horizontally by placing two fingers on your touchpad and sliding them up, down, left, or right. This gesture is supported on most modern laptops that use a precision touchpad driver. Windows 11 provides built-in controls for managing these gestures without requiring third-party software.

Three main things determine whether two finger scroll works on your system:

First, your laptop must have a compatible touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures. Older laptops with basic touchpads may not support this feature.

Second, the correct touchpad driver must be installed. Most modern systems use Microsoft’s Precision Touchpad drivers, while some manufacturers use custom drivers from companies like Synaptics or ELAN.

Third, the feature must be enabled in the Settings menu. Sometimes it gets disabled after a Windows update, driver update, or accidental settings change.

In this guide, you will learn the complete process to enable two-finger scrolling in Windows 11.

How to Enable Two-Finger Scroll in Windows 11?

To enable two-finger scroll in Windows 11, open Settings, go to Bluetooth and devices, click Touchpad, expand Scroll and zoom, and turn on the Drag two fingers to scroll option. If the option is missing, update or reinstall your touchpad driver from Device Manager.

Follow the process that I have mentioned below!

Step 1: Open the Windows 11 Settings App

The first step is to access the main settings panel, where touchpad options are located.

Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app directly. Alternatively, click on the Start menu and select Settings from the list of options.

Once the Settings window opens, make sure you are in the main dashboard area where different system categories are displayed on the left-hand side.

Step 2: Navigate to Bluetooth and Devices

Inside the Settings window, look at the left sidebar and click on Bluetooth and devices. This section contains options related to connected devices, including mouse, keyboard, stylus, and touchpad.

After clicking on Bluetooth and devices, you will see various device-related settings on the right side of the screen.

Step 3: Open Touchpad Settings

Scroll down within the Bluetooth and devices section until you find the Touchpad option. Click on it to open detailed touchpad customization settings.

If you do not see the Touchpad option, your laptop may not have a recognized touchpad driver installed. In that case, you will need to check Device Manager, which will be explained later in this guide.

When you click on Touchpad, a new settings page will appear showing gesture and sensitivity options.

Step 4: Ensure the Touchpad Is Turned On

Before enabling two-finger scrolling, make sure the touchpad itself is enabled.

At the top of the Touchpad settings page, you will see a toggle switch labeled Touchpad. If it is turned off, switch it on. When enabled, the toggle should appear active.

If the touchpad is disabled here, none of the gesture features will function.

Step 5: Expand the Scroll and Zoom Section

Scroll down within the Touchpad settings page until you find the section labeled Scroll and zoom. Click on it to expand the available options.

This section controls scrolling gestures and pinch-to-zoom functionality.

After expanding the scroll and zoom, you will see the option called Drag two fingers to scroll.

Step 6: Enable Drag Two Fingers to Scroll

Now locate the checkbox or toggle labeled Drag two fingers to scroll.

Turn on this option by checking the box or enabling the toggle. Once activated, you can immediately test the feature by placing two fingers on your touchpad and sliding them up or down.

You should now be able to scroll vertically. If horizontal scrolling is supported, you can slide two fingers left or right as well.

Step 7: Adjust Scroll Direction

Under the Scroll and zoom section, you may also see an option to change the Scrolling direction.

Windows 11 usually provides two choices: “Down motion scrolls down” and “Down motion scrolls up.”

The first option is the traditional scrolling style. The second option is often called natural scrolling, similar to how smartphones and tablets behave.

Choose the option that feels more comfortable for your usage.

Test Two-Finger Scrolling

After enabling the feature, open a web browser or a long document.

Place two fingers on your touchpad and gently slide them upward to scroll down the page. Slide them downward to scroll up.

If scrolling works smoothly, the feature has been successfully enabled.

If it does not work, continue to the troubleshooting steps below.

What If the Two-Finger Scroll Option Is Missing?

Sometimes, the Drag two fingers to scroll option does not appear. This usually happens due to driver-related issues.

Follow these steps to fix it.

Step1: Open Device Manager

Press Windows key + X and select Device Manager from the menu.

Device Manager allows you to manage hardware devices and drivers installed on your system.

Step 2: Locate Mice and Other Pointing Devices

Inside Device Manager, scroll down and expand Mice and other pointing devices.

Here, you should see your touchpad listed. It may appear as:

• HID-compliant touchpad
• Synaptics Touchpad
• ELAN Touchpad
• Precision Touchpad

If you only see an HID-compliant mouse, your touchpad driver may not be properly installed.

Step 3: Update the Touchpad Driver

Right-click on your touchpad device and select Update driver.

Choose Search automatically for drivers. Windows will search for updated drivers and install them if available.

After updating, restart your laptop and check the Touchpad settings again.

Step 4: Reinstall the Touchpad Driver

If updating does not work, right-click the touchpad device in Device Manager and select Uninstall device.

Restart your laptop. Windows 11 will automatically reinstall the correct driver during startup.

Once your system boots up, go back to Settings and check whether the two-finger scroll option is now available.

Step 5: Install Manufacturer Drivers

If Windows does not restore full touchpad functionality, visit your laptop manufacturer’s official website.

Search for your laptop model and download the latest touchpad driver compatible with Windows 11.

Install the driver manually and restart your system.

This usually restores advanced gesture features, including two-finger scrolling.

Faqs

Why is two finger scroll not working in Windows 11?

Two-finger scroll may not work if the touchpad driver is outdated, the feature is disabled in settings, or your laptop does not support multi-touch gestures. Updating or reinstalling the driver usually fixes the issue.

How do I know if my laptop supports two-finger scrolling?

Open Settings and navigate to Touchpad. If you see the Scroll and zoom section with gesture options, your laptop supports multi-touch features.

Can I enable two-finger scroll without a precision touchpad?

Some non-precision touchpads support two-finger scrolling through manufacturer drivers such as Synaptics or ELAN. You must install the correct driver from your laptop manufacturer.

Does Windows 11 automatically enable two-finger scroll?

On most modern laptops with a precision touchpad, Windows 11 enables two-finger scrolling by default. However, it can be turned off manually or disabled after driver updates.

How do I enable horizontal two-finger scrolling?

If supported, horizontal scrolling is automatically enabled when you turn on Drag two fingers to scroll. Slide two fingers left or right to test it.