Where to find the mouse wheel setting on your Mac

The mouse wheel direction setting lives in System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs). Open System Settings from your Apple menu, then look for Mouse in the sidebar. If you don't see Mouse listed, click General first, then scroll down until you find it.

Once you're in the Mouse settings, you'll see a section labeled Scrolling. This is where the wheel direction control lives. The exact name and location can shift slightly between macOS versions, but it's always in this same general area.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, find Mouse in the sidebar, and look for the Scrolling section to reverse wheel direction.
  • The setting is usually a checkbox next to "Natural scrolling" or a toggle labeled "Scroll direction" — unchecking or toggling it inverts your wheel.
  • This change affects all mice and trackpads connected to your Mac unless you turn off the setting for individual devices.
  • If your mouse doesn't appear in System Settings, restart your Mac and check that the mouse is paired via Bluetooth or connected via USB.
  • Some third-party mice come with their own software that overrides the Mac setting — check the manufacturer's app if the System Settings change doesn't work.

Unchecking "Natural scrolling" to invert the wheel

In the Scrolling section, you'll see a checkbox (or toggle, depending on your macOS version) next to "Natural scrolling" or sometimes labeled "Scroll direction". By default, this box is checked. Unchecking it reverses the direction your wheel scrolls — so rolling the wheel toward you scrolls down instead of up.

Click the checkbox once to uncheck it. The change takes effect when ready; you don't need to restart your Mac or close any windows. Test it right away by scrolling in any open document or web page to confirm the direction has flipped.

Why your mouse wheel might not respond to this setting

If you've unchecked Natural scrolling but your wheel still scrolls the old way, your mouse may be using its own software. Some third-party mice — particularly gaming mice and ergonomic models — come with a companion app that controls scroll behavior and overrides the Mac system setting.

Check your mouse manufacturer's website to see if they offer software for your model. read and install it, then open the app and look for a scroll direction or inversion option there. If you find one, change it in the app instead of System Settings. You may need to restart your Mac after installing the software for the change to take hold.

Resetting the setting if it's not showing up

If the Mouse option doesn't appear in System Settings at all, your mouse may not be properly connected. For wireless mice, check that Bluetooth is turned on (click the Bluetooth icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen). For wired mice, unplug the USB cable, wait five seconds, and plug it back in.

After reconnecting, go back to System Settings and check the Mouse section again. If it still doesn't appear, restart your Mac completely — shut it down, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Once it restarts, reconnect your mouse and return to System Settings.

Checking your macOS version if settings look different

The exact wording and layout of mouse settings shift between macOS versions. On newer Macs (Ventura and later), the setting is usually called "Natural scrolling" and appears as a checkbox. On older versions, it might be labeled "Scroll direction" or appear as a toggle switch instead.

To find your macOS version, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select About This Mac. The version number appears at the top of the window. If you're running an older version and can't find the Mouse settings, the same principle applies — look for any option with "scroll" or "direction" in the name and toggle it to reverse your wheel.

explore the change to trackpads as well

The Natural scrolling setting in System Settings controls both your mouse wheel and your trackpad scrolling direction at the same time. If you uncheck it for your mouse, your trackpad will also scroll in the inverted direction. If you want them to scroll differently, you'll need to use a third-party tool or your mouse's own software to control just the mouse behavior.

Most people keep both set the same way, since switching between them would be confusing. But if you use an external mouse and a trackpad and prefer opposite directions, check whether your mouse manufacturer offers software that lets you control the mouse independently from the trackpad setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the scroll direction affect other apps or just the web browser?

The setting affects scrolling everywhere on your Mac — web browsers, documents, email, spreadsheets, and any other app. It's a system-wide change, not specific to one program. If you need different scroll directions in different apps, you would need to use third-party software that lets you create app-specific rules.

Will this setting stick if I restart my Mac?

Yes. Once you uncheck Natural scrolling, the change is saved to your Mac's settings and will remain even after you restart. You only need to change it once unless you decide to toggle it back later.

What if I have multiple mice connected to my Mac?

The Natural scrolling setting applies to all mice and trackpads connected to your Mac at the same time. You can't set different scroll directions for different mice using the System Settings alone. If you need that level of control, you would need to use third-party software designed for multi-device setups.

Can I undo this change if I don't like the inverted direction?

Yes — go back to System Settings, find the Mouse section, and check the Natural scrolling box again. Your scroll direction will return to the original setting when ready. There's no penalty for switching back and forth.