Change scroll direction in System Settings

On a Mac, you reverse mouse scroll direction through System Settings. Open System Settings, then go to Mouse in the left sidebar. Look for the "Scroll direction: Natural" checkbox — unchecking it reverses the direction your scroll wheel moves the page.

This setting applies only to external mice. If you use a trackpad, the scroll direction lives in a separate place: System Settings > Trackpad > Scroll & Zoom. The checkbox there works the same way — uncheck "Scroll direction: Natural" to reverse it.

The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to restart your Mac or close any open windows.

Key Takeaways

  • Mouse and trackpad scroll directions are controlled separately in System Settings, so changing one does not affect the other.
  • Unchecking "Scroll direction: Natural" reverses the scroll — moving the wheel forward scrolls down instead of up.
  • The setting applies to all external mice connected to your Mac, not just one device.
  • If you use multiple mice, you cannot set different scroll directions for each one — the Mac applies the same setting to all of them.

Finding the Mouse settings on different macOS versions

The path to mouse settings is the same on recent macOS versions (Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia), but older Macs may have a slightly different layout. On any Mac, start by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner and selecting System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).

Once System Settings opens, look for "Mouse" in the left sidebar. If you do not see it when ready, scroll down — it usually appears below Keyboard and above Trackpad. Click Mouse, and the scroll direction checkbox appears on the right side of the window.

If you have an older Mac running macOS Big Sur or earlier, the setting is in System Preferences instead of System Settings, but the Mouse section works the same way.

What "Natural" scroll direction means

Apple calls the default scroll direction "Natural" because it mimics how you scroll on an iPhone or iPad — pushing your finger up on the screen moves the content up, as if you are physically pushing the page. On a mouse, this means rolling the wheel forward scrolls the page up.

Many people who switched from Windows to Mac find this backwards at first. Windows mice scroll the traditional way: rolling the wheel forward scrolls the page down. If you prefer that behavior, unchecking "Scroll direction: Natural" restores it.

There is no right choice — it depends on what feels natural to your hand. Some people keep it checked on the trackpad but unchecked on the mouse, since they use each device differently.

Troubleshooting when the setting does not work

If you change the scroll direction but nothing happens, the most common cause is that the mouse is not recognized as a standard mouse. Some gaming mice and specialty input devices have their own software that overrides Mac settings. Check whether the mouse came with a companion app — if it did, that app may have its own scroll direction control that takes priority.

Another possibility is that the mouse needs to be reconnected. Disconnect the mouse (or turn it off if it is wireless), wait five seconds, then reconnect it. Sometimes a mouse that was paired before the setting changed does not pick up the new direction until it reconnects.

If you have multiple mice connected, make sure you are testing with the one you changed the setting for. The scroll direction applies to all mice at once, so there is no way to set different directions for different devices — but you can verify the setting is working by trying a different mouse.

Scroll direction for trackpad versus mouse

Your Mac lets you set different scroll directions for the trackpad and an external mouse. Many people prefer "Natural" scrolling on the trackpad (since it matches iPhone behavior) but traditional scrolling on a mouse (since it matches Windows). To do this, uncheck "Scroll direction: Natural" for the mouse but leave it checked for the trackpad.

Go to System Settings > Trackpad > Scroll & Zoom to control the trackpad separately. The trackpad setting does not affect your mouse, and vice versa. This is useful if you switch between devices throughout the day and want each one to feel right.

Resetting to default if you change your mind

If you reverse the scroll direction and decide you prefer it the other way, straightforward go back to System Settings > Mouse and check "Scroll direction: Natural" again. The change is when ready — you do not need to restart or do anything else.

There is no "reset all settings" button for the mouse. You control scroll direction one checkbox at a time. If you have changed other mouse settings (like tracking speed or secondary click) and want to start over, you will need to adjust each one individually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing scroll direction affect my trackpad too?

No. Mouse and trackpad scroll directions are separate settings. You can reverse the mouse scroll without touching the trackpad, or vice versa. Go to System Settings > Trackpad > Scroll & Zoom to change the trackpad independently.

Why does my gaming mouse not respond to the scroll direction setting?

Gaming mice often come with their own software that overrides Mac settings. Check whether your mouse has a companion app installed — if it does, look for scroll direction controls there. You may need to change the setting in the mouse software instead of System Settings.

Can I set different scroll directions for different mice?

No. The scroll direction setting applies to all external mice at once. If you connect multiple mice, they all scroll the same way. There is no way to assign different directions to individual devices.

What if I cannot find the Mouse option in System Settings?

Make sure you are in System Settings, not System Preferences (older Macs use Preferences). If you see Mouse in the sidebar but it is grayed out, you may not have an external mouse connected. Plug in or turn on your mouse, then try again.

Does this setting work on Magic Mouse?

Yes. Magic Mouse is treated as a standard mouse in System Settings. The scroll direction setting in System Settings > Mouse applies to it just like any other external mouse.