If you have recently switched from a Windows PC to an Apple Mac, one of the most immediately jarring differences is how the scroll wheel on your mouse behaves. Apple uses “Natural Scrolling,” which mimics the behavior of a touchscreen: pushing up on the scroll wheel pushes the content on the screen up (moving you down the page). Conversely, Windows uses traditional scrolling: rolling the wheel down moves the scrollbar down.
This difference in muscle memory can be incredibly frustrating. Fortunately, you do not need to retrain your brain. macOS allows you to easily invert the scroll direction for any connected mouse, returning it to the traditional Windows-style behavior.
This guide explains how to change the mouse scroll direction on your Mac.
How to Invert Mouse Scrolling
You can change the scrolling behavior at any time through the System Settings menu. Ensure your mouse is connected via Bluetooth or USB before proceeding.
- Click the Apple Logo located in the top-left corner of the menu bar.
- Select System Settings from the drop-down menu. (If you are using macOS Monterey or an older version, select System Preferences).
- In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Mouse.
- On the right side of the window, locate the toggle switch labeled Natural scrolling.
- Turn the Natural scrolling switch to the Off position (grey).
The change is instantaneous. You can test the new scrolling behavior immediately in the Settings window or by opening a web browser. Rolling the scroll wheel down toward yourself will now move the page downward.
The Trackpad Dilemma
There is one significant caveat to changing this setting in macOS: the Mouse scroll direction and the Trackpad scroll direction are linked by default.
If you turn off Natural scrolling for your external mouse, it also turns off Natural scrolling for your built-in MacBook trackpad. While traditional scrolling feels great on a physical mouse wheel, it feels completely backward and unnatural when swiping your fingers on a smooth trackpad.
Apple does not provide a built-in way to separate these two settings. If you use your MacBook at a desk with a mouse during the day, but use the trackpad on the couch at night, you have two options:
- Manually toggle the setting: You must remember to open System Settings and flip the Natural scrolling switch every time you switch between the mouse and the trackpad.
- Use third-party software: You can download a free, open-source utility like Scroll Reverser or Mac Mouse Fix. These small background applications allow you to explicitly define the scroll direction for mice independently of trackpads, solving Apple’s design oversight permanently.