macOS includes a Trackpad gesture called “App Exposé.” If you place four fingers (or three, depending on your settings) on your MacBook trackpad and swipe downwards, the operating system instantly pushes all your windows aside and displays a spread-out view of only the windows belonging to the currently active application.
While this is useful for users who have 20 different Word documents open simultaneously, it is a massive annoyance for users who rely on heavy Trackpad gestures for other software (like Adobe Premiere, Blender, or Figma). Accidentally brushing the trackpad with four fingers while trying to pan across a timeline will violently interrupt your workflow, blurring your screen and scattering your windows. If you never use App Exposé and want to reclaim that gesture for custom macros (or simply prevent accidental triggering), you must completely disable it.
Disabling App Exposé via Trackpad Settings
Apple allows you to easily turn off this specific gesture directly from the Trackpad preference pane.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings….
- Scroll down the left-hand navigation sidebar and click on Trackpad (usually near the bottom).
- In the main panel, look at the top and click on the More Gestures tab.
- Scroll down the list of gestures until you find the one labelled App Exposé.
- Look at the dropdown menu next to it (it will likely say “Swipe down with 4 fingers” or “Swipe down with 3 fingers”).
- Click the dropdown menu and select Off.
The change takes effect immediately. Close the System Settings window and test it by placing four fingers on your trackpad and swiping down aggressively. Nothing will happen. Your application windows will remain exactly where they are, completely eliminating accidental interruptions during heavy trackpad usage.