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How to change the scroll direction in Windows 11

If you aren’t happy with scroll directions in Windows 11, you have options.

Windows 11 logo
Image: Microsoft

If the default scroll direction in Windows 11 doesn’t suit your style, navigating your PC can feel a little wonky.

Pages may scroll up when they should go down and down when they should go up. The resulting confusion can seriously disrupt your workflow.

Fortunately, you don’t have to put with the default direction.

While touchpad scroll settings are easy enough to alter, modifying your mouse requires a little more intel and a quest into the registry. But it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Let’s discuss how to change the mouse and touchpad scroll direction in Windows 11.

How to change scrolling direction for touchpad in Windows 11

When it comes to touchpad settings, you’re in luck, as the process only requires a couple of steps. Here’s how to change your touchpad scroll direction:

  1. Launch the Settings app
Screenshot of windows 11 desktop showing the settings app on the start menu
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Go to Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad
Screenshot of windows 11 settings showing the touchpad options
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Select Scroll & zoom in the Gestures & interaction section
Screenshot of windows 11 settings showing the touchpad scroll direction
Image: KnowTechie
  1. Set Scroll direction to either Down motion scrolls up or Down motion scrolls down
Screenshot of windows 11 settings showing the touchpad scroll direction options
Image: KnowTechie

Now you know where to go to change the scrolling direction of your touchpad in Windows 11. But what if you’re using a mouse?

How to change scrolling direction for the mouse in Windows 11

Unfortunately, Windows 11 doesn’t allow you to reverse the mouse scroll direction through the settings.

You can, however, edit the registry to make the required change. But first, you must confirm the identification number for your mouse.

How to confirm mouse identification number

Here’s how to find your mouse’s VID ID number:

  1. Search Device Manager via the taskbar search tool and open the app
Windows search device manager
Image: KnowTechie

2. Expand the Mice and other pointing devices section by clicking the Disclosure triangle

Windows device manager
Image: KnowTechie

3. Right-click the currently connected mouse and select Properties

Windows device manager mouse
Image: KnowTechie

4. Select the Details tab

Windows mouse properties
Image: KnowTechie

5. Click the drop-down box and select Device instance path

Windows mouse property details
Image: KnowTechie

6. Note the VID ID, which will be something like VID_203A&PID_FFFC&MI_01

Windows mouse properties vivid
Image: KnowTechie

With the VID ID confirmed, you’re ready to roll into the registry and make the changes needed to reverse your mouse’s scroll direction.

How to reverse mouse scroll direction in Windows 11

Here’s how to change the mouse scroll direction in the Windows registry:

Search regedit via the taskbar search tool and open Registry EditorWindows search regedit

In the path bar, paste HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\HID and press EnterWindows registry editor

Expand the folder that matches your mouse’s VID IDWindows regedit hid

Expand the next subfolder and select Device ParametersWindows regedit hid vid

Double-click the FlipFlopWheel entryWindows regedit device parameter

Change the value from 0 to 1 and click OKWindows regedit flipflopwheel

Restart your PC for the changes to take effect

If you want to restore the default scroll direction, you can follow the same steps, but you’ll need to change the FlipFlopWheel value to 0.

What’s the best scroll direction to use?

The best scroll direction is the one that feels the most natural to you—and that may not be the one labeled “natural.” Really, the choice is yours.

Windows doesn’t make changing the mouse scroll direction easy—perhaps Microsoft assumes it knows best—but fiddling with the registry will get you the desired results.

You may even find that the setting you prefer for a touchpad doesn’t feel right for a mouse, which is why separating the settings is important, Apple.

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Matt is an Australian writer with a degree in creative and critical writing. Prior to commencing his studies, he worked in tech support and gained valuable insights into technology and its users. He is also an editor and author coach at Dean Publishing.

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