Windows 11 can be controlled from your PC’s trackpad using multi-finger gestures. The Microsoft operating system offers several series of gestures by default, but also allows you to customize them to perform the actions of your choice.
You may not know this, but if your Windows 11 machine has a trackpad, Microsoft’s operating system can be controlled using touch gestures. The OS offers three- and four-finger gestures by default, with several configurations for each grouping together different possible actions.
Natively, by sliding three fingers horizontally to the right or left on the touchpad of your PC, Windows 11 offers for example to Switch between applications and display the desktop. You can also swipe three fingers up to show multitasking or down to show the desktop.
However, if the default configuration of three or four finger gestures on the trackpad does not suit you, you can change the OS Settings to choose others. Even better, by accessing the advanced settings, you can customize each three-finger or four-finger gesture individually. Here’s how.
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1. Open Settings
To change the actions obtained in Windows 11 using three or four finger gestures on the trackpad, open Settings, go to Bluetooth and devices, then enter the Trackpad menu.
Scroll down to the Movement and Interaction section. Then expand the Three Finger Gestures and Four Finger Gestures menus.
2. Change the action of three or four finger gestures
For each, a series of preset gestures are enabled by default. If this does not suit you, click on the drop-down menu located in front of the mention Swipe, and choose the actions you prefer to apply.
Do not hesitate to test, and possibly modify your choices so that these gestures (to remember) are as practical as possible in your daily use of Windows.
3. Customize the individual actions of each movement
If the predefined actions are not suitable for your use, it is quite possible to customize them individually, with three or four fingers.
To do this, still in the Settings > Bluetooth and devices > Touchpad window, scroll through all the options and enter the Advanced gestures menu, displayed at the very bottom of the list.
You can then, for the three and four finger gestures, customize the possible actions for a press or swipe up, down, left or right.
4. Configure Custom Shortcuts
In addition to the actions suggested in each of the drop-down menus, if you cannot find the action you need, you can create it. To do this, select the Custom Shortcut option.
A new button and text field should appear. Click Start Recording, and use the keyboard shortcut you want to be able to perform using a gesture.
Finally click on Stop recording to save your action.