Sometimes you just can’t get used to the fact that your mouse’s scroll wheel feels the wrong way around when you use it. The same goes for a touchpad on a laptop. With these tips you can reverse the movements and adjust the scrolling direction.
If you use Windows 10, you know that it is not just possible to adjust the direction of the scroll wheel on your mouse. However, this can be arranged via the Registry Editor. We do give a warning in advance: changes in the registry can cause problems. Therefore, first make a backup your system especially if you’re not quite sure.
Adjust mouse scroll wheel direction
First, we need to track down your mouse’s identification number. This goes as follows. Open Home and go to Device Manager (type that word). click on Mice and other pointing devices† Now right click on the active mouse and click propertiesn. Click in the menu below Characteristic on the option Device instance path† Write the . now VID ID on; for example: VID_046D&PID_C52B&MI_01. Then proceed as follows.
- Open the Start menu and type regedit in; the Registry Editor will then come up
- Go to the following path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetEnumHID - Open the key (folder) corresponding to the VID ID you just wrote down with your right mouse button (To expand†
- Open the available key, again with your right mouse button (Expand)
- Open Device Parameters
- Double click on FlipFlopWheel and set the value to 1
- Click OK and restart your computer
After booting, the mouse wheel should now scroll in the other direction. Do you want to reset the settings? Then follow the above steps again and now enter the number 0 in the place where you just placed a 1.
Adjust touchpad scrolling direction
Fortunately, adjusting the scrolling direction of your touchpad is much easier. Do you have a laptop with such a pad on board and want to reverse the direction? Then follow these steps.
- Open the settings (Start menu > Gear icon)
- Go to Devices
- Choose the option in the menu on the left touch pad
- There is an option that allows you to adjust the direction, under the heading for scrolling and zooming
The option may not be there in your version of Windows. Then check whether the provider of the laptop offers software via its official website that allows you to adjust the direction. Isn’t that the case? Then unfortunately the direction cannot be adjusted for you. Unless you trust certain software that can offer such features – but that is entirely at your own risk.
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