Mouse & TrackpadSmooth Mouse Scrolling
Smooth scroll on Mac with a mouse
To smooth scroll on a Mac with a regular mouse wheel, you need an app: macOS has no setting for it, and each notch jumps while a trackpad glides. The Scroll speed slider in Accessibility settings only changes how far you scroll. Smooth Mouse Scrolling turns each notch into a short glide, with the distance and glide you choose.
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One of 68 fixes in MrFixable. Lifetime license, no subscription. Updated October 22, 2026. Works on macOS 14.2 Sonoma and later. Checked on macOS 26 Tahoe.
What Smooth Mouse Scrolling does
The problem
On a Mac, a regular mouse wheel scrolls in line-sized jumps, while a trackpad glides. The Scroll speed slider in System Settings › Accessibility › Pointer Control › Mouse Options changes how fast you scroll, not how smoothly.
With Smooth Mouse Scrolling
Each notch of the wheel becomes a short, smooth glide, like scrolling on a trackpad. It works with office mice and gaming mice alike.
- Distance and glideSet how far each notch scrolls, from shorter to farther, and choose a Short, Medium or Long glide. Medium is the default.
- Modifier keys work as beforeHold ⌘, ⌥, ⌃ or ⇧ while scrolling and the wheel works normally, for zooming and sideways scrolling.
- Terminals and games left aloneTerminal, iTerm, Warp, kitty, Ghostty, Alacritty, WezTerm and games keep one step per notch, where each step counts.
- Stops when you change directionTurn the wheel the other way and the glide stops straight away, instead of finishing first.
Good to know
Needs Accessibility access, which macOS requires for an app that changes scrolling before it reaches other apps.
Only regular mouse wheels change. Trackpads and the Magic Mouse already scroll smoothly.
If the pointer feels floaty or hard to aim, turn off Pointer acceleration in System Settings › Mouse › Advanced. MrFixable has a button that opens Mouse settings.
Switch it off and the wheel scrolls in steps again.
Questions
What is smooth scrolling?
Smooth scrolling moves the page in a quick, continuous glide instead of jumping a few lines at a time. It's easier to follow with your eyes. On a Mac, trackpads and the Magic Mouse already scroll this way. A regular mouse wheel scrolls in steps, one jump per notch, until you turn on Smooth Mouse Scrolling.How do I get smooth scrolling on a Mac with a mouse?
1. Turn on Smooth Mouse Scrolling in MrFixable. 2. Allow Accessibility access when asked, in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. 3. Scroll with your mouse wheel: each notch now glides. 4. In the fix's settings, move the Distance slider and pick a Short, Medium or Long glide until it feels right.How do I scroll on a Mac?
On a trackpad, slide two fingers up or down. On a Magic Mouse, slide one finger on its top. On a regular mouse, roll the wheel. To change the direction, use Natural scrolling in System Settings › Mouse or Trackpad. To change the speed, go to System Settings › Accessibility › Pointer Control › Mouse Options › Scroll speed.How do I change the Mac mouse scroll direction?
1. Open System Settings › Mouse. 2. Turn Natural scrolling off to scroll like Windows, or on to scroll like an iPhone. This also changes the trackpad, because macOS shares one setting. To give the mouse wheel its own direction, turn on Separate Scroll Direction, and Smooth Mouse Scrolling glides the way you chose there.How do I fix jerky Mac mouse scrolling?
A regular mouse wheel scrolls in steps, which feels jerky next to a trackpad. 1. Turn on Smooth Mouse Scrolling. 2. Pick a Medium or Long glide. 3. If scrolling goes too far or not far enough, move the Distance slider. If the pointer feels floaty, turn off Pointer acceleration in System Settings › Mouse › Advanced.How do I make a Mac mouse scroll like Windows?
1. Turn on Separate Scroll Direction and set Mouse wheel to Classic, so rolling toward you moves down the page, as on Windows. 2. Leave the trackpad on Natural if you like it. 3. Turn on Smooth Mouse Scrolling so each notch glides. Hold ⌘, ⌥, ⌃ or ⇧ while scrolling and the wheel works normally.
Sources
Guides
- How to scroll on a Mac with a trackpad, mouse or keyboardHow to scroll on a Mac with a trackpad, mouse or keyboard, how to show scroll bars and change scroll speed, and how to get smooth scrolling on a mouse.
- Mouse side buttons not working on a Mac? Why, and the fixMouse back and forward buttons work in Chrome but not in Safari, Finder or Mail on a Mac. Why most Mac apps ignore them, the workaround, and a fix for every app.
- How to change scroll direction for a mouse only on a MacChange the scroll direction for a mouse only on a Mac. Why macOS ties the mouse and trackpad to one Natural scrolling switch, and how to set each one separately.