Your Mac's trackpad doesn't have to be basic. Here's how to customize it.

Maximize your Apple MacBook's potential with a fully customized trackpad. This essential input device offers far more than basic functionality. Let's explore how to unlock its power.

macOS Trackpad Settings: A Deep Dive

Access your trackpad settings via System Settings, scrolling to the bottom of the sidebar and selecting Trackpad.

The Point & Click tab lets you fine-tune cursor speed (Slow to Fast) and click sensitivity (Light to Firm). MacBook models from 2015 onward feature Force Touch, offering Force Click and haptic feedback for actions like previewing map addresses or message attachments. Enable Look up & data detectors for full functionality, or use a three-finger click for lookups if you prefer to disable Force Click. (See Apple's website for more Force Click examples).

The Secondary click (right-click) can be disabled, enabled with a two-finger click, or activated by clicking a bottom corner. Tap to click allows for click registration via a light tap.

The Scroll & Zoom tab controls scrolling direction (Natural scrolling), pinch-to-zoom (Zoom in or out), two-finger double-tap zoom (Smart Zoom), and two-finger rotation (Rotate). Hover over options for interactive previews.

Finally, the More Gestures tab provides seven customizable gestures. Toggle simple on/off switches or select from drop-down menus to assign actions like activating Notification Center (two-finger swipe from the right) or swiping between full-screen apps (three or four-finger swipes).

Third-Party Apps: Expanding Trackpad Capabilities

Enhance your trackpad's functionality further with third-party apps.

BetterTouchTool ($10 for two years of updates, $22 for lifetime updates, with a 45-day free trial) offers extensive customization. Under Groups & Top Level Triggers, add a gesture (e.g., 3-finger double-tap) and assign actions (app navigation, window resizing, system actions) under Actions Assigned to Selected Trigger. You can also incorporate keyboard shortcuts and visual alerts.

Swish (14-day free trial, then $16) provides pre-built gestures to expand functionality, including window management (maximize/minimize, snapping to a grid, moving between monitors), and quick desktop viewing. Explore gestures under General, Windows, Snapping, Apps, Menubar, and Advanced. Swish also allows enabling gestures with a modifier key.

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