How to Fix Two-Finger Scroll Not Working Issue on Windows 11

Is the two-finger scroll not working on your Windows 11 laptop? Learn here how to fix the two-finger scrolling not working issue with these easy methods.

If you’ve owned a laptop at any point in your life, you must be familiar with the two-finger scrolling feature. As all laptop comes with a touchpad which is basically a substitute for your mouse, the touchpad also lets you scroll through the web page using two fingers.

This two-finger scroll feature lets you scroll the web pages easily so that you don’t have to use the side scroller or press the page down key again and again. Hence, it’s evident that if the two-finger scroll stops working, you’ll have to face a lot of trouble.

Now, there is no need to worry as you’ve landed on this page. Here, I’ll tell you how to fix the two-finger scroll not working issue.

If you’re wondering why is my two-finger scroll not working in Windows 11, well, there could be different reasons. The most common reason is the touchpad settings. If the device setting is disabled for two-finger scrolling, you won’t be able to use this useful feature.

Hardware incompatibility and unsupported applications are also responsible for this problem. In case you’re using detachable keyboards, improper connectivity could be the reason behind it.

No matter what is the reason behind the two-finger scroll not working on your Windows 11 device, you’ll get the best solutions in the following sections.

The method that can fix your two-finger scroll problem depends on the reason. Since the reason is initially unknown to us, it’s better to try the methods chronologically. Thus, you can try out the easier ones first and see if the issue can be fixed.

Method 1: Restart the Device/ Try Safe Mode

Sometimes, it’s just a temporary problem and doesn’t need any complex approach to fix it. So, while having a two-finger scroll not working issue, you should simply restart the computer and see if you can use the two-finger scrolling feature. If it still doesn’t work, you could also try opening the computer in Safe Mode. For that, follow these steps:

• Click the Start button. While holding the Shift key, select Restart.
• When your PC starts, you’ll see a blue screen, known as WinRE or Windows Recovery Environment.
• Click on Troubleshoot on Choose an option window.
• Choose Advanced options.
• Select Startup Settings and click on Restart.
• After the restart, you’ll see some options with corresponding numbers.

• Press the number that shows beside the Safe Mode option for rebooting Safe Mode.
• Usually, it’s the number 4 key that you need to press when you see the list of commands.

Method 2: Restart Windows Explorer

A malfunctioning Windows Explorer or Explorer.exe could be the reason your two-finger scroll isn’t working for the time being. Besides restarting your computer, you could resolve this with Task Manager.

Press CTRL + ALT + Delete to select Task Manager from the list. Now, right-click on Windows Explorer and select the Restart option. Your screen may go black for a second, which will indicate the restarting of File Explorer. Now, try to scroll a webpage using two-finder scrolling of your touchpad and see if it got fixed.

Method 3: Make Sure Your Touchpad and Fingers are Clean

Your touchpad should be free from dirt and debris to function properly. Use a soft clean cloth to clean your touchpad and see if that can resolve your scrolling issue.

I’d like to add an additional precaution here. Make sure the fingers you use for scrolling through the touchpad are also clean and dry. Oily, wet, and dusty fingers stop your touchpad from functioning properly.

Method 4: Try Keyboard Shortcuts

When I first got my laptop, I used to find it difficult to write my thesis n it with the touchpad on because I would accidentally misplace my cursor. To avoid this, I used to keep my touchpad functions off. The funny thing is, sometimes I was too lazy to move my hand to use the mouse for scrolling and ended up using the two-finger scroll.

For obvious reasons, it wouldn’t work, as I’ve already disabled the touchpad. Now, I know I’m not the only one who forgets after disabling the touchpad. So, whenever you fail to use your touchpad, check if you’ve disabled it using your keyboard shortcut.

The best way to know it is to press the touchpad key. If it was disabled earlier, it’d become enabled, and in most cases, you’ll see a notification on your screen. In case your keyboard has some indicator light for touchpad enabling, you can also check that to know the current status.

Method 5: Check Two-Finger Settings

If you’re unable to perform a two-finger scroll on your Windows 11 computer after applying the basic techniques mentioned above, you need to check if two-finger scroll settings are enabled or not.

• Press Windows + I keys to open the Settings app.
• From the left, you need to choose Select Bluetooth and devices.
• Click on Touchpad to open related options.
• Expand the Scroll and zoom option.
• Make sure to check the box for Drag two fingers to scroll.
• Uncheck the box beside Leave touchpad on when a mouse is connected.
• You may also adjust the Scrolling direction.

Now, check if you can scroll using two fingers on the touchpad.

Method 6: Update the Driver

Two-finger scroll not working issue could arise if you have an outdated or inaccurately installed touchpad driver. If it’s the reason behind the scrolling issue, you need to update the touchpad driver. To do that, follow this method:

• Type Device Manager in the Search box on the Start menu.
• Click on the Device Manager icon shown under the Best match section.
• Double-click on Mice and other pointing devices option to expand it.
• You’ll find the HID-compliant mouse option there.

• Right-click on the driver for your touchpad and click on Update driver.
• Select Search automatically for drivers options and wait till your computer installs an update if available.

• On some laptop models, you may need to expand the Human Interface Device menu on Device Manager to find the touchpad driver of your laptop.

Method 7: Reset Touchpad Settings

Another way to fix the two-finger scroll not working issue is to reset the touchpad settings. If changing different touchpad settings fails o resolve your scrolling problem, you can try this approach.

• Type Settings in the Search box of the Windows Start menu and select Settings app under Best match.
• Click on Bluetooth and devices on the left-side navigation panel.
• Expand the Touchpad menu.
• Click on the Reset button beside Reset touchpad settings and gestures to defaults option.

This should set the settings back to default, and you should be able to scroll with two fingers using your touchpad.

Method 8: Tweak Registry Editor

When all the above methods are unable to resolve your two-finger scrolling, your last resort could be editing the Windows Registry files. Since the Registry is a critical system component, you should take a backup before proceeding with this method. Here are the steps to follow to edit the Registry.

• Press Windows + R to open Run.
• Type regedit and hit Enter.
• Paste the following in the address bar to navigate there:

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareSynapticsSynTPyour touchpad name

• On the right side, you’ll see various Registry Keys.
• Double-click of 2FingerTapPluginID and 3FingerTapPluginID keys.
• Check the Value Data field to see if it’s empty.
• Now is the time to set the below-mentioned values for the following keys:
  • 2FingerTapAction: 2 for right-click work or 4 for middle-click work
  • 3FingerTapPluginActionID: 0
  • 3FingerTapAction: 4
  • MultiFingerTapFlags: 2 or 3
• When done, close the Registry Editor.
• Restart your computer to apply the changes.
• When your computer opens, you shouldn’t have this problem anymore.

Conclusion

A laptop is a portable device that you can easily carry with you anywhere you go. While on the move, you don’t even need to carry an additional mouse for navigation since all its functions can be done using the touchpad.

If your two-finger scroll feature doesn’t work, it’ll be a matter of great inconvenience, especially if you need to scroll through long web pages. To help you out of this situation, I’ve shared the best methods that you can follow.

If you’re aware of any other approaches that can fix the two-finger scroll not working issue, let us know in the comments. Also, spread this article among your friends on social media by sharing. Next, read how to screen record on Windows 11 and best methods to fix Windows 11 drag and drop not working.