Handy trackpad gestures you need to try

Want to zoom in on a web page, twirl a snapshot in iPhoto, sneak a peek at the desktop, or look up the definition of a head-scratching word? You can do all that and more with a simple swipe, “pinch,” or tap on your Mac’s trackpad.
All 12 of these multi-finger gestures will work on newer-model MacBook trackpads, as well as on Apple’s $69 Magic Trackpad accessory for the iMac.
Ready to start pinching and swiping? Let’s start with…

1. Swipe up or down with two fingertips

Put two fingertips together, touch the trackpad, then swipe up or down to scroll on the selected page or window. (Does it feel like you’re scrolling backwards? If so, just turn off “Natural Scrolling” in your Mac’s system settings.)

Swipe up with three fingertips to launch the Mac’s “Mission Control” feature, or swipe down to see all the open windows of an active application.

2. Swipe up with three fingertips

Instead of swiping up with two fingertips, try it with three—and when you do, you’ll activate the Mac’s “Mission Control” mode, giving you a bird’s-eye view of all your open windows and desktop spaces.

3. Swipe down with three fingertips

Shows all the open windows for the active application. For example, if you’re using the Mac’s Safari web browser, swipe up with three fingertips to see all your open Safari windows—even those on other Mission Control desktops.

4. Swipe left or right with three fingertips

Switches you to the next Mission Control desktop; just keep swiping to cycle through all your desktops.

5. Swipe from right to left with two fingertips in Safari

Takes you back to the previous web page. Want to go forward again? Swipe once more with two fingertips—except this time, swipe from left to right.

6. Click the trackpad with two fingertips

Performs the equivalent of a “right-click” on your mouse. (You can also right-click by pressing and holding the CONTROL key as you click the trackpad.)

7. “Pinch” the trackpad

Zooms in on (or out of) the active window, depending on whether you’re pinching or spreading your fingertips. (“Pinching” on the Mac trackpad is the same as pinching on an iPhone, by the way; just put both your thumb and index finger on the trackpad, then slowly pinch them together or spread them apart.)

Pinch with four fingers to jump to the Mac’s Launchpad feature, or spread four fingers to reveal the desktop.

8. Pinch with your thumb and three fingertips

Activates the Mac’s “Launchpad” feature, which displays all your Mac applications in a handy grid.

9. Un-pinch (or “spread”) your thumb and three fingertips

Clears away the clutter of windows and reveals your bare desktop.

10. Pinch and twirl a photo

Want to twirl a snapshot around in iPhoto or the Mac OS X “Preview” application? Just select it, pinch the trackpad, and twist one way or the other.

11. Select a word, then double-tap with three fingers

Stumped by a word in an article you’re reading in Safari? Select the word, then double-tap the trackpad with three fingers; the definition will appear in a nearby pop-up window.

12. Double-tap with two fingers

Zooms in on a web page, focusing on the current position of the mouse. To zoom out again, just double-tap one more time.

Bonus tip

You can tweak or deactivate many of these trackpad gestures by tweaking your Mac’s settings. Just open the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, select System Preferences, then click Trackpad.