UnnaturalScrollWheels For Mac

The default “Natural” scrolling direction for the mouse on macOS is the opposite of natural for most users, but there’s a problem with changing it. If you’re on a MacBook, the trackpad scrolling direction will also be reversed, as the two settings are linked.

UnnaturalScrollWheels is a very simple open-source app that lets you manage these two settings independently. It runs in the menu bar and allows you to reverse the mouse scrolling direction without affecting the trackpad in any way. It can also be used to disable mouse and scroll acceleration.

First off, you’ll need to leave the Mouse scrolling direction on macOS on its default setting (Natural). Then, just launch the app and make sure vertical scrolling is inverted. This will only affect your mouse wheel.

Now, you should be able to use your mouse scroll wheel as intended, and your MacBook’s trackpad will work the way it normally does, by moving content along with your finger movements.

There is also an alternate detection method available that may be necessary for certain mice. You can try this if the scrolling direction hasn’t been inverted as expected.

The app also allows you to turn off scroll acceleration and specify how many lines to scroll for each wheel step. This is optional, but it will be great for users who prefer linear scrolling.

Finally, there is an option to disable mouse acceleration. However, this will disable all sensitivity adjustments and cause your mouse to use its default DPI. Any change to the tracking speed in your macOS preferences will re-enable acceleration. This is a useful setting if your mouse has adjustable DPI.

UnnaturalScrollWheels does a good job of addressing a rather strange macOS flaw. It allows you to change the scrolling direction of your mouse wheel without changing the way you scroll when using the trackpad.