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  • Getting Started with OS X Mavericks

OS X Mavericks

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Getting Started with OS X Mavericks

Natural scrolling

By default, Mavericks uses natural scrolling, which means things move in the opposite direction from "traditional" scrolling. To understand this, let's compare traditional and natural scrolling:

  • Traditional scrolling: When you're viewing a webpage, you can scroll down by using a downward swipe on your trackpad (using two fingers), Magic Mouse, or the scroll wheel on a more traditional mouse. Your web browser's scroll bar moves down, but the content on the page moves up. This is the way most computers handle scrolling.
    Photo of The Magic MouseTraditional scrolling
  • Natural scrolling: With natural scrolling, you will use an upward swipe, and the content on the page moves up, almost like you are pushing the content up. This is the way scrolling usually works on touchscreen devices like the iPad and iPhone, and it's the default option in Mavericks.
    Photo of The Magic MouseNatural scrolling

To change scrolling type:

If you've never used natural scrolling before, it may seem awkward at first. However, since it mimics the way mobile devices work it may not take very long to get used to it. You can switch between natural and traditional scrolling in your mouse or trackpad settings to see which one you prefer.

  1. Click the Apple icon, then select System Preferences.
    Screenshot of OS X MavericksOpening System Preferences
  2. Select the Mouse icon to go to your mouse settings, or select Trackpad to go to your trackpad settings.
    Screenshot of OS X MavericksGoing to Mouse settings
  3. Next to Scroll direction, uncheck the check box to use traditional scrolling, or check it to use natural scrolling.
    Screenshot of OS X MavericksChanging the scroll direction
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