Applies ToSurface Devices Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 11 Surface

Your Surface Type Cover has a touchpad with two buttons that you can use like a mouse. Use gestures on the touchpad to do things like scroll up and down, zoom in, and select items. You can also adjust settings to prevent the touchpad from responding to accidental touches and more.

Use the touchpad 

If your Surface has a touchpad, it has right-click and left-click buttons that work like the buttons on a mouse.

To keep accidental touches from making the cursor jump while you’re typing, you can set the delay before taps work, turn taps off, or turn the touchpad off. To learn how, see Change the touchpad settings.

Do this 

If you want to

Press down on the left side of your touchpad

  • Press to click

  • Select an item

  • Left-click like on a mouse

Press down on the right side of your touchpad

  • Press to right-click

  • Open app commands in Windows apps or a context menu in desktop apps

  • Right-click like on a mouse

Tap one finger anywhere on the touchpad

  • Select an item

  • Left-click like on a mouse

Tap two fingers anywhere on the touchpad

  • Open app commands in Windows apps or a context menu in desktop apps

  • Right-click like on a mouse

Drag your finger on the touchpad

  • Moves the cursor

Swipe three fingers up on the touchpad

  • Display your virtual desktop

Press and hold the left touchpad button down and then slide a finger in any direction

  • Move an item or select text

  • Like moving a mouse while you hold down the left button

Tap, immediately tap and hold, then drag

  • Move an item or select text

  • Like moving a mouse while you hold down the left button

Slide two fingers horizontally or vertically

  • Scroll though a screen or document

  • Like dragging the scroll button on the screen, or using a scroll wheel on a mouse

Pinch your thumb and forefinger together or move them apart

  • Zoom in or out

  • Like the gestures on your touchscreen

Get started with touchpad gestures

You can swipe on your touchpad to quickly get to certain features and shortcuts. These gestures work with all Surface Type Covers and the Surface models that have a touchpad. For more info about other gestures, see Touch gestures on Windows.

Change the touchpad settings

You can change touchpad settings to turn the touchpad on and off, reverse scrolling direction, turn gestures on and off, and more.

  1. Attach your Surface to its keyboard or Type Cover.

  2. Do one of the following

    1. On Windows 10, go to Start > Settings > Devices > Touchpad.

    2. On Windows 11, go to Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.

  3. Adjust your settings under Touchpad.

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