Reverse Mouse Scroll Direction (for OS X to Linux users)

Targets Linux
1

Hi Folks,

A little tidbit that I dug up today to solve a use problem that is frustrating if you are normally working on OS X and then work on a Linux system - MOUSE SCROLL reversal.

Since Apple introduced “native scrolling”, I’ve become sort of hooked on it. However, when I move from OS X to Linux during development, the fact that Linux systems still scroll the original way trips me up. I dug around and found a simple solution - a change to your .Xmodmap file.

To change your Linux system to match the Mac’s scrolling, either edit your existing ~/.Xmodmap file or create one if it doesn’t exist. The line to change or add to an empty file is the “pointer=” line. to change the scroll direction, use the following:

pointer = 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

The change is the number order of “4” and “5”. By reversing those two numbers, you change the scroll direction. So, either edit your existing line if you already have a .Xmodmap file or create a new empty .Xmodmap file and add that line.

2

I can change scroll direction in Linux in System Settings Mouse

3

It depends on which desktop manager you use as to whether that is an option in preferences.

For many Debian GNOME-based systems, that option is not exposed.