How to turn off swiping between full screen apps on a Mac
Stop sideways swipes switching desktops by accident, or free the gesture for another app. Where the setting is, and what to use instead.
Open System Settings, Trackpad, More Gestures and set Swipe between full-screen applications to Off. For the Magic Mouse it is in Mouse, More Gestures.
Or move it instead of turning it off
Set it to the other number of fingers. If you swipe with three fingers by accident, set macOS to four; three finger swipes are then free.
Switching desktops without the swipe
- ⌃ ← and ⌃ → move between desktops.
- ⌃ and a number jumps to one; see switching desktops.
- Mission Control (⌃ ↑) shows them all.
Giving the swipe to the strip
ClutterFreeMac uses a sideways swipe to move along its strip, like Spaces but between windows. Pick three or four fingers in Settings, Navigation, and set macOS's swipe to the other, so each gesture has one job.
Questions
How do I stop my Mac switching desktops when I swipe?
Turn off Swipe between full-screen applications in System Settings, Trackpad, More Gestures, or set it to the number of fingers you do not use.
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