One switch per direction

macOS has a single “natural scrolling” setting for everything. Most scroll reversers only flip vertical scrolling, so sideways scrolling on your mouse still feels like a trackpad. FlipScroll lets you reverse each direction for each device.

VerticalRoll the wheel down and the page moves down, as a mouse should.

HorizontalTilt the wheel or use the side scroller and sideways scrolling goes the right way too.

Trackpad untouchedTwo-finger scrolling keeps the natural direction, unless you choose otherwise.

Small, quiet, out of the way

It lives in the menu bar and does one job.

Tells devices apart

Wheel mice, smooth-scrolling mice, Magic Mouse and trackpads are recognised automatically.

Momentum aware

Coasting after you lift your fingers keeps the direction of the device that started it.

Launch at login

Turn it on once from the menu and forget about it.

Private

No network access, no analytics, no account. Settings stay on your Mac.

Universal

Runs natively on Apple silicon and Intel Macs with macOS 13 or later.

Free

No trial, no upgrade. If it helps you, a coffee keeps it maintained.

Install

Takes about a minute.

Download and unzipMove FlipScroll.app into your Applications folder.
Open itA new icon appears in the menu bar. FlipScroll is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens without warnings.
Allow Accessibility accessmacOS asks for permission so the app can adjust scroll events. Switch on FlipScroll in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
Pick your directionsClick the menu bar icon and tick what to reverse for the mouse and the trackpad.

Questions

Is FlipScroll a scroll reverser?

Yes. FlipScroll is a free scroll reverser for macOS: it reverses the scroll direction of your mouse and, if you want, your trackpad. Unlike most scroll reversers it handles horizontal scrolling separately, so a mouse can scroll the classic way in every direction while the trackpad keeps natural scrolling.

Can I turn off natural scrolling for the mouse only?

macOS can’t do it on its own because one setting covers every device. Keep natural scrolling on in System Settings and let FlipScroll reverse the mouse; the trackpad stays natural.

Why does it need Accessibility access?

Changing scroll direction means adjusting scroll events before apps receive them, and macOS only allows that for apps with Accessibility permission. The app reads nothing else and sends nothing anywhere.

Should natural scrolling be on or off in System Settings?

Leave it on, as most trackpad users do. Then reverse both directions for the mouse and nothing for the trackpad. If you prefer it off, flip the choices the other way.

It stopped working after an update.

macOS sometimes forgets the permission when an app is replaced. In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, remove FlipScroll with the – button and add it again.

My Magic Mouse is treated like a trackpad.

The app tells them apart by how many fingers are touching: one finger is a Magic Mouse, two or more is a trackpad. Scrolling a Magic Mouse with two fingers is counted as a trackpad.

How do I uninstall it?

Quit it from the menu bar, move it from Applications to the Bin, and remove it from the Accessibility list.

Enjoying it?

FlipScroll is free and built in spare time. If it saved your wrist some confusion, you can buy me a coffee.

Buy me a coffee