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For a Macbook Pro, I've set trackpad settings for Three Fingers to "Dragging":

enter image description here

However the tracking speed is too slow, and often it's impossible to drag for a larger distance due to the size of the physical trackpad.

How do we increase the tracking speed beyond the maximum allowed?

Pacerier
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7 Answers7

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The value of the preference is stored in ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist and can be changed with something like defaults write -g com.apple.trackpad.scaling -float 5.0. The normal maximum value is currently 3.0. Applying the changes requires logging out and back in.

Lri
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    For those who come here searching for mouse speed up (as me) change the above command/property to com.apple.mouse.scaling. So defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 5.0 is what you're looking for. – Lucas Jul 07 '17 at 14:06
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    I found the file but how did you guys read the content of the file? It contains strange strings. – Code42 Dec 25 '18 at 03:18
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    @Lucas Would you mind putting your comment as an answer? That way your information isn't lost if your comment is accidentally removed. I came here looking for a way to increase mouse speed and I'm sure others have too. I'll upvote you! – Cave Johnson Jan 14 '19 at 03:01
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    @Dr_Hope You're not actually supposed to open the file, but you can modify it using the command mentioned in the answer. Open your Terminal app and enter this command: defaults write -g com.apple.trackpad.scaling -float 5.0 – Cave Johnson Jan 14 '19 at 20:27
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    the value 5.0 isn't speeding up my macbook pro trackpad. 3.0 seems to be the maximum, any greater value have no speed gain. I'm curious to know if BetterTouchTool can actually make the internal trackpad move faster. If it can, there must be another terminal command that can do it too. – Yoric Feb 10 '21 at 10:50
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For those who come here searching for mouse speed up (as me), change the command/property mentioned on the answer of @user495470 to com.apple.mouse.scaling.

So:

defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 5.0

is what you're looking for.

Here is @Kodos Johnson :)

Lucas
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    And be sure to logout or reboot for it to take effect. – johnthagen Jun 19 '19 at 12:06
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    defaults read -g com.apple.mouse.scaling was helpful for me to see first that mine is set at 3. Unfortunately neitherdefaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 5.0nordefaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 7.0` seemed to have any effect, even logging out and back in after each. So I'm still looking for a solution because the max mouse tracking speed is intolerably slow for a 42.5" monitor. – Ryan Nov 19 '20 at 19:26
  • does not seem to work on Catalina, same outcome as described by @Ryan. Lucas: what version of MacOS were you using where this worked for you? – Z4-tier Dec 01 '20 at 19:31
  • @Z4-tier Here is what worked for me: https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/365655/how-to-increase-mouse-tracking-speed-beyond-the-maximum-for-macos-mojave-10-14?rq=1#comment566248_365655 – Ryan Dec 02 '20 at 01:05
  • small caveat: this worked for my normal usb-cable-mouse, but setting tracking-speed to 5.0 made my magic mouse 2 laggy as hell. – Karl Adler Mar 29 '21 at 11:52
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    @Ryan - 5.0 did not have an effect for me. But 10.0 worked. Be sure to log out and log back in. defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling -float 10.0 – B Seven Jan 01 '22 at 16:44
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BetterTouchTool does that, and lets you add application specific gestures as well!

In BetterTouchTool, open Preferences. In the left bar under Advanced Settings choose either Trackpad or Magic Mouse. There is a slider that adjusts the tracking speed.

I don't think I could use a mac without it, at this point. I have my browser-tab-management and finder shortcuts mapped to multitouch gestures.

bjb568
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Fake Name
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Mouse Curves is a preference pane that allows you to customize the tracking speed of the mouse and trackpad.

http://triq.net/mac/mouse-acceleration-preference-pane-mac-os-x

barryj
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2

Ordinary trackpad-dragging can be done in segments, the same way mouse-dragging can be done in limited space, by lifting & repositioning {the mouse; your fingers} and making another swipe. In your prefpane, enable one-finger click and drag, and you won't even need to press down.

JRobert
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As mentioned before, the file is in ~/Library/Preferences/.

But preferences will be found in more than one file.

.GlobalPreferences.plist com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist

Note that .GlobalPreferences.plist is invisible.

Mouse speed is called scaling in .GlobalPreferences.plist.

Setting scaling past 3 with defaults write -g com.apple.mouse.scaling 5 has no effect immediately and may require a logout.

file://~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.AppleMultitouchMouse.plist file://~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleHIDMouse.plist file://~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.driver.AppleBluetoothMultitouch.mouse.plist

Alex Zavatone
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1

If you turn inertial scrolling on, you can, once you've started a drag gesture, keep two fingers steady and flick with the other one to inertially "drag" the window around your screen(s).

Cajunluke
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