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Scrolling in Background Windows

TMO Quick Tip - Scrolling in Background Windows

by , 2:00 PM EDT, April 18th, 2008

Scrolling up or down in document or Finder windows is something we do every day, and it's a task that doesn't have to be limited to the currently selected window. You can scroll through non-selected, or background, windows, too, and it doesn't involve crazy origami finger positions, either.

If you have a Mac laptop that supports two-finger scrolling, just place the mouse pointer over the window you want to scroll through. Now use the two-finger trackpad scrolling shortcut to move up or down through the window. This trick works with mice that support window scrolling, too.


Position the pointer over the window you want to scroll, no need to select the window first.

I use this trick when I am researching information on the Internet. I can scroll up or down through a Web page while taking notes in OmniOutliner or BBEdit without having to first jump back to my Web browser.

Jeff Gamet is TMO's Morning Editor and Reviews Editor. He lectures, teaches and speaks on Mac OS X and design-related topics, and is the author of The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X from Peachpit Press.

if you have tips or tricks to share, or Mac-related questions you want answered.

Observer Comments

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Close Name:Mikuro Posts: 457 Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:43 pm Subject:

This tip should work in any app in Leopard. In Tiger and earlier, though, it works in the Finder, but not in most other apps.


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Close Name:Guest
Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:22 pm Subject: In Tiger and earlier, though...

Thanks for that, I thought I was going mad.


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Close Name:apex Posts: 63 Joined: 23 Jun 2001
Sat Apr 19, 2008 12:05 am Subject: Not in Firefox

Doesn't work for me in Firefox 2.


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