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How to Fix Two-Finger Touchpad Scrolling Not Working in OneNote

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use two-finger scrolling on their laptop touchpad within Microsoft OneNote, even though it works in other applications.

Product: Microsoft OneNote (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Navigating notes and documents using a laptop precision touchpad.
Observed behavior: Two-finger touchpad scrolling does not respond in the OneNote application, while it continues to function normally in other Microsoft programs and web browsers.

Before you start

Before proceeding, confirm that two-finger scrolling works in other apps like your web browser to rule out a hardware or driver issue. Additionally, force-sync your current OneNote notebooks to OneDrive to ensure no data is lost during the repair or reinstallation process.

Solution 1Recommended

Reinstall OneNote from the Microsoft Store

Uninstalling your current version and downloading a fresh copy of OneNote from the Microsoft Store is the most effective and proven fix for this specific scrolling glitch.

Different versions of OneNote utilize different input APIs for handling touch gestures. Reinstalling the app directly from the Microsoft Store often bypasses the corrupted touchpad recognition affecting the Microsoft 365 desktop build.

Uninstall the Current App

Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps. Locate Microsoft OneNote or Microsoft 365, click the three-dot icon next to it, and select 'Uninstall'.

Download from Microsoft Store

Open the Microsoft Store app from your taskbar, search for 'OneNote', and click 'Get' or 'Install' to download the latest supported version.

Re-sync Your Notes

Launch the newly installed OneNote app, sign in with your Microsoft account, and wait for your notebooks to sync from OneDrive. Test the two-finger scrolling.

Installation Tip: Alternatively, logging into your Microsoft 365 web portal and redownloading the entire Office suite installer has also resolved this issue for many users.

Solution 2

Run the Office Online Repair Tool

An online repair can detect and fix corrupted application files causing touchpad gestures to fail inside Microsoft 365 programs.

Solution 3

Install System Updates and Submit Feedback

Keep your system running smoothly by updating drivers, and report persistent scrolling bugs directly to the Microsoft product team.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Document Experience

If you frequently encounter frustrating bugs like touchpad scrolling issues in Microsoft Office applications, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers reliable performance across Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF tools without the heavy resource requirements.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your device.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the suite in seconds.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without losing any layout or formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Lightweight architecture ensures smooth scrolling and highly responsive navigation on laptops.Familiar, tabbed user interface makes migration easy with zero learning curve.All-in-one suite includes a built-in PDF reader and editor for comprehensive document management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does two-finger scrolling work in Chrome but not OneNote?

OneNote relies on specific input APIs for handling touch and precision touchpad gestures. If the app's installation is corrupted or an update breaks compatibility with your laptop's specific touchpad driver, the gesture will fail locally even while continuing to work system-wide.

Will reinstalling OneNote delete my notebooks?

No, reinstalling OneNote will not delete your notebooks as long as they are properly synced to your OneDrive account. Always verify your notes are backed up and accessible online at onenote.com before uninstalling the application.

Is there a difference between the Microsoft Store OneNote and Microsoft 365 OneNote?

Yes, while Microsoft is merging their features, historically they have utilized slightly different architectures. If you experience touchpad issues in the Microsoft 365 desktop version, installing the standard OneNote app from the Microsoft Store often bypasses the problem entirely.

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