How to Change Mouse Scroll Speed and Inactive Window Scrolling in Windows 10 and 11

Before you change the scrolling settings​

You need a connected mouse with a working scroll wheel and a page or document long enough to scroll. The wheel settings control vertical scrolling; they are separate from the pointer-speed control, which changes how quickly the pointer moves across the screen.

It is useful to note your current selections before experimenting:

• The choice under Roll the mouse wheel to scroll
• The current lines slider position, if Multiple lines at a time is selected
• Whether Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them is on or off

You can return to those choices later. The Settings page does not require a restart to try a different value.

If you are using Windows 10, the settings still work, but Microsoft ended regular support for most Windows 10 editions on October 14, 2025. Some editions and devices enrolled in Extended Security Updates have different servicing arrangements.

Choose the scroll amount in Settings​

Use the instructions for your version of Windows. If you are unsure which version you have, press Windows key + I, then open System > About and look under Windows specifications.

Windows 11​

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Bluetooth & devices, then select Mouse.
3. Find the Scrolling section. Open the menu next to Roll the mouse wheel to scroll.
4. Choose one of the following:
   • Multiple lines at a time for smaller, adjustable movements.
   • One screen at a time to move through content in larger screen-sized increments.
5. If you chose Multiple lines at a time, adjust Lines to scroll at a time. Move the slider toward a lower value for less movement per wheel notch, or toward a higher value for more movement.
6. Leave Settings open while you test the result in another window. You can return to the slider and adjust it again until it feels comfortable.

Windows 10​

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Select Devices, then select Mouse.
3. Open the menu under Roll the mouse wheel to scroll.
4. Select Multiple lines at a time or One screen at a time.
5. If you selected Multiple lines at a time, use Choose how many lines to scroll each time to adjust the amount. A lower value produces smaller movements; a higher value produces larger ones.
6. Leave Settings open and test the wheel in another window. Return to the slider if you want to make another adjustment.

Which setting should you start with? Multiple lines is useful when you want to read or navigate in small increments. Try a few lines at a time first, then increase or decrease the value to suit your mouse. One screen at a time is useful for moving through long content more quickly, but it may feel abrupt if you are trying to make precise adjustments.

The lines slider is relevant to the multiple-lines choice. If you want to adjust it but cannot use it, first select Multiple lines at a time rather than One screen at a time.

Turn inactive-window scrolling on or off​

An inactive window is an open window that is not currently selected for keyboard input. With inactive-window scrolling enabled, you can point at another window and use the wheel there without first clicking that window.

1. Open the Mouse page:
   • Windows 11: Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Mouse
   • Windows 10: Settings > Devices > Mouse
2. Find Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them.
3. Set the switch to On if you want to scroll an inactive window by moving the pointer over it.
4. Set it to Off if you prefer to select a window before scrolling it.

This switch controls which window you can scroll by hovering. It does not choose the number of lines or change between line-by-line and screen-at-a-time scrolling.

Test the wheel and inactive-window setting​

Use the same content for each comparison so that differences are easier to see.

1. Open a long document or webpage in a window large enough to read comfortably. Make sure there is more content below the visible area.
2. Click inside the document or page to make its window active. Move away from the top or bottom of the content, where scrolling in one direction may have no effect.
3. Roll the wheel down by one notch, if your mouse has distinct notches. Observe how far the content moves. Roll it up to compare movement in the other direction.
4. Return to Mouse settings and change the lines value. Test the same document again. A higher value should generally produce more movement per notch than a lower one.
5. If you want to compare page-sized movement, select One screen at a time and repeat the test. Switch back to Multiple lines at a time if you prefer the finer control.

For a mouse with a smooth or free-spinning wheel, there may be no physical notch to count. Use a small, similar wheel movement for each comparison instead. The visible distance can also differ between apps and types of content; a “line” is not necessarily the same height in every program.

To test inactive-window scrolling:

1. Arrange two separate windows so that part of each is visible. At least one should contain a document or page with room to scroll.
2. Click the window you want to keep active. Move the pointer over the other window without clicking it.
3. With Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them set to On, roll the wheel. The window under the pointer should scroll if its content and app support it.
4. Turn the setting Off and repeat the test. If the window under the pointer does not scroll, click inside it and try again.

Avoid using two tabs in the same browser window for this check: use two separate windows so you can tell which one is active and which one is underneath the pointer.

If scrolling does not behave as expected​

• The page jumps too far. Check that Roll the mouse wheel to scroll is set to Multiple lines at a time, not One screen at a time. Lower the lines slider and test again.
• The wheel barely moves the page. Increase the lines value and make sure the document has more content in the direction you are scrolling. A page already at its beginning cannot scroll farther upward, and a page at its end cannot scroll farther downward.
• The slider does not seem to make a difference. Confirm that Multiple lines at a time is selected. Compare a low value with a noticeably higher value in the same long document. Some applications handle wheel input differently, so also test in another app before assuming the Windows setting failed.
• Only one app behaves differently. Check whether that app has its own scrolling preferences. Mouse utilities may also offer separate controls: for example, Logitech documents scroll speed and smooth-scrolling options for supported mice in Logi Options+. Check the utility supplied for your mouse, if you use one, and record its existing settings before changing them.
• Hovering over another window does not scroll it. Confirm that Scroll inactive windows when hovering over them is On, that the pointer is over the window’s scrollable content, and that the content has room to move. Try a second app or click the window first to distinguish an inactive-window issue from a wheel that is not working at all.
• The wheel does not scroll anywhere. Test a second document or app, then check the connection. For a wired mouse or wireless receiver, try another USB port and, if using a hub, connect directly to the PC. For a battery-powered mouse, replace or recharge the batteries. If possible, test the mouse on another PC or test a different mouse on this PC.
• The pointer moves but scrolling still fails across apps. Restart the PC and test again. If the problem remains, check the mouse manufacturer’s support instructions for your model. Microsoft also recommends checking Windows Update for available device-driver updates; an update may not be available for every mouse.

Restore your previous preferences​

If the new behavior is uncomfortable, return to the Mouse page for your Windows version and restore the choices you noted before starting. Select the previous line or screen option, put the lines slider back where it was if applicable, and return the inactive-window switch to its previous state.

If you did not record the original value, choose Multiple lines at a time, set a modest number of lines, and test in a long document. Adjust the slider gradually until the wheel moves far enough without making you lose your place.