Mac Trackpad Custom Gestures: BetterTouchTool Power User Guide

Introduction

If Apple’s built‑in trackpad gestures feel limiting, Mac trackpad custom gestures built with BetterTouchTool can transform the way you use your computer. This app lets you create new multi‑finger triggers—taps, swipes, pinches, and force clicks—and assign them to practically any action you can imagine: opening apps, running scripts, resizing windows, or controlling media playback.

This guide covers installing BetterTouchTool, building your first custom gesture, creating per‑app gesture profiles, and adding window snapping. For the built‑in gestures that come with macOS, see our pillar how to enable trackpad gestures on a Mac guide . If a gesture has stopped working entirely, our troubleshooting trackpad gestures guide can help.

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Install BetterTouchTool

BetterTouchTool (BTT) is a paid app with a free 45‑day trial. A 2‑year license costs $10,andalifetimelicenseis$10,andalifetimelicenseis22. Download it from folivora.ai.

After installation, BTT asks for Accessibility permissions. This is required for it to control your system. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and toggle BetterTouchTool on. Then launch the app from your Applications folder or menu bar.

The interface shows a sidebar with triggers on the left and actions on the right. You will build all your custom gestures here.

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How to Create a Custom Trackpad Gesture

1. Open BetterTouchTool from your menu bar.
2. In the left sidebar, select Trackpads under your Mac’s name.
3. Click the + button below the “Select Trigger” column.
4. Choose a trigger type: Multi‑finger tap, Multi‑finger swipe, Force Click, Pinch, or Rotate.
5. Set the number of fingers (for example, 4‑finger tap) and any modifiers like Command or Shift.
6. In the “Actions” section on the right, click + and choose what the gesture should do. Options include:
   • Open an application
   • Run a Terminal command or AppleScript
   • Trigger a keyboard shortcut
   • Move or resize the frontmost window
7. Test the gesture immediately—it works as soon as you assign it.

For example, set a 4‑finger swipe down to close the current tab in your browser. Or set a 3‑finger force click to open your Downloads folder. The possibilities are vast.

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Build Per‑App Gesture Profiles

One of BTT’s most powerful features is per‑app gesture profiles. You can create gestures that work only in Safari, Finder, Xcode, or any specific app.

1. In the left sidebar, click + under “Apps” and choose an application.
2. Any trigger you add now applies only when that app is active.
3. This lets you reuse the same finger combination in different apps for completely different actions.

For example, a three‑finger swipe left in Safari could go back a page, while the same gesture in Finder navigates to the previous folder. This contextual awareness makes custom gestures far more useful.

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Add Window Snapping

BetterTouchTool includes a built‑in window manager. You can drag windows to screen edges to snap them into place, similar to Windows’ Snap feature but more customizable.

1. In BTT, click Window Snapping in the left sidebar.
2. Enable snapping for the edges and corners you want.
3. Customize the target size: left‑half, right‑half, top‑left quarter, or full screen.

Now when you drag a window to the left edge, it snaps to fill the left half of your screen. This feature alone is worth the license cost for many users. It works smoothly on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does BetterTouchTool slow down my Mac?
It is lightweight and optimized. Standard gestures have negligible impact. Complex scripts may use slightly more CPU, but BTT is designed to be efficient.

Can I share gesture profiles across Macs?
Yes. Go to File > Export to save your setup, then import it on another Mac using File > Import.

Does BTT work on Apple Silicon?
Yes. It is fully native on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and receives regular updates.