Slack trackpad gestures.
Slack is a pile of channels and threads. The trackpad can move through them without reaching for the keyboard.
Slack rewards keyboard navigation, but the trackpad is already under your hand. The useful additions are the command palette and history navigation, not another way to scroll a channel.
The Slack scene puts the command palette on a two-finger tap and back/forward on horizontal swipes. It leaves scroll, selection, and the message composer alone.
What the scene does
| Trigger | Action | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Top-left corner | Mission Control | Default |
| Top-right corner | Mute | Default |
| Bottom-left corner | Show Desktop | Default |
| Bottom-right corner | App Switcher | Default |
| Two-finger tap | Command palette | Scene |
| Two-finger swipe left | Back | Scene |
| Two-finger swipe right | Forward | Scene |
| Three-finger tap | Mute | Default |
| Three-finger swipe up | Mission Control | Default |
| Four-finger tap | Open TrackStudio | Default |
Built-in scene mapping. “Scene” means the app overrides the default; “Default” means the fallback action is used. Check the scene in the app before you edit it.
How to apply it
- Open TrackStudio and select the Slack scene.
- Use a two-finger tap to open the command palette, then type the channel or action you want.
- Swipe left and right for back and forward. The edges stay on brightness and volume.
Where it stops
- No channel switching gesture. The command palette is the fast path; a dedicated next-channel gesture is not in the action list.
- No message actions. Reacting, replying, and saving stay in Slack.
- No per-workspace layout. One Slack scene covers every workspace.
Make the trackpad do more than point.
TrackStudio maps edges, corners, areas, gestures, and haptics to the app in front of you. $5 once. No subscription, no account.
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Does this work in Slack?
Yes. The Slack scene binds to com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap and sends the command palette, back, and forward actions.
Can I switch channels with the trackpad?
Use the command palette: a two-finger tap opens it, then type the channel name. There is no dedicated next-channel action in the scene.
Does it work in the browser?
The browser version uses the browser scene, not the Slack scene. Add the browser as a scene if you want separate actions there.
Does it need Accessibility permission?
The command palette and navigation actions use the app's own commands. Accessibility is needed for actions that synthesize keyboard events or move windows.
Sources
App behaviour checked November 2026 on macOS 26. Apple changes gestures between releases; confirm on your own Mac.