Terminal trackpad gestures.
Terminal needs the trackpad for selection and scroll. A scene adds tabs and history without stealing either.
Terminal is a keyboard-first app. The trackpad is there for three things: selecting text, scrolling output, and switching between tabs. A utility that adds a dozen gestures usually breaks the first two.
The Terminal scene is deliberately small. It puts new tab, back, and forward on two-finger gestures and leaves the rest of the surface for the system actions you already use.
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 | New tab | 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 Terminal scene. It is already bound to Terminal and iTerm2.
- Check the three two-finger actions: tap for a new tab, swipe left for back, swipe right for forward.
- Change any action in Canvas. The scene is a starting point; the rest of the trackpad keeps the Default layout.
Where it stops
- No per-pane navigation. Terminal's split panes are not exposed to the scene.
- No shell integration. The scene sends the app's own actions, not commands.
- No text-selection gesture. Two-finger drag and click-drag stay native.
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 Terminal support trackpad gestures?
Terminal has limited built-in trackpad gestures. TrackStudio adds new tab, back, and forward on two-finger gestures without changing text selection or scroll.
Can I add a new-tab gesture to Terminal?
Yes. The Terminal scene maps a two-finger tap to New Tab. It works in Terminal and iTerm2 because the scene binds to both bundle identifiers.
Will this interfere with text selection?
No. The scene uses two-finger tap and horizontal swipes. Click-drag, two-finger scroll, and three-finger selection stay with the app and macOS.
Does it work in iTerm2?
Yes. The scene binds to com.apple.Terminal and com.googlecode.iterm2. If you use another terminal, add it as a new scene.
Sources
App behaviour checked November 2026 on macOS 26. Apple changes gestures between releases; confirm on your own Mac.