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Lynn32743871mpxt
New Participant
September 12, 2024
Question

Touchpad Scrolling Sensitivity and Zooming Issues in InDesign via Remote Desktop

  • September 12, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 3068 views

Hi,


I have to use Microsoft Remote Desktop for work and when I open InDesign (2024), the scrolling sensitivity using my touchpad is way too high. I see suggestions saying to go to "Page Display" under either File or View, but I do not have that option in either. I could not find it in Preferences either. 


My computer is a 2024 Macbook Air, and I believe I remote into a Windows Server 2019 Standard. Because I am so used to using my Mac, this small detail makes designing for my new job quite unpleasant. Does anyone know how to fix this?

 

On a similar note, I can no longer pinch the trackpad to zoom in or out, is this fixable, or is it only available on Mac?

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

2 replies

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Paolo T
Known Participant
August 25, 2025

I'm using ID 2025 20.5 on a Mac M4 Pro, and the scrolling is unnatural and hard to control. It is not a matter of Mac settings, since they are working deliciously in all the other apps.

On all the other apps, scrolling ends with a smooth slowdown. In ID it ends with an annoying coarse stuttering.

In general, all the apps have the same predictable behavior. You push or pull the page, and you know in advance how much it will scroll. Not so with ID, where the document will end where it likes.

    HARSHIKA_VERMA
    Community Manager
    HARSHIKA_VERMACommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    August 26, 2025

    Hi Paolo T,

     

    We understand how frustrating it could be. Would you mind telling us if the touchpad sensitivity behavior is the same when using an external mouse instead? 

    Additionally, if possible, could you share a short screen recording demonstrating the behavior you're experiencing? 

     

    We will try our best to help.

     

    Thanks,

    Harshika

    P
    Paolo T
    Known Participant
    August 26, 2025

    Thank you for you answer.

     

    Mouse: I tried with an old Logitech (with two keys and one wheel), and I can't say how it compares, since the way of scrolling is very different from the Apple Magic Trackpad 2.

     

    Comparison with other apps: I'm posting two videos. However, please keep in mind that they don't give the full idea of how stuttering the one is, and how smooth the other. Video framerate is probably not even fast enough to capture it.

     

    This is InDesign CC 25.5:

    InDesign 

     

    And this is the Other App:

    Other App 

     

    Both in the best display mode (Preview, high quality).

     

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 12, 2024

    Hi @Lynn32743871mpxt,

     

    Thank you for reaching out! I can understand how frustrating it must be to deal with sensitive scrolling and the loss of pinch-to-zoom when working remotely. 

    To help narrow down the issue, could you please confirm the exact version of InDesign it is 19.5 or not? 

    Please try the below suggestions:

    1. Adjust Windows touchpad settings: Since InDesign’s settings don’t directly control touchpad sensitivity, you might want to adjust the touchpad sensitivity in Windows itself. You can access these settings by navigating to Settings > Devices > Touchpad on the remote Windows server.

    2. Zooming issue: Unfortunately, the pinch-to-zoom functionality is only available on Mac. When working remotely on Windows, the trackpad gestures from your Mac won’t carry over. However, you can use keyboard shortcuts like "Ctrl +" and "Ctrl -" to zoom in and out in InDesign on Windows.

    Let me know if this helps or if you have any further questions! 

     

    Thank you, 
    Abhishek Rao

    L
    Lynn32743871mpxtAuthor
    New Participant
    September 16, 2024

    Hi! Sorry for the delayed response. My InDesign is v19.5, the system isn't yet updated enough to allow 19.5. 

     

    I can adjust the scrolling speed on my laptop if I find it truly unbearable, but it actually only affects my use of InDesign. Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as other apps like Google Chrome, scroll fine.

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 16, 2024

    Hi @Lynn32743871mpxt,

     

    Thank you for confirming the version and sharing more about your experience. It sounds like the sensitivity issue is indeed quite specific to InDesign under your setup. Let’s try to address it specifically for InDesign:

     

    Adjusting Scroll Behavior in InDesign: Since the scroll sensitivity is specific to InDesign, you might want to try adjusting the zoom and scroll settings within InDesign itself, although they are typically limited. However, you can try the following workaround:

    1. Modify Mouse Wheel Behavior:
    • Go to Edit > Preferences > Units & Increments.
    • Under Cursor Key, check if adjusting the When Scrolling with Mouse Wheel setting helps. This won't directly affect touchpad sensitivity but may impact how scroll inputs are interpreted within InDesign.

    2. Use Windows Accessibility Settings:

    • Although you've mentioned the issue is specific to InDesign, utilizing Windows' accessibility settings might provide a more consistent response across applications.
    • Navigate to Settings > Ease of Access > Mouse & Touchpad and experiment with the touchpad delay settings to see if this helps mitigate the high sensitivity in InDesign.

    Regarding the Touchpad Zoom:

    • As previously noted, the pinch-to-zoom function is indeed a limitation when using a Mac trackpad on a Windows environment via remote desktop. The keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl + and Ctrl -) or the zoom tool (magnifying glass icon) in the tools panel remain the best alternatives for zoom control in this scenario.

    I hope this helps, Lynn! Please keep us updated on your progress, or if you find another solution that works better for your situation, feel free to share it with the community.

     

    Thank you, 

    Abhishek Rao

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