What is Smooth Scrolling & How to Enable It [Edge, Chrome]

Improve your scrolling on the different browsers with the new feature

Browsers

Reading time icon 4 min. read

Calendar icon Updated on

by Ivan Jenic 

updated on

Share this article

Readers help support Windows Report. We may get a commission if you buy through our links. Tooltip Icon

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial team Read more

Key notes

  • Smooth scrolling is a feature implemented in most browsers to allow better scrolling on web pages of various sizes.
  • The feature is available on some browsers but might be disabled by default.
  • On some browsers, you need to download and install an extension to get the smooth scrolling feature.
smooth scrolling windows 10
Struggling with various browser issues? Try a better option: Opera OneOver 300 million people use Opera One daily, a fully-fledged navigation experience coming with built-in packages, enhanced resource consumption, and great design.Here's what Opera One provides:
  • Optimize resource usage
  • AI and user-friendly
  • Built-in Ad Blocker
  • ⇒ Get Opera One

As the name implies, smooth scrolling is a recently introduced enhancing feature designed to improve scrolling on the best web browsers. This feature has been adopted by Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge, and Opera One, among others.

This feature allows you to navigate a page smoothly, regardless of size. While it is now a basic feature on most browsers, many still find it difficult to use/enable.

This guide will show you how to enable the smooth scrolling feature on Windows 10 & 11 for some of the major browsers.

Why is my computer not scrolling smoothly?

As the name implies, the smooth scrolling feature on major Windows 10 and 11 browsers makes scrolling smoother. This feature makes it smoother and more coordinated, unlike the usual scrolling that feels choppy and stops abruptly.

With it enabled, it is easier to navigate pages of different sizes. Also, smooth scrolling on browsers like Chrome and Firefox eliminates stuttering scrolling. So, enabling the feature has many advantages.

How do I make my Windows scroll smoother?

1. Enable Smooth Scrolling on Opera One

  1. Open Opera One.
  2. Press the Extensions button.
  3. In the Extension screen, select Get more extensions.
  4. Type in SmoothScroll in the Search for add-ons search bar.
  5. Select the SmoothScroll extension, and click on the Add to Opera button.

Now that you’ve installed the extension, enjoy a better way of navigating your websites.

Speaking of customization, Opera One’s extensions can transform the browser entirely, allowing you to specialize it in whatever direction you want: streaming, gaming, writing in WordPress, etc.

It is an excellent browser to use if you want something modern and efficient.

2. Enable Smooth Scrolling on Microsoft Edge

  1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing the Windows key + R.
  2. In the dialog box, type systempropertiesadvanced and press Enter.system advanced what is smooth scrolling how do I enable smooth scrolling in windows 10
  3. In the list of options, click on the Advanced tab.
  4. Under Performance, click on the Settings… button.
    settings button smooth scrolling windows 10
  5. Locate and check the Smooth-scroll list boxes.
  6. Select Apply followed by the OK button.
    apply
  7. Click OK again in the confirmation prompt to finish the process.

This is the simple way to enable smooth scrolling on Edge for Windows 10 and 11.

3. Enable Smooth Scrolling on Mozilla Firefox

  1. Launch Firefox.
  2. Type about:preference in the address bar and hit Enter.
    preferences
  3. Scroll down to the Browsing section and check the box for Use smooth scrolling.
    use smooth scrolling windows 10

After enabling the feature, you can try and reconfigure the browser’s settings to optimize the smooth scrolling function further.

To do this, go through the step-by-step guidelines below:

  1. Type about:config in the Firefox address bar, and press Enter.
    config
  2. Click the Accept the Risk and Continue button when prompted.
    accept
  3. Search for general.smoothScroll.currentVelocityWeighting in the search box.
  4. Double-click on the entry from the results list, and set its value to 0.
    weighting smooth scrolling windows 10
  5. Search for general.smoothScroll.mouseWheel.durationMaxMS and set it to 250.
    general
  6. Search for genral.smoothScroll.stopDecelerationWeighting and set it to true.
    genral
  7. Lastly, search for mousewheel.min_line_scroll_amount and set it to 28.
    mouse wheel smooth scrolling windows 10

And you are all set!

4. Enable Smooth Scrolling on Google Chrome

  1. Open your Chrome browser and input about:flags or chrome://flags in the address bar, and press Enter.
    about flag
  2. Type Smooth Scrolling in the search box.
    search
  3. Click the dropdown before Smooth Scrolling and select Enabled.
    enable smooth scrolling windows 10
  4. Now, click the Relaunch button to restart your browser.
    relaunch

Once this is done, you can enjoy an optimized, Smooth scrolling experience on your PC.

Should I enable smooth scrolling?

The advantages of the smooth scrolling feature on the major Windows 10 & 11 browsers are numerous. It also helps to eliminate some scrolling-related issues on your browser.

However, it is not without downsides. With the feature enabled, scrolling feels a bit slower but smoother. But on the balance of things, the pros outweigh the cons.

The smooth scrolling feature on Windows PCs improves user experience considerably. We have shown how to enable the feature on four of the most popular browsers available. So, you have all you need to use it.

Are you facing issues like the scroll wheel not working on Chrome? Then, check our guide on the topic to get it fixed effortlessly. Besides, many are not pleased with its functionality in the latest iteration and modify settings to have the scrollbar always show up in Windows 11.

Feel free to let us know if you encounter any problems while trying to enable the smooth scrolling feature in the comments below.

More about the topics: Chrome Guides, Firefox guides, Microsoft Edge guides, Opera Web Browser

Ivan Jenic

Ivan Jenic Shield

Windows Hardware Expert

Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling diverse driver-related problems, Ivan enjoys watching good movies and spending time hiking with his family and friends.