Set Up Touchpad Gestures in Linux Mint Using Gestures or Fusuma

Touchpad gestures streamline navigation and multitasking by allowing users to switch workspaces, manage windows, and perform actions with simple swipes or pinches. Linux Mint users can implement advanced touchpad gestures using two main tools: Gestures (built on libinput-gestures) and Fusuma. Both methods provide customizable gesture controls, but their setup processes and flexibility differ. Below, you’ll find clear instructions for each approach, starting with the most robust and customizable method.

Configure Touchpad Gestures with Fusuma

Fusuma is a gesture recognition tool that works with the libinput driver. It supports a wide range of gestures—swipes, pinches, and rotations—and allows mapping of these gestures to custom commands or keyboard shortcuts. Fusuma’s configuration file uses YAML, making it easy to define and refine gesture actions.

sudo gpasswd -a $USER input
newgrp input

This command grants your user the necessary permissions. The newgrp input command applies the group change immediately.

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install libinput-tools ruby xdotool

These packages provide the gesture detection backend and allow Fusuma to trigger actions.

sudo gem install fusuma

mkdir -p ~/.config/fusuma
nano ~/.config/fusuma/config.yml

If you’re new to nano, use Ctrl+O to save and Ctrl+X to exit.

swipe:
  3:
    left:
      command: "xdotool key alt+Right"
    right:
      command: "xdotool key alt+Left"
    up:
      command: "xdotool key super"
    down:
      command: "xdotool key super"
  4:
    left:
      command: "xdotool key ctrl+alt+Down"
    right:
      command: "xdotool key ctrl+alt+Up"
    up:
      command: "xdotool key ctrl+alt+Down"
    down:
      command: "xdotool key ctrl+alt+Up"
pinch:
  in:
    command: "xdotool keydown ctrl click 4 keyup ctrl"
  out:
    command: "xdotool keydown ctrl click 5 keyup ctrl"

This configuration assigns workspace navigation and zooming to three- and four-finger gestures. You can customize commands to fit your workflow.

fusuma -d

The -d flag runs Fusuma as a background process. For automatic startup, add Fusuma to your session’s autostart using gnome-session-properties or by creating a fusuma.desktop file in ~/.config/autostart/.

threshold:
  swipe: 0.7
interval:
  swipe: 0.5

Lower values make gestures trigger with shorter movements or less delay.

Fusuma supports plugins for advanced features such as app-specific gestures and improved key emulation. Install plugins using:

sudo gem install fusuma-plugin-sendkey

Refer to the Fusuma documentation for more plugin options and configuration examples.

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Set Up Touchpad Gestures with Gestures (libinput-gestures)

Gestures is a graphical front-end for libinput-gestures, making it easier to configure gestures without editing configuration files by hand. This method is popular for its simplicity and works well for most users seeking basic gesture support.

sudo gpasswd -a $USER input
sudo apt install libinput-tools xdotool python3 python3-setuptools python3-gi python-gobject

Reboot your computer after running these commands to apply group changes.

git clone https://github.com/bulletmark/libinput-gestures.git
cd libinput-gestures
sudo make install
sudo ./libinput-gestures-setup install

This installs the backend that detects and interprets touchpad gestures.

libinput-gestures-setup autostart
libinput-gestures-setup start

These commands register and launch the gesture daemon automatically each session.

git clone https://gitlab.com/cunidev/gestures
cd gestures
meson build --prefix=/usr
ninja -C build
sudo ninja -C build install

Alternatively, you may find the Gestures app in the Linux Mint Software Manager or via Flatpak. Launch the app to start assigning gestures to actions.

For advanced users, editing ~/.config/libinput-gestures.conf directly allows for fine-tuned gesture mapping, including multi-finger swipes and custom commands. Refer to community examples for inspiration.

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Alternative: Touchegg and Touché GUI

Recent versions of Linux Mint include touchegg as a backend for gesture recognition. For a user-friendly experience, install the Touché GUI via Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub com.github.joseexposito.touche -y

Touché provides a graphical interface to assign gestures to actions and supports two- to five-finger gestures in multiple directions. Touchégg integration is reported to work well on Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.3 and newer. Some users may need to enable experimental Wayland support at the login screen to access all gesture features.

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Configuring touchpad gestures in Linux Mint with Fusuma, Gestures, or Touchegg significantly improves navigation speed and workflow efficiency. Regularly update your gesture tool of choice and back up your configuration files for a smooth experience as Linux Mint evolves.