title: Cursor Navigation
description: Move cursor with spacebar swipe or TrackPoint mode
category: Gestures
difficulty: intermediate
Cursor Navigation
Move the text cursor precisely using the spacebar slider or TrackPoint mode without lifting your fingers from the keyboard.
Quick Summary
| What | Description |
|---|
| Purpose | Position cursor in text without tapping screen |
| Methods | Spacebar swipe, TrackPoint mode |
| Precision | Proportional to swipe speed/distance |
Method 1: Spacebar Swipe
The most intuitive way to move the cursor:
How to Use
- 1. Touch the spacebar and swipe left or right
- 2. Cursor moves proportionally to swipe distance
- 3. Release when positioned
Features
- • Proportional speed: Faster/longer swipe = cursor moves further
- • Visual feedback: Trail shows movement direction
- • Immediate: Cursor moves as you swipe
[!TIP]
Slow, short swipes give fine control for precise positioning.
Method 2: TrackPoint Mode
For continuous joystick-style control:
How to Use
- 1. Long-press the nav key (between spacebar and enter)
- 2. Feel haptic activation (if enabled)
- 3. Move finger in any direction like a joystick
- 4. Cursor moves continuously in that direction
- 5. Release to stop
See TrackPoint Mode for full details.
Navigation Summary
| Gesture | Action |
| Swipe spacebar left | Move cursor left |
| Swipe spacebar right | Move cursor right |
| Long-press nav key | Enter TrackPoint mode |
Tips and Tricks
- • Precision: Tap text field to position roughly, then fine-tune with spacebar
- • Speed: TrackPoint mode is good for large movements
- • Accuracy: Slow spacebar swipes are most precise for small adjustments
- • Muscle memory: Practice spacebar sliding - it becomes natural quickly
[!NOTE]
Cursor navigation works in all text fields, but some apps may handle input differently.
Common Questions
Q: Why doesn't spacebar slider work?
A: Make sure you're swiping horizontally on the spacebar. Very short swipes may be interpreted as taps.
Q: How do I select text while moving cursor?
A: Use Selection Delete mode by short-swiping on the backspace key and holding.
Q: Can I move cursor vertically?
A: Use TrackPoint mode for vertical cursor movement by long-pressing the nav key.
Related Features
- • TrackPoint Mode - Joystick cursor control
- • Selection Delete - Select and delete text