# Use the thumb-and-three-fingers pinch

CubbyPad offers the familiar thumb-and-three-fingers pinch, but macOS may assign its own Apps view to the same movement.

Last updated 26 October 2026

## Follow these steps

1. Open Settings › Opening and enable Pinch to open.

1. Choose the thumb-and-three-fingers option under Fingers.

1. Read the macOS pinch warning if it appears.

1. Test opening and spreading to close before depending on the gesture.

## What to expect

CubbyPad uses that selected gesture while running. If the system also responds, one movement may open two different interfaces and needs a different assignment.

The three-finger option provides another choice without the thumb. You can switch between them without rearranging icons, importing layouts again or changing your keyboard shortcut.

## If the result is different

Use Open Trackpad… to inspect the Apps pinch in More Gestures if your Mac allows changing it. Otherwise choose CubbyPad’s three-finger option or another opening control. Do not assume a macOS setting is editable on every system version.

For the broader walkthrough, read [when cubbypad does not open as expected](https://cubbypad.com/guides/troubleshooting/).

## Related answers.

[### Record a different CubbyPad opening shortcut

Record your own key combination in Settings › Opening if the automatic opening shortcut does not suit your workflow.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/change-opening-shortcut/)[### Give Command–Space to CubbyPad

Disable Spotlight’s Command–Space shortcut in macOS before expecting CubbyPad’s automatic shortcut to use that combination.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/use-command-space/)[### Restore CubbyPad’s automatic opening shortcut

Use Automatic in the Shortcut card to stop using a custom recording and let CubbyPad select its normal opening combination.

Read answer ↗](https://cubbypad.com/help/restore-automatic-shortcut/)

Source: https://cubbypad.com/help/four-finger-pinch/