diff --git a/crates/egui/src/containers/scroll_area.rs b/crates/egui/src/containers/scroll_area.rs
index 6fd5b1dd52a4..7518009812b9 100644
--- a/crates/egui/src/containers/scroll_area.rs
+++ b/crates/egui/src/containers/scroll_area.rs
@@ -777,17 +777,33 @@ impl Prepared {
         let max_offset = content_size - inner_rect.size();
         let is_hovering_outer_rect = ui.rect_contains_pointer(outer_rect);
         if scrolling_enabled && is_hovering_outer_rect {
+            let always_scroll_enabled_direction = ui.style().always_scroll_the_only_direction
+                && scroll_enabled[0] != scroll_enabled[1];
             for d in 0..2 {
                 if scroll_enabled[d] {
-                    let scroll_delta = ui.ctx().frame_state(|fs| fs.scroll_delta);
+                    let scroll_delta = ui.ctx().frame_state(|fs| {
+                        if always_scroll_enabled_direction {
+                            // no bidirectional scrolling; allow horizontal scrolling without pressing shift
+                            fs.scroll_delta[0] + fs.scroll_delta[1]
+                        } else {
+                            fs.scroll_delta[d]
+                        }
+                    });
 
-                    let scrolling_up = state.offset[d] > 0.0 && scroll_delta[d] > 0.0;
-                    let scrolling_down = state.offset[d] < max_offset[d] && scroll_delta[d] < 0.0;
+                    let scrolling_up = state.offset[d] > 0.0 && scroll_delta > 0.0;
+                    let scrolling_down = state.offset[d] < max_offset[d] && scroll_delta < 0.0;
 
                     if scrolling_up || scrolling_down {
-                        state.offset[d] -= scroll_delta[d];
+                        state.offset[d] -= scroll_delta;
                         // Clear scroll delta so no parent scroll will use it.
-                        ui.ctx().frame_state_mut(|fs| fs.scroll_delta[d] = 0.0);
+                        ui.ctx().frame_state_mut(|fs| {
+                            if always_scroll_enabled_direction {
+                                fs.scroll_delta[0] = 0.0;
+                                fs.scroll_delta[1] = 0.0;
+                            } else {
+                                fs.scroll_delta[d] = 0.0;
+                            }
+                        });
                         state.scroll_stuck_to_end[d] = false;
                     }
                 }
diff --git a/crates/egui/src/style.rs b/crates/egui/src/style.rs
index fb03bcfd805a..9bb29ab566a5 100644
--- a/crates/egui/src/style.rs
+++ b/crates/egui/src/style.rs
@@ -212,6 +212,9 @@ pub struct Style {
     ///
     /// This only affects a few egui widgets.
     pub explanation_tooltips: bool,
+
+    /// If true and scrolling is enabled for only one direction, allow horizontal scrolling without pressing shift
+    pub always_scroll_the_only_direction: bool,
 }
 
 impl Style {
@@ -1070,6 +1073,7 @@ impl Default for Style {
             #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
             debug: Default::default(),
             explanation_tooltips: false,
+            always_scroll_the_only_direction: false,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -1323,6 +1327,7 @@ impl Style {
             #[cfg(debug_assertions)]
             debug,
             explanation_tooltips,
+            always_scroll_the_only_direction,
         } = self;
 
         visuals.light_dark_radio_buttons(ui);
@@ -1392,6 +1397,11 @@ impl Style {
                 "Show explanatory text when hovering DragValue:s and other egui widgets",
             );
 
+        ui.checkbox(always_scroll_the_only_direction, "Always scroll the only enabled direction")
+            .on_hover_text(
+                "If scrolling is enabled for only one direction, allow horizontal scrolling without pressing shift",
+            );
+
         ui.vertical_centered(|ui| reset_button(ui, self));
     }
 }