If you’ve a new MacBook or iMac, you might not be too familiar with how to do simple things like right-clicking. It’s an essential command, as you’ll be using it for things like accessing menus, copying, pasting, and lots of other good stuff.
How to right-click on a Mac is a question that gets asked a lot, so if you’re not sure what to do you’re not alone. The fact that Apple prefers using one-button mouse - rather than the two-button mouse familiar to Windows users – has caused some confusion about how to right-click. But that’s not all. A lot of MacBook users won’t be using a mouse and will be trying to understand how to use Apple’s trackpad instead, which has no obvious way of right-clicking on it.
No wonder so many people aren’t sure about how to right-click on a MacBook. If you’re one of them, read on for the answers.
How to right-click on MacBook and iMac
Okay, so - how do you right-click on a MacBook or iMac? There are actually a few ways of doing it - using the keyboard, trackpad, mouse and more. Check them out below and choose the method that’s best suited to how you work.
Right-click on a MacBook using a keyboard
To right-click on a MacBook using the keyboard, you just combine the ‘Control’ key with a click:
1. Hold down the ‘Control’ key on your keyboard.
2. While holding down the ‘Control’ key, click the trackpad or the single button on a Magic Mouse.
Right-click on a MacBook using the two-finger trackpad
Here’s how to right-click on a MacBook using the two-finger trackpad method:
1. Place two fingers on the trackpad surface.
2. Press down with your fingers.
You can also easily configure right-click on your trackpad. We’ll show you how to do this right now…
How to configure right-click on a MacBook
Configuring right-click on a MacBook is pretty straightforward:
1. Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen, then ‘System Preferences’.
2. Click ‘Trackpad’ and ‘Enable Secondary Click’.
3. Now choose your click type. You can select either ‘Click in the bottom right corner’ or ‘Click in the bottom left corner’.
You should now be able to right-click on your trackpad, in the area you selected.
Right-click on a MacBook using a Magic Mouse
To right-click on a MacBook using a Magic Mouse, simply tap the right side of the mouse.
If this doesn't work, go into ‘System Preferences’, ‘Mouse’, and check that right-click is enabled.
Right-click on a MacBook using a third-party mouse
This is how you right-click using a third-party mouse:
1. Connect your mouse.
2. Open the Apple menu, go to ‘System Preferences’, ‘Mouse’, and select the option to configure right-click functionality.
3. Now test it out. Click the right side of the mouse and if it works, you’re all good!
Right-click in the macOS dock
Right-clicking on an app in the macOS Dock gives you quick access to various options including accessing recent documents or carrying out special app-related functions. It’s a convenient way of interacting with your apps, and it’s done like this:
1. Go to the Dock and place your cursor over the app or item you want to right-click on.
2. When the menu appears, move the cursor to your preferred option and release the mouse button to perform a right-click.
Having trouble doing a right-click on your MacBook? Try these troubleshooting tips:
1. Check the trackpad settings. Go to System Preferences > Trackpad and make sure ‘Secondary click’ is set to ‘Click or tap with two fingers’.
2. Use another mouse. If you have an external mouse, connect it to your MacBook and check if right-click works on it. This helps you work out if the issue is specific to your trackpad or not.
3. Restart Your MacBook. Yep, sometimes a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches.
4. Update macOS. Make sure your MacBook is running the latest version of macOS. Updates can include bug fixes that might sort issues with the trackpad.
5. Check your apps. Some third-party apps might interfere with the normal functioning of your trackpad. So quit all your background apps, and try to right-click when none of them are running.
6. Check for damage. Examine your trackpad for any signs of damage or debris. If it’s looking a bit grimy, clean the surface gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.
FAQs
Is there a difference between right-click and secondary click on a Mac?
No. Right-click and secondary click refer to the same action. You might hear different terms depending on the method being used. For example, trackpads are often described as having a ‘secondary click’, and ‘right-click’ is commonly used for external mice.
Is the method for right-clicking the same in all MacOS versions?
Yes, the basic method of right-clicking is consistent across macOS versions. The method for enabling or customising it might vary slightly depending on the version, so check the instructions for exact details.
Need more help?
Want more Mac tips? Here’s how to set up your new MacBook, how to factory reset a MacBook, how to press control-alt-delete on a Mac, and how to take a screenshot on a laptop or Chromebook.
If you’d like to chat to a real-life expert, pop into one of our stores and speak with one of our colleagues. They’ll happily answer all your tech questions.
