Chromebooks are great laptops. Stripped back, easy to use, and built around going online.
They use the Chrome operating system, so everything is based on apps and web services – there’s no need to download any software or programs to get things done. And they’re the only laptops with access to the Google Play store, giving you access to millions of Android apps.
There are three types of Chromebook to choose from: Chromebooks, Plus Chromebooks and Premium Chromebooks. If you’re interested in making one your next laptop, here’s a handy article on which Chromebook is best for you.
But. That’s not quite what this article is about. Because this is the place to come if you’ve got a new Chromebook and want to know how to right click without a mouse. If that’s why you’re here, this is what you need to know…
How to right click on a Chromebook with a touchpad
Before you try to use your Chromebook touchpad to right click, we suggest you quickly check if the tap-to-click feature is enabled or not. That way, you can easily tap your touchpad to get things done. Here’s how to do this:
1. Open the Quick Settings panel on your Chromebook and go to Settings.
2. Now go to ‘Device’, ‘Touchpad’, and you’ll be able to see if ‘Enable tap-to-click’ is on or off. If it’s off, go ahead and toggle it on.
You can now right-click on a Chromebook using just the touchpad. We’re calling it the two-finger tap method – simply put two fingers on the touchpad, and tap them on it at the same time.
How to right click on a Chromebook with a keyboard
You can also simulate a right-click using the Chromebook keyboard and touchpad. All you need to do is hold down the ‘alt’ key and click the touchpad. That’ll do it.
How to disable tap-to-click on a Chromebook
If you disable the ‘tap-to-click’ functionality on your Chromebook touchpad, you’ll need to give it a firm click rather than a light tap. A lot of users actually prefer this method (and it also helps prevent accidental taps opening up unwanted menus), so if you want to click rather than tap, here’s what to do:
1. Open the Quick Settings panel on your Chromebook and go to Settings.
2. Go to ‘Device’, ‘Touchpad’, ‘Enable tap-to-click’, and toggle it off.
How to access the right click menu on a Chromebook
Finally, here’s a great accessibility feature for Chromebooks. If you can’t press down on the touchpad, you can enable ‘Automatic Clicks’, which automatically presses a button when you hover over it. Here’s how to set it up:
1. Open the Quick Settings panel on your Chromebook and go to Settings.
2. Go to ‘Advanced’, ‘Accessibility’, ‘Manage accessibility features’.
3. Scroll down and head to the ‘Mouse and touchpad’ section. Look for ‘Automatically click when the cursor stops’ and switch on the toggle.
Need more help?
Looking for more Chromebook tips? Here’s how to take a screenshot on a Chromebook, if you’re stuck on that. If you’re on the hunt for a new computer, our laptop buying guide is packed with useful info. We’ve also got handy articles on which laptop to buy. Oh, and this video.
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.
Tech now, pay later
You can buy now, pay later with a flexible credit account. With flexible credit we make spreading the cost of your tech easy to manage. 24.9% APR representative (variable). And you can choose the term that suits your monthly budget, from 12 to 36 months.
You can apply for a Your Plan credit account in-store or online at any time, then buy the tech you want. You’ll be able to view and manage your account online, and use it to buy more tech in future.
