How to Right-Click on a Mac

Years ago Apple insisted that it would follow the one-button mouse route rather than the two-button mouse preferred by Windows users. This decision of Apple confused many people as to how to be able to right-click on Mac. Even for two-button mice used with Mac, users still wonder about this problem. In addition, today's popular Macs are mainly laptops with multi-touch trackpads that do not distinguish between right-click and left-click. If you are wondering how to perform a right-click or secondary click on a Mac? Here's how to right-click on different Mac devices (MacBook, MacBook Air, Mac Pro). 

How to Right-Click on a Mac Using a Keyboard

The easiest way to right-click on a Mac is with a keyboard.

To right-click, hold the Control key as you click your mouse.

This method works with any mouse, including mice and trackpads. Remember that the Ctrl button on Mac is placed differently than the Ctrl button on other keyboards.

How to Right-Click on Mac Mouse

You can also configure your Apple mouse (the Magic Mouse by Apple) and set up a right-click function. It's simple to have your mouse with right-click button built in. This works with both wired and wireless mouse. Your Mac will instantly recognize it and respond when you right-click.

1. Select the System Preferences icon in the Dock or select System Preferences from the Apple menu to launch System Preferences.

2. Select Mouse.

3. The Mouse preference window will now appear, select Point & Click tab.

4. Choose Secondary click check box.

5. Click on the down arrow next to Secondary click and select which side of the Magic Mouse to use for the Secondary click. It can be either Click on right side or Click on left side.

How to Right-Click on Mac Trackpad

You can also set up a right click on the Mac Trackpad.

1. Select the System Preferences icon in the Dock or select System Preferences from the Apple menu to launch System Preferences.

2. Select Trackpad.

3. The Trackpad window will appear. Select Point & Click tab.

4. Select the Secondary click check box.

5. Click on the down arrow below Secondary click and select one of the below options:

• Click with two fingers - to right-click using two fingers
• Click in bottom right corner - to right-click by clicking on the right corner of your trackpad
• Click in bottom left corner - to right-click by clicking on the left corner of your trackpad

Why right-click on a Mac?

Right-clicking on a Mac is useful for various reasons. It opens up different interaction and extra contextual menus that you can't access with just a single click or left-click.
For example, when you right-click on your Desktop, you can choose among different options like create a new folder, change view settings, arrange icons, and more. When you right-click on an open app's icon in the Dock, you can choose to quit it. In a document, you can right-click to edit text formatting, copy and paste, and other.

So that's how to right-click on a Mac. If you have any trouble right-clicking in your Mac, leave a comment below and we will help you solve it.