How to Right-Click on Any Mac Using a Trackpad, Mouse, or Keyboard

If you’re moving from Windows to an Apple Mac, you might be wondering how to right-click on a Mac. Windows machines usually come with distinctive buttons on the mouse. On a Mac or MacBook, things are a bit more hidden.

How to Right-Click on a Trackpad

The trackpad on a Macbook (or the Magic Trackpad) is a single piece of brushed aluminum. The newer MacBooks come with a Force Trackpad that emulates a click and provides haptic feedback (the previous generations would actually click).

No matter which trackpad you’re using, right-clicking on a MacBook is simple. Just tap or click (press down) with two fingers simultaneously.

If the two-finger tap doesn’t work for you, or if you want to change the action, you can adjust settings from System Preferences.

Click on the Apple button from the menu bar and then select the “System Preferences” option.

Next, click the “Trackpad” button.

In the “Point & Click” tab, click on the drop-down menu below the “Secondary Click” option. If you want, you can switch to the “Click in Bottom Right Corner” or the “Click in Bottom Left Corner” option.

While you’re here, you can also explore the section to customize trackpad gestures.

RELATED: How to Right-Click with Two Fingers and Other OS X Trackpad Gestures

How to Right-Click on a Mouse

If you’re using Apple’s Magic Mouse, you can use the same gestures as the trackpad to switch between spaces and for scrolling.

The Magic Mouse doesn’t have a separate right-click button. Instead, the entire top part of the mouse is clickable. If you click on the left side of the mouse, it will register as a left-click. In the same way, just click on the top-right section of the Magic Mouse for a right-click.

The same goes for any third-party mouse you’re using. If it’s connected to your Mac using Bluetooth or a wired connection, just click on the button on the right side to make a right-click.

How to Right-Click Using a Keyboard

If the right-click button on your mouse or trackpad is broken, you can use your Mac’s keyboard as a replacement.

Just press and hold the “Control” key (not to be confused with the Command key) while pressing the left-click button on the mouse to register as a right-click.

Take a look at our guide for switching from Windows to Mac to make yourself more at home with your new machine.

RELATED: How to Switch from a Windows PC to a Mac