By default you have to use two fingers to right click on a Mac computer. This can be time consuming and annoying for many Mac computer users, especially new Mac users and those in a business setting. Using two fingers on each side of the touch pad to essentially right click can take longer than using 1 finger, which results in a loss of productivity. It's also much easier to mess up when trying to right click on a Mac computer, which may cause Mac OS X users to accidentally click the wrong hyperlink or item, and can make correcting typos a daunting task.
Fortunately there is an option on Mac OS X that allows users to change Mac right click to be like Windows. This option allows you to change the right click on Mac OS X from two finders to just one. You will be able to use Mac right click with one finger by following the easy instructions below.
In order to change the current settings on your Mac computer (Mac OS X) away from the settings that enables users to use two fingers on each side of the trackpad, touchpad, and mouse to the settings that allows users to simply use one finger on the right side of the trackpad, touchpad, or mouse, please follow the easy step-by-step instructions below:
1. Enter your System Preferences. You can enter Mac System Preferences by clicking the Apple icon on the top right of the top menu bar and selecting System Preferences from the drop-down menu.
2. In System Preferences click Trackpad.
- You can right-click on a Mac computer by using the control button, two-finger tapping your trackpad, or connecting an external mouse to your device. The right-click function on a Mac can be used to.
- If you've found a file on the Internet that you want to save to your Mac, you can right-click on the link to save it. There are lots of shortcuts hidden in the Desktop contextual menu. For example, if you'd like to change your desktop, all you have to do is right-click on the Desktop and select Change Desktop Background.
3. In the Point & Click section select the drop-down options for Secondary Click. Change the option from Click with two fingers to Click in bottom right of corner. You will now be able to use the Mac right click with one finger on the right corner of the trackpad or mouse.
How to Right-Click Using a Keyboard If the right-click button on your mouse or trackpad is broken, you can use the 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. Luckily, it's very easy to set up the right click on a Mac. I will walk you through the process step by step. Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the top menu bar on your screen and click on System Preferences. If you have a laptop, click on Trackpad. Access System Preferences and click on the Mouse option. Now click on the checkbox in front of the 'Enable Secondary Click' option. Android airdrop mac. Choose either 'Click on the left side' or 'click on the right side' according to your preferences. Now you can get the right-click option by clicking on either the left or right side of the trackpad or mouse.
A Mac computer – iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook doesn't come with the right click already set up on the mouse or trackpad.
This tutorial will show you how to set it up.
What Does the Right Click Do?
If you are coming from a Windows computer – you the right click.
On a Mac, opening this shortcut menu with the right click is disabled by default.
So, straight out of the box you would need to hit your control button and click at the same time to see the shortcut menu.
When you click on the right side of your mouse or trackpad you want that little shortcut menu to pop right up so you can use the functions to copy, paste, access other apps, etc.
The options in the shortcut menu will vary depending on what app you are using.
But the point is that being able to access this menu with just a right click will save you valuable time.
Without it, everything you do on your computer is going to take you longer.
This applies to blogging, work related stuff, working in Cricut Design Space, or even just surfing the internet, shopping online, or killing a little time of Facebook.
I am going to be tough here and tell you to learn your computer shortcuts so so you can spend your time online more efficiently.
Not judging. Just want to see you get more done.
Ok here we go ….
Watch this video – it is short and sweet.
Other Ways to Access the Shortcut Menu
The funny thing is – if you have been using a Mac for a long time without setting up the right click shortcut menu, you have even forgotten that you can actually open the shortcut menu with a right click.
Instead, you just might be using the menu bar across the top of your screen or you might have gotten into the habit of using control click to access your shortcuts.
Both of these methods work but you are using precious seconds to perform these actions – and when you add them up over the course of the day or week or months – well, let's just say that you could be more efficient.
How to Set Up the Right Click on a Mac – Step By Step
Luckily, it's very easy to set up the right click on a Mac.
I will walk you through the process step by step.
Step 1 – Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the top menu bar on your screen and click on System Preferences.
If you have a laptop, click on Trackpad.
If you have a desktop with a Magic Mouse, click on Mouse.
I don't have a mouse set up but I believe the steps will be similar.
Step 2 – You will come to a screen that has three options across the top. The first one says Point & Click.
Make sure that you are in this option (it should be highlighted in blue), if not then click on it.
The second option down says 'Secondary Click' – make sure the box on the left of this option has a checkmark in it. If it doesn't, click on it to check it. Install photoshop on mac free.
Now, right under the words 'Secondary Click', there is a little drop down menu in a smaller, light gray font.
Step 3 – When you click the little down arrow to the right of these words, you get three options:
- Click or tap with two fingers
- Click in bottom right corner
- Click in bottom left corner
I prefer the 'Click or tap with two fingers' option because I think that that option is the most efficient one.
With 'Click or tap with two fingers' you can click or tap with TWO fingers anywhere on your Mac trackpad to open the right click shortcut menu.
How Do I Right Click
This is great for a few reasons:
- you don't have to hit a specific area on your trackpad to open the shortcut menu – anywhere on the surface will do
- you don't need to press down and actually 'click' the trackpad to access the menu – a simple two finger tap does the job (if you don't have 'tap to click' set up I suggest you do that now as well – it is the first option above 'secondary click' on this preference screen)
Once you get into the habit of tapping and not having to press to click, you will find that your workflow becomes much easier.
And that's it!
What If You Don't Like It?
After setting up the right click on your Mac, if for some reason you feel you don't like it, you can always go back into your System Preferences and switch it back to the way that it was before.
Let me know in the comments below if this Mac tutorial helped you out.
Also, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel here where I often post tutorials.
More Mac Tutorials You Might Enjoy
The options in the shortcut menu will vary depending on what app you are using.
But the point is that being able to access this menu with just a right click will save you valuable time.
Without it, everything you do on your computer is going to take you longer.
This applies to blogging, work related stuff, working in Cricut Design Space, or even just surfing the internet, shopping online, or killing a little time of Facebook.
I am going to be tough here and tell you to learn your computer shortcuts so so you can spend your time online more efficiently.
Not judging. Just want to see you get more done.
Ok here we go ….
Watch this video – it is short and sweet.
Other Ways to Access the Shortcut Menu
The funny thing is – if you have been using a Mac for a long time without setting up the right click shortcut menu, you have even forgotten that you can actually open the shortcut menu with a right click.
Instead, you just might be using the menu bar across the top of your screen or you might have gotten into the habit of using control click to access your shortcuts.
Both of these methods work but you are using precious seconds to perform these actions – and when you add them up over the course of the day or week or months – well, let's just say that you could be more efficient.
How to Set Up the Right Click on a Mac – Step By Step
Luckily, it's very easy to set up the right click on a Mac.
I will walk you through the process step by step.
Step 1 – Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the top menu bar on your screen and click on System Preferences.
If you have a laptop, click on Trackpad.
If you have a desktop with a Magic Mouse, click on Mouse.
I don't have a mouse set up but I believe the steps will be similar.
Step 2 – You will come to a screen that has three options across the top. The first one says Point & Click.
Make sure that you are in this option (it should be highlighted in blue), if not then click on it.
The second option down says 'Secondary Click' – make sure the box on the left of this option has a checkmark in it. If it doesn't, click on it to check it. Install photoshop on mac free.
Now, right under the words 'Secondary Click', there is a little drop down menu in a smaller, light gray font.
Step 3 – When you click the little down arrow to the right of these words, you get three options:
- Click or tap with two fingers
- Click in bottom right corner
- Click in bottom left corner
I prefer the 'Click or tap with two fingers' option because I think that that option is the most efficient one.
With 'Click or tap with two fingers' you can click or tap with TWO fingers anywhere on your Mac trackpad to open the right click shortcut menu.
How Do I Right Click
This is great for a few reasons:
- you don't have to hit a specific area on your trackpad to open the shortcut menu – anywhere on the surface will do
- you don't need to press down and actually 'click' the trackpad to access the menu – a simple two finger tap does the job (if you don't have 'tap to click' set up I suggest you do that now as well – it is the first option above 'secondary click' on this preference screen)
Once you get into the habit of tapping and not having to press to click, you will find that your workflow becomes much easier.
And that's it!
What If You Don't Like It?
After setting up the right click on your Mac, if for some reason you feel you don't like it, you can always go back into your System Preferences and switch it back to the way that it was before.
Let me know in the comments below if this Mac tutorial helped you out.
Also, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel here where I often post tutorials.
More Mac Tutorials You Might Enjoy
How Do You Right Click On A Mac Computer Windows 10
