How to Right-Click on a Mac Without a Mouse

Right-clicking on a Mac without a mouse can be done using several methods depending on the Mac device you’re using. Here’s how to do it:

1. Using the Trackpad

• Two-Finger Click: Place two fingers on the trackpad and click. This is the default method for right-clicking on Mac trackpads.
• Corner Click:
  1. Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > Trackpad.
  2. Under the Point & Click tab, enable the option for “Secondary click.”
  3. Choose either the bottom-right or bottom-left corner for secondary clicking. Then, click in the selected corner to right-click.

2. Using the Keyboard

• Control Key + Click: Hold the Control key (not the Command key) and click the trackpad or built-in button. This will register as a right-click.

3. Using Accessibility Features

• Enable Mouse Keys to simulate mouse buttons with the keyboard:
  1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility.
  2. In the left panel, select Pointer Control (or Mouse & Trackpad in older macOS versions).
  3. Check Enable Mouse Keys.
  4. Use the numeric keypad or specific keys to simulate mouse movements and clicks. The specific keys may vary by keyboard layout.

4. Using an External Device

If you have a Magic Trackpad or an external touchpad, the same gestures and settings as the Mac’s built-in trackpad will apply.

These methods allow you to effectively use the right-click functionality on a Mac without needing a separate mouse.You can do a lot with the click of a mouse, and even more with a right-click; edit a photo, copy and paste, unpin an app, print a document, reopen a closed web page, and more. But how do you do it from the trackpad on your MacBook? Modern Macs no longer have physical trackpad buttons to press, so it’s not so easy. You could buy a mouse for your Mac, or you can learn the functionality built right into macOS. Here’s what you need to know.

Control-Click With the Keyboard

In macOS, the equivalent of a right-click is called a secondary click, which involves holding down the Control button on your keyboard and using the trackpad (or a mouse) to click. You can Control-click an icon in the Dock to get an option to remove it, Control-click a file to see edit options, or Control-click a web page to have the option to reload.