How to Right-Click on a Mac

If you have switched from a Windows computer, you may be wondering how to right-click on a Mac. You may also have tried pressing the right side of your MacBook trackpad and found that nothing happened.

The good news is that your Mac can right-click. Apple calls this action a secondary click, and you can use a two-finger gesture, a mouse button, or a keyboard shortcut. Once you know where the setting lives, it is straightforward to adjust.

What you’ll need

• Your MacBook’s built-in trackpad, an Apple Magic Trackpad, or a mouse.
• Your Mac keyboard if you want to use the Control-click method.

Step 1: Try the two-finger trackpad click

This is the quickest way to right-click on most MacBook trackpads. It may already be switched on.

1. Move the pointer over something you want to select, such as a file in Finder or an empty area of your desktop.
2. Rest two fingers on the trackpad.
3. Press down once with both fingers together. On a trackpad set up for tap gestures, you can tap with two fingers instead.
4. Look for a small menu beside the pointer. This is called a shortcut menu or context menu. It shows actions that are relevant to the item you clicked.

For example, right-clicking a file may show options such as Rename, Move to Trash, or Get Info. The choices change depending on what you click and which app you are using.

Tip: If you are not sure whether the gesture worked, try it on a file in Finder. The menu should appear without opening the file.

Step 2: Turn on or change right-click for your trackpad

If the two-finger click does nothing, check the trackpad setting. You can also choose a corner of the trackpad instead.

1. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Choose System Settings.
3. In the sidebar, click Trackpad. You may need to scroll down to find it.
4. Open the Point & Click section if it is not already selected.
5. Find Secondary click. Open its menu and choose the method you prefer. Common choices include Click or Tap with Two Fingers, Click in Bottom Right Corner, and Click in Bottom Left Corner. The choices shown can vary by Mac and trackpad.
6. Try the new method on a file or folder.

If you choose a corner option, press the lower-right or lower-left area of the trackpad to open the shortcut menu. If you choose the two-finger option, click or tap with two fingers together.

Good to know: You do not need to change the general clicking or tapping settings just to enable secondary click. Look specifically for Secondary click.

Step 3: Right-click with an Apple Magic Mouse or another mouse

A mouse may have a separate right button, or it may use a touch-sensitive surface. The setup depends on the model.

1. Connect your mouse to your Mac and make sure the pointer moves on the screen.
2. Click the Apple menu, then choose System Settings.
3. Select Mouse in the sidebar. If you do not see it, check that the mouse is connected and switched on.
4. Find Secondary click and open its menu.
5. Choose Click Right Side or Click Left Side, depending on which side you want to use. The exact choices depend on your mouse.
6. Move the pointer over a file or another item and click the selected side of the mouse.

With an Apple Magic Mouse, the top surface looks like one large button. After you enable secondary click, press the right-hand side of that surface. With many standard two-button USB or Bluetooth mice, the right button works automatically.

Careful: On a Magic Mouse, avoid pressing both sides at once. Use the side you selected in Secondary click.

Step 4: Use Control-click as another option

You can right-click without changing any settings. Apple calls this Control-click.

1. Move the pointer over the file, folder, link, or other item.
2. Press and hold the Control key on your keyboard.
3. While holding Control, click once on the trackpad or mouse.
4. Release the Control key after the shortcut menu appears.

This method works with a Mac trackpad or a mouse. It is useful if you are using someone else’s Mac, if the secondary-click setting is turned off, or if you simply prefer a keyboard shortcut.

Do not confuse Control with Command. The Control key is usually marked control or ctrl and sits near the bottom-left of the keyboard.

Step 5: Choose the method that feels most comfortable

There is no single right way to right-click on a Mac. You can use whichever method feels natural.

• Two-finger click: A convenient choice if you use a MacBook trackpad.
• Bottom-corner click: Helpful if you prefer to use one finger and a specific corner.
• Mouse secondary click: Familiar if you use a separate mouse.
• Control-click: Handy when you do not want to change settings or when you need an alternative.

Try your preferred method in a few places, such as Finder, on the desktop, and in a web browser. You may see different menu options in different apps. That is normal.

Tip: If you use a trackpad often, take a moment to test both the two-finger method and Control-click. Knowing the alternative can save time if a setting changes.

Troubleshooting: What if right-click still does not work?

If no shortcut menu appears, work through these simple checks.

Check the selected device. If you are using a mouse, open System Settings and select Mouse. If you are using a MacBook’s built-in trackpad, select Trackpad instead.

Check Secondary click. Make sure the setting is not turned off. Choose a method from the Secondary click menu, then test it again.

Make sure the mouse or trackpad is connected. For a wireless accessory, check that it is switched on and paired with your Mac. If it uses batteries, check whether they need replacing or charging.

Try Control-click. Hold Control while clicking an item. If that opens a shortcut menu, the Mac can show the menu and the issue may be with the mouse or trackpad setting.

Restart if necessary. Save your work, then choose the Apple menu and Restart. After the Mac starts again, test the click.

If the menus on your Mac look different, use the search field in System Settings and search for Secondary click. Menu names can change between macOS releases, and some third-party mice have their own settings.

Older versions of macOS use System Preferences instead of System Settings. You may find the relevant options under System Preferences > Trackpad or System Preferences > Mouse. On older versions, the setting may appear as a checkbox or have slightly different wording.

You’re ready to right-click

Right-clicking on a Mac is simply called a secondary click. Use two fingers on a trackpad, the configured side of your mouse, or hold Control while clicking. Once you have tried it a few times, opening shortcut menus will feel like a natural part of using your Mac.