How to Right Click on a MacBook

Learn 3 ways to right-click on a mouse with one button or trackpad

Last Updated: May 30, 2022 Tested

Steve Jobs famously hated buttons, so all Apple products are a bit light on use of them. If you have recently started using a Macbook, you may be wondering how you are supposed to right-click when there are no buttons. There are a several different ways to access the right-click menu with a MacBook. Check out this guide to learn how.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Control-Click

1
Place your cursor over what you want to click. Hold the control or ctrl key on your keyboard. It is located next to the option button on the bottom row of your keyboard.
2
Click the object. If you are holding control when you click, the right-click menu will open.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Enabling Two-Finger Clicks

1
Click the Apple menu. Select System Preferences, and then open Keyboard & Mouse.
2
Click the Trackpad tab. Under the Trackpad Gestures section, check the box labeled “Tap trackpad using two fingers for secondary click”. This will enable you to right-click using two fingers.
- Note: Depending on your OS X version, the labeling may vary. On older versions, the box is labeled “Secondary Click” and is located in the Two Fingers section.
3
Place your cursor over what you want to click. Press two fingers to the trackpad to right-click an object. With the secondary click enabled, doing this will open the right-click menu.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using an External Mouse

1
Decide if you want an external mouse. Heavy Excel users and others may prefer an external mouse.
2
Get a mouse that has two buttons, or two-button capability. This is probably a mouse from a Windows PC. You may find it not as attractive to have a Windows mouse with your new MacBook, but it is practical. You can also use a Mac-branded option like the Magic Mouse.
- The Magic Mouse has a Secondary Click option available in the System Preferences. When enabled, this allows you to right-click just like on any other mouse.
3
Connect the mouse. Plug that mouse into your USB on the Macbook or connect via Bluetooth, and you are good to go.

Community Q&A

Question

Why is my Macbook not responding to the right click?

Community Answer

Check to make sure that your settings are allowing right clicks. It can also be a manufacturing fault. Take your computer to an Apple store and get it diagnosed.
Question

How do I paste a video into an email?

Community Answer

If you are getting the video from YouTube, then you must hit the Share button under the video, then copy the link and paste it into an email. If it is from a phone or tablet, save the video to the computer, then open your email and click on the icon for an attachment. Then you can select that from your computer.
Question

How do I delete the Google Earth icon from my MacBook Air?

Community Answer

You cannot delete the app because it comes built-in automatically with the MacBook.