There are different ways to do this.
Most computer users right-click several times a day. From calling up context menus to opening links in a new tab, it’s a valuable tool that can streamline your workflow. Using this feature on a MacBook can be done in a few different ways. But whether you’re using a trackpad, Magic Mouse, or third-party MacBook peripherals, it’s not always obvious how to perform the action — what Apple calls “secondary click.”
In early iterations of macOS, right-click had to be enabled in Settings before you could take advantage of its many uses. However, for many years secondary clicking has been enabled by default, so if you know which gestures to use, you can right-click on a MacBook right out of the box. You can do this on the built-in trackpad as well as the Magic Mouse. With the next generation of Magic Mouse on the horizon, now is the perfect time to review this important feature and how to use it on your MacBook.
How to Right-Click on a MacBook
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Whether you’re using a mouse or trackpad, you can trigger a right-click by holding down the Control key while clicking as you normally would. You can also tap with two fingers on the trackpad or simply press the front right corner of a Magic Mouse, even if you don’t see an actual button there. But you can also change how you right-click in your MacBook’s settings. Configuration options vary depending on whether you’re using a mouse or trackpad, but both options are quick and easy.
Changing mouse right-click settings
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Go to System Settings on your MacBook
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Select Mouse in the left sidebar
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Under the Point and click section, select the Secondary click context menu, then select whether you want the right click to be triggered by a click on the left or right side of the mouse
Changing trackpad right-click settings
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Go to System Settings on your MacBook
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Select Touchpad in the left sidebar
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Under the Point and click section, select the Secondary click context menu, then choose between the three options: Click or tap with two fingers, click in the lower right corner, or click in the lower left corner.
