Right-Click on a Mac

Overview

If you have a MacBook (any model) from 2008 or later, your trackpad can be enabled to right-click, either by tapping or pressing a specific area, or by tapping or pressing with two fingers. This option can be enabled in System Preferences, as follows: 

  1. Make sure the box next to Secondary click is checked. Choose the way you would like to right click from the dropdown menu. OS X provides videos demonstrating each gesture.
  2. Open System Preferences and then click Trackpad.

If you are using a computer with a mouse that has a right-click button, you simply need to make sure your mouse preferences are set properly. Even Apple's one-button mice have been capable of right-click functionality since 2005. To enable right clicking, follow these instructions:

  1. Open System Preferences and then click Mouse.
  2. A diagram of a mouse displays. Make sure the right-most button is set to Secondary Button.