How to right-click on a Mac trackpad or mouse

Why it happens

A Mac trackpad has no separate right button, so the Mac calls right-click a secondary click and does it with two fingers. Holding Control while you click does the same thing anywhere. On Windows the right button opens a shortcut menu; on a Mac you get the same kind of menu.

How to fix it

1. Put two fingers on the trackpad and press down to click. A shortcut menu opens where the pointer is.

2. Or hold the Control key and click with one finger. Control is near the bottom-left of the keyboard, next to the fn or Globe key on a MacBook. This works on any Mac and with any mouse.

3. If two fingers do nothing, open System Settings > Trackpad, click Point & Click, and set Secondary click to Click or Tap with Two Fingers.

   Trackpad›Point & Click›Secondary click

4. Prefer the Windows-style corner? In the same pop-up you can choose Click in Bottom Right Corner instead.

Still not fixed?

1. Using a mouse? Open Mouse settings while it's connected and set Secondary click to the right side. Left-handed people can pick the left side.

   Mouse›Secondary click

2. Magic Mouse looks like one button, but its right half right-clicks once Secondary click is on. Click near the right edge with one finger.

3. Two-finger tap doesn't work but two-finger press does? Tapping needs Tap to click turned on in the same Point & Click tab.

   Trackpad›Point & Click›Tap to click

4. If the trackpad won't click at all, feels stiff, or the MacBook no longer sits flat, stop using it and keep it off the charger. A swollen battery can push the trackpad up. That's a hardware problem: contact Apple Support or a repair shop.