A Mac's trackpad and Magic Mouse have no separate right button, but the right-click (also called secondary click) is fully there once you know where to trigger it. It opens the same context menus you get on any computer, giving you copy, paste, rename, and app-specific shortcuts.
What you'll need
- A Mac with a trackpad, Magic Mouse, or any USB/Bluetooth mouse
Step by step
- Try a two-finger click on the trackpadRest two fingers on the trackpad and press down, or tap with two fingers. This is the default secondary click and opens the context menu wherever your pointer is.
- Or hold Control and clickHold the Control key and click once with a single finger or the mouse button. This works on any Mac input device and is a reliable fallback.
- Turn on tap-to-right-click in settingsOpen System Settings, choose Trackpad, then under Point and Click set 'Secondary click' to 'Click or tap with two fingers' so you do not have to press hard.
- Set a corner for a Magic MouseIn System Settings, Mouse, turn on Secondary click and choose whether the right or left side of the mouse triggers it.
- Use a plug-in mouse as-isAny standard wired or Bluetooth mouse with two buttons right-clicks with its right button immediately, no setup needed.
How to right-click on a MacBook trackpad
On a MacBook, MacBook Air, or MacBook Pro, the built-in way to right-click is to place two fingers on the trackpad and press down, or tap with two fingers if tapping is enabled. Do this while the pointer is over the item you want, and the context menu appears next to it.
If a two-finger click does nothing, the gesture may simply be turned off. You can check or change it in System Settings under Trackpad, in the Point and Click section, where 'Secondary click' can be set to 'Click or tap with two fingers'.
How to right-click with a Magic Mouse
An Apple Magic Mouse has a single smooth top surface with no visible right button, which is why the right side looks the same as the left. The mouse still senses which side you press, so a click on the right portion of the surface acts as the secondary click, as long as that feature is switched on.
To enable or change it, open System Settings, select Mouse, and turn on 'Secondary click'. You can choose whether the right side or the left side triggers it, which is helpful if you are left-handed.
Control (Ctrl) + click: the method that always works
Holding the Control key and clicking once is the universal right-click on any Mac. It opens the exact same context menu and works with a trackpad, a Magic Mouse, or any external mouse, with no settings to change first.
This is the most dependable option when a gesture is not responding, when you are on an unfamiliar Mac, or when you just want one method to remember. Control-click is not the same as Command-click, so be sure you are holding Control (Ctrl).
Right-click with an external or third-party mouse
Almost any standard wired USB or Bluetooth mouse with two physical buttons works on a Mac right away. Press its right button and you get the context menu, with no drivers or setup needed.
If you connect a mouse and the right button does nothing, open System Settings and check the Mouse section to confirm 'Secondary click' is assigned to the right button. Some maker-specific mice also ship their own app that can reassign the buttons.
The keyboard equivalent of right-click on a Mac
Macs do not have a dedicated context-menu key like the one on many Windows keyboards, so the closest keyboard-based method is Control (Ctrl) + click. Holding Control while you click is what opens the menu, which is why it is often described as the keyboard shortcut for right-click.
If you rely on VoiceOver, you can also open the context menu for the focused item with VO (Control-Option) plus Shift plus M, without clicking at all.
Handy tips
- If two-finger click feels unreliable, switching the setting to 'tap with two fingers' is often easier than pressing.
- Control-click is worth memorizing because it works even when a trackpad gesture is misbehaving.
FAQ
Why does nothing happen when I two-finger click?
The secondary click gesture may be turned off. Open System Settings, Trackpad, and make sure 'Secondary click' is enabled.
Can I right-click without any mouse or trackpad?
Yes. Hold the Control key and click, which works with any pointing method including tapping the trackpad.
Is right-click the same as Control-click on a Mac?
Yes, they open the same menu. Control-click is Apple's built-in equivalent for the secondary click.
How do I right-click on a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro trackpad?
Press or tap the trackpad with two fingers, or hold Control and click with one finger. Both open the context menu at the pointer.
Where is the right button on a Magic Mouse?
There is no separate button. The whole top is one surface, and clicking the right side acts as the right-click once 'Secondary click' is turned on in System Settings, Mouse.
How do I enable right-click in settings?
On current macOS open System Settings, then Trackpad or Mouse, and turn on 'Secondary click'. On older macOS the same option is under System Preferences instead of System Settings.
Does a regular USB mouse right-click on a Mac?
Yes. Any standard two-button wired or Bluetooth mouse right-clicks with its right button as soon as it is connected, with no extra setup.
Is there a keyboard shortcut for right-click on a Mac?
There is no dedicated menu key, so the keyboard-based method is Control (Ctrl) + click. VoiceOver users can also press Control-Option plus Shift plus M.