Mac OS X – How do I Right-Click with Trackpad, Single Button Mouse, or Magic Mouse?
Contributed by David Kirk 
Tagged: Apple Mac A stumbling block for those who have been reared on Windows systems but moved to a Mac is using a single button mouse or trackpad. Using these simple directions, you’ll be able to “right-click” on your new Mac in no time.
The term “right-click” is now almost universal. When people use this term, they are usually describing how to get a context sensitive menu for an object on the screen.
On OS X systems such as Apple’s mac computers, you can simulate a right-click by holding down the control key while performing a mouse click or trackpad click.
With modern trackpads, one can also perform a right-click by tapping the trackpad with two fingers.
With Apple’s Magic Mouse, you must lift all your fingers off the mouse and click with one solitary finger on the right-side of the mouse.
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aurea said on November 25, 2008
I’ve been using Mac OS X for about 3 years now, but always on a laptop. So when I recently started using a mouse and couldn’t find a way to right-click something, I was ready to tear my hair out. Your post was very useful — I’m happily right-clicking away. Thanks!
aurea said on November 25, 2008
Should’ve mentioned that it was a one-button mouse I now use. Thanks :)
sachin said on January 6, 2009
you can use a windows mouse and right click away. thats use a 2 button mouse and it will work
deborahjb said on April 30, 2009
Is it different now? When I used my old iMac I would just hold down the single button until a dialog window opened up…like click & hold.
Anonymous said on July 11, 2009
In addition to the ctrl-button trick already described, you can simulate a Windows-style right click one-handedly on a Mac laptop by putting two fingers on the trackpad when you click the mouse.
Anonymous said on October 27, 2009
i need to know how to do it with one button so i don’t use control click
Anonymous said on November 26, 2009
oo…useful…
Austin said on June 26, 2010
The “Mouse” Preference pane lets you select a button to use as secondary click.
Stuee said on November 12, 2010
Yeah, as it says in the article ;-p
Techies Point said on February 16, 2011
If it is A12963Vdc model mouse then click on the apple icon on the top left corner of your iMac and select System Preferences , click on the mouse icon and check the ‘Secondary click’ check box.
Cairns Resorts said on June 2, 2011
Thanks for the tip: I’ve been debating about whether to move over from the dark side to mac, but the lack of the right mouse button is a real stumbling block.