Have you switched from Windows to macOS and need help with the left-click functionality on your Mac? If so, the good news is that you can do this with a few workarounds.
To left-click on your Mac, head to “System Settings” > “Accessibility > “Pointer Control” > “Alternative Pointer Methods”, and checkmark the box next to “Enable Mouse Keys”. Click “Option” and change the settings to “Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys.” Use the “5” key on the numeric keypad or the “I” key on the keyboard to left-click.
To help you with the task, we’ve compiled a comprehensive step-by-step guide to show you how to left-click on a Mac system using a mouse, trackpad, or keyboard keys.
Left-Clicking on a Mac
If you don’t know how to left-click on your Mac, our 4 step-by-step methods will help you get this done quickly.
Method #1: Using the Keyboard Keys
Mouse Keys is a Mac feature that allows you to control the left click with the numeric keypad or keyboard in the following way.
- Head to System Settings.
- Select “Accessibility”.
- Click “Pointer Control”.
- Click “Alternate Pointer Methods”.
- Checkmark “Enable Mouse Keys”.
- Click “Option” and set the settings to “Press the Option key five times to toggle Mouse Keys”.
You can now left-click by pressing the “5” key on the numeric keypad or the “I” key on the keyboard.
Method #2: Using a Compatible Mouse
To configure the primary clicking function to the left-click on your Mac, follow these steps using a compatible wireless or wired mouse.
- Connect a wireless or wired mouse to your Mac system.
- Click “System Preferences”.
- Select “Mouse”.
- Under the “Primary mouse button” header, click “Left”.
Your mouse is now set to left-click as the primary clicking function.
Method #3: Using the Trackpad
You can also use the built-in trackpad on your Mac to mimic a left click in the following way.
- Open “System Preferences”.
- Select “Trackpad”.
- Select “Point & Click”.
- Uncheck “Tap to click”.
- Drag the slider to select “Light, Medium, or Firm” under the “Click” section.
That’s about it! You can now register a left-click with the appropriate pressure.
Method #4: Using the Force Touch Trackpad
Another way to left-click on your Mac is to use the Force Touch Trackpad (introduced in 2015 15-inch and 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro) with these steps.
- Head to “System Preferences”.
- Select “Point & Click”.
- Enable “Look up & data detectors”.
- Select “Force click with one finger”.
You can now use the Force Touch Trackpad to left-click on your Mac.
Summary
This extensive guide discussed how to left-click on a Mac using the keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or force trackpad.
Hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful, and you can now enable the left-click functionality as the primary clicking function without any issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
To click without a mouse on your Mac, open the Apple menu and go to the “System Preferences” option from the drop-down menu. Click the “Keyboard” option, select “Shortcuts”, and checkmark the “Use keyboard navigation to move focus between controls” option in the preferences window.
(In macOS Mojave or earlier, you can find this setting by clicking the “All controls” button.)
To right and left click simultaneously on your Mac, head to “System Preferences” using the Apple menu, and open “Accessibility”. Next, click the “Pointer Control” option and select “Alternative Control Methods”. Now, checkmark the “Enable Mouse Keys” option.
When Mouse Keys are enabled, F11 works as a left click, and F12 is equivalent to a right click.
The current iteration of trackpads uses what Apple has termed the “diving board”. In this design, the trackpad is fixed along the top edge nearest the keyboard. This allows the rest of its surface to be clicked. However, the Force Touch trackpad features four sensors that enable it to be clicked anywhere on its surface – even along the top edge.
Mouse Keys is an accessibility feature in Mac OS X that allows you to move the pointer using the numeric keypad instead of the mouse. This can be helpful for users who cannot use the mouse easily.
