Home » Chromebook » Chromebook how to guides » How to right click on a Chromebook

How to right click on a Chromebook

This guide will teach you the different ways to right click on Chromebook devices

Updated: Apr 17, 2023 9:15 am
How to right click on a Chromebook

WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more

If you’re familiar to using a mouse, but new to Chromebook, you may be wondering how to right click on a Chromebook. Although this may seem like a simple and intuitive process, it’s easy to be tripped up by a design you’re not used to. Luckily though, it’s straightforward once you know how it’s done. There are various different methods we’re going to teach you today in this quick and easy guide.

READ NOW: We’ve put together a list of the best Chromebooks

Even though a Chromebook is similar to a laptop, that doesn’t mean it’s exactly the same as right clicking on a laptop – so there will be some new muscle memory to learn for right clicking on Chromebook. Have a read of all of the methods below, and with any luck, you’ll learn something new about how to use your Chromebook and come away with a new favorite method for Chromebook right-clicking!

How to right click on Chromebook devices

How to right click on a Chromebook trackpad

The Chromebook touchpad or trackpad works in much the same way as a MacBook trackpad. It doesn’t have the separate individual buttons at the bottom that some Windows laptops do, but is an all-in-one design that relies on specific gestures.

Although some Windows laptops also have this design, right clicking on them generally involves pressing in the bottom right corner of the trackpad with a single finger. This is not the case on a Chromebook.

  • To perform a right click on a Chromebook, you must tap the touchpad with two fingers at the same time. This can be anywhere on the touchpad.
  • Alternatively, you can hold the Alt key on your keyboard and then single tap on the touchpad.

How do I enable right click on a Chromebook?

Sometimes the above functionality needs to be enabled in the settings of the Chromebook before it will work. Follow the below steps to do this.

Step

1

Settings Menu

Open up the Settings Menu on your Chromebook by clicking on the menu in the bottom-right corner of your screen, then clicking the cogwheel icon.

Step

2

Advanced

Once in the Settings menu, click Advanced.

Step

3

Manage Accessibility Features

Click Manage Accessibility Features within the Advanced menu.

 

Step

4

Open mouse and touchpad device settings

Under the Mouse and Touchpad section, click on Open mouse and touchpad device settings.

Step

5

Enable Tap to Click

Select Enable Tap to Click.

How to scroll on a Chromebook

You may have noticed in your attempts to right click that depressing your two fingers for too long or moving them after tapping the touchpad will move your page up and down.

This is due to you accidentally performing the scroll gesture.

Scrolling on a Chromebook (assuming it is enabled in the touchpad settings – see above) is performed through holding your two fingers on the trackpad at the same time and moving them up or down. Releasing them stops the scroll.

How to middle click on a Chromebook

Middle clicking is a useful feature. If you have a mouse you can press the mouse wheel / middle button to middle click. If you do this on a link it will open it up in a new background tab in your web browser, leaving you on the page you’re currently viewing. Middle clicking on an open tab will close it down.

To perform this action on a Chromebook, simply tap the touchpad with three fingers at the same time, instead of the two you’d use to right click or the single to left click.

Other Chromebook articles

Final Word

And so ends our guide on how to right click on a Chromebook. Make sure you have a gander at our other Chromebook and laptop guides and articles, including other how-to guides, and also buyer’s guides on specific laptop and Chromebook brands.


Trusted Source

WePC’s mission is to be the most trusted site in tech. Our editorial content is 100% independent and we put every product we review through a rigorous testing process before telling you exactly what we think. We won’t recommend anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. Read more