When it comes to using a mouse, everyone is different. Some like fast double-clicking, others like natural scrolling. Maybe you prefer a traditional button mouse to Apple's Magic Mouse. Maybe you want to use right-clicking again. Whatever your preferences are, you can customize them to suit you better. Here's how.
Good mouse for kids.Ok lets just start by saying I don't have a technical background or huge preference in computerMouse for My computer but when I bought this mouse at Best Buy the Best Buy employee was very kind and very knowledgeable when I got to the House I plugged the mouse in and started to using it with My laptop I found the mouse to. You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible to trade in for credit or for an Apple Store Gift Card. Not all devices are eligible for credit. More details are available from Apple’s Mac trade‑in partner and Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch trade‑in partner for trade-in and recycling of eligible devices.
How to change the scroll direction, right-click, and tracking speed of your mouse on a Mac
The Mac operating system makes it possible for you to make adjustments to the basic actions on your mouse with just a few simple steps.
- Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Select System Preferences... from the dropdown menu.
- Click on Mouse in the System Preferences window.
Click on Point & Click.
- Tick the box for Scrolling direction: natural to make the mouse scroll the same direction that your finger moves.
Tick the box for Secondary click to enable right-clicking.
Click the arrow below Secondary Click to choose whether you use the right or left side of the mouse to trigger secondary clicking.
Note: you cannot change the secondary clicking side on a non-Apple mouse.
Drag the Tracking Speed slider left or right to increase or decrease the speed at which your mouse pointer moves across the screen.
How to change the speed of double-clicking your mouse on a Mac
If you are a fast mover, you may sometimes accidentally trigger double-clicking when you didn't mean to. You can change how fast or slow you need to click a second time to trigger double-clicking on the Mac operating system.
- Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Select System Preferences... from the dropdown menu.
- Click on Accessibility in the System Preferences window.
- Scroll down and select Mouse & Trackpad from the menu on the left side of the Accessibility window.
Drag the Double-click speed slider to the right or left to increase or decrease how fast you must click the mouse to trigger the double-click feature.
Note: At its slowest, you can wait as long as four seconds between clicks to trigger double-clicking.
Tick the box for Spring-loading delay to enable the feature that opens a folder when you hover over it with a file.
Note: This feature is usually enabled by default.
- Drag the Spring-loading delay slider right or left to increase or decrease how long you have to hover over a folder with a file before it opens.
How to change the scrolling speed of your mouse on a Mac
- Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Select System Preferences... from the dropdown menu.
- Click on Accessibility in the System Preferences window.
Scroll down and select Mouse & Trackpad from the menu on the left side of the Accessibility window.
- Click on Mouse Options
- Drag the Scrolling speed slider to the right or left to speed up or slow down how fast you can scroll down on a page.
Click OK to exit.
How to change the gestures of your Magic Mouse on a Mac
- Click the Apple icon in the upper-left corner of your screen.
Select System Preferences... from the dropdown menu.
- Click on Mouse in the System Preferences window.
- Click on Point & Click.
- Tick the box for Smart zoom to enable the ability to double-tap the Magic Mouse to zoom in a window.
- Click on More Gestures.
- Tick the box for Swipe between pages to use your finger to swipe or scroll left and right on the Magic Mouse.
Click the arrow below Swipe Between Pages to choose whether you scroll left and right with one finger, swipe left and right with two fingers, or swipe left and right with one or two fingers.
- Tick the box for Swipe between full-screen apps to enable the ability to swipe left or right to switch from one full-screen to another.
Tick the box for Mission Control to enable the ability to lightly tap the Magic Mouse to call up Mission Control.
Any questions?
Do you have any questions about how to change the mouse settings on your Mac? Let us know in the comments and we'll answer them for you.
Fishing timeC.J.'s next Fishing Tourney will be in July
There are four Fishing Tourneys each year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Here's when they are and what the rules are for participating.
BestWireless Mouse for MaciMore2020
I've used both wired and wireless mice in my computing lifetime. Since I switched to wireless, however, I've been much happier. I'm not worried about the length of my cord, getting tangled with my other peripherals, or using up precious USB ports. My best investment was Apple's Magic Mouse, which is designed specifically for Mac and works like a mini trackpad. There are other great options out there, too. If you don't like the flat design of the Magic Mouse, check out the rest of our favorites below.
Perfect for most: Logitech M720
Staff favoriteAlso known as the Triathalon Mouse, Logitech's low-cost, high-powered wireless mouse is a great mid-range product. It's called the Triathalon Mouse because it has three Bluetooth device connections. You can use it with your iMac Pro at home, your MacBook Pro on the go, and your PC at work.
$34 at AmazonErgonomic design: Logitech MX Ergo
The MX Ergo is very comfortable and allows you to navigate your Mac without having to move your hand or wrist around on a mousepad all day. It is a fantastic mouse for those looking for something with an ergonomic design.
$76 at AmazonAmbidextrous: Kensington Expert Wireless Trackball Mouse
Lefties and Righties can use this trackball mouse with aplomb. It's perfect for video editors, and the circular scroll wheel makes it easy to scan multiple pages or frames. The ergonomic design helps with wrist pain, and the additional padding ensures you're holding your arm at the proper angle.
Computer Mouse For Games Mac Downloads
$85 at AmazonComputer Mouse For Games Mac 2017
Best for wrist pain: Logitech MX Vertical
This vertical mouse has been specifically designed to relieve pain caused by resting your hand incorrectly on a traditional mouse. Its design positions your arm in its natural resting angle to improve comfort and help correct bad computer posture.
$80 at AmazonElite gaming mouse: Logitech G604 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Mouse
Logitech's G604 is the best wireless mouse for clicking with the speed and efficiency needed to get through the toughest dungeon, beat the baddest boss, or out-skill the most talented sporting opponent.
Computer Mouse Control Games
$80 at AmazonGamer's delight: SteelSeries Rival 650
SteelSeries makes an impeccable gaming mouse with nearly zero lag, pinpoint accurate crosshair placement, and the lowest lift-off detection around. Its buttons and weight balance is highly customizable for even the pickiest gamer.
$120 at AmazonBudget option: Amazon Basics Wireless Mouse
If you're looking for a basic mouse with no bells and whistles, and you don't want to pay a lot for it, Amazon makes a reliable, simple mouse with no frills in your choice of fun colors. It also costs less than a large pizza.
From $16 at AmazonTriple productivity: Logitech MX Anywhere 2S Wireless Mouse
If you're a multiple computer/multiple platform user, this is the mouse you need. It supports three different devices and is cross-platform compatible with Mac and PC. The 4000dpi Darkfield sensor also ensures that it works on any surface, including glass.
From $60 at AmazonApple's own: Apple Magic Mouse
Apple designed the Magic Mouse to work seamlessly with the Mac. Its multitouch surface lets you perform gestures like swiping to move between pages or scroll through websites, double-tapping with one finger to zoom, double-tapping with two fingers to call up Mission Control, and more.
From $74 at AmazonUltra fast: Logitech MX Master 3 Advanced Wireless Mouse
Another winner from Logitech, this wireless mouse is built for speed. The electromagnetic magspeed wheel is not only ultra-fast; it's precise (down to the pixel) and quiet. Set up app-specific customizations and work seamlessly on three computers or devices at once.
$100 at AmazonOur recommendations
There are all different types of mice on the market for every kind of user. I find the MX720 to be the most well-rounded with great features at a great price, supporting up to three Bluetooth connections at once, letting you quickly switch between multiple devices at the touch of a button.
Apple's own Magic Mouse is genuinely perfect for gesture-based mousing around on the Mac, having been made by Apple to blend a traditional mouse with multitouch gestures. We just wish it had a less cumbersome charging method.
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
Buyers GuideComputer Mouse For Games Mac And Windows 10
Get 4K for your Mac with these great monitors
Computer Mouse For Games Mac And Cheese
To get the most out of your Mac, you need a beautiful display. A 4K monitor is a huge step in the right direction. Here are the best 4K monitors for your Mac.