How to Right-Click on a Chromebook

Welcome to the world of Chromebooks! These budget-friendly laptops are a great middle ground between mobile devices like smartphones and tablets and more powerful laptops and desktop PCs. There’s a bit of a learning curve with these Google-powered machines, though, including how to manipulate trackpad clicks. For example, you might be familiar with how to right-click in Windows or macOS. You can also right-click your Chromebook, but it’s probably not the way you’re used to doing it.

Don’t worry though. In the end, the learning curve can be both fun and educational. We created this guide to walk you through right-clicking and executing a few other Chromebook commands.

Method 1: Quick right-click

If you’ve used an Apple or Windows touchpad in the past, this is a very easy task. Instead of tapping with one finger, tap the pad with two fingers while hovering over the object you want to right-click. The touchpad interprets two fingers as a right click and displays a drop-down menu or anything else that appears as a right click.

The key here is timing and location. This is because the fingers have to tap and come back up at the same time. Otherwise, things can get a little weird. If you’ve never right-clicked like this before, it may take a bit of practice to get down to it (always make sure your touchpad is clean and dry – this makes a huge difference).

Method 2: Right-click with your keyboard

If you really don’t like tapping the touchpad, or you’re still in the learning phase and need a more reliable way to right-click while you master the pad, try the keyboard method. Hold down the Alt key and tap the pad with one finger. This works like a two-finger tap for right-clicking, but can be more precise and easier if you don’t have a free finger.

This method works if you’re already typing and your fingers are right there. Or, if you’re on the move and in an awkward position, it’s easier to hold down the Alt key and tap than to tap with two fingers.

Method 3: Move an object by right-clicking it

This is a little more complicated. To move an object using the Chromebook touchpad, you must combine right-click and left-click. First, tap the pad while hovering over the object, but press your finger lightly on the pad. Then tap and move the pad with your second finger to move the object.

Here the first finger is activating the movement and the second finger is actually moving the object. The key is to keep one finger relatively still while moving the other. This becomes intuitive over time. Like the first method, this may take some practice, especially if you’re still getting used to the sensitivity of the touchpad. Better Chromebooks have softer touchpads that make this easier, but it can feel a little awkward on cheaper models.

When in doubt, turn it off

Chromebooks allow you to change the touchpad settings or turn the whole thing off if it’s bothering you. first setting You can usually find it in places like Network Connections and Battery Life. The actual icon may vary slightly depending on the brand that manufactured your Chromebook, but is usually a gear or wrench.

When you get there, pause for a moment and notice the slider that allows you to change the touchpad speed. If your touchpad is too shaky, try slowing it down and experimenting a bit. This will make clicking a little easier. Once done, find the button that says Touchpad Settings and select it.

Or you can use one of the following:

If you don’t use your Chromebook’s native right-click controls, plugging in a mouse will solve all your problems. Once paired, left and right clicks work exactly the same way as they do on a PC with any other mouse.