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On a Windows laptop, try tapping the touchpad with two fingers or pressing its lower-right corner. On a Mac, hold Control while clicking, or enable Secondary click in System Settings. If the right-click still does not work, check that the touchpad and its click setting are enabled, then restart and test an external mouse to narrow down the cause.
Try the right-click gesture for your laptop
The gesture depends on your operating system and touchpad. Microsoft documents a two-finger tap and a press in the lower-right corner as Windows touchpad actions for showing commands such as right-click. Some gestures work only on Precision Touchpads. Microsoft’s Windows touch gestures
Windows 10 and Windows 11
- Tap the touchpad with two fingers.
- Press down in the lower-right corner of the touchpad.
If neither action works, do not assume the touchpad is broken; check its settings next. Surface touchpads may also have a distinct right-side click area, and Microsoft documents pressing the right side or tapping with two fingers on supported devices. Microsoft’s Surface touchpad guidance
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Hold Control while clicking to open the shortcut menu. This Control-click is an alternative to a trackpad or mouse secondary click. For trackpad gestures, open System Settings > Trackpad > Secondary click and choose an option you can perform. For a mouse, open System Settings > Mouse > Secondary click. Apple’s instructions for right-clicking on Mac
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Check that the touchpad and right-click option are enabled
Windows
In Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad and make sure the touchpad is on. In Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Devices > Touchpad. On Dell laptops, Dell advises expanding Taps and enabling the right-click features if they are off. The exact controls vary with the laptop maker, Windows version, and touchpad hardware. Dell touchpad troubleshooting
Mac
In System Settings, select Trackpad or Mouse, then check the Secondary click menu. Choose an available option that matches how you want to click, such as clicking with two fingers on a trackpad. Apple’s instructions for right-clicking on Mac
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Use an external mouse to narrow down the problem
- Save your work and restart the laptop.
- Connect a USB or wireless mouse and try its right-click button.
- If right-click works with the external mouse but not the built-in touchpad, the issue is limited to the touchpad. That result does not by itself identify whether the cause is a setting, driver, or hardware fault.
Dell recommends an external mouse as a way to help isolate touchpad problems. If you use a Dell laptop and the issue remains, Dell’s model-specific troubleshooting includes checking for driver and BIOS updates, reinstalling a corrupted touchpad driver, and running SupportAssist diagnostics. Follow the laptop maker’s instructions for other brands rather than applying Dell-specific steps universally. Dell touchpad troubleshooting
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