Shortcuts for your Mouse

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Your mouse can be used for more than just clicking on icons and web links. When working with text or using your web browser, it has a lot of extra capabilities that can help you save time. By using double-clicks, triple-clicks, the right button, and the scroll wheel, you can quickly select text, display menus, and change views.

Image of a Mouse pointing out its Left Button, Scroll Wheel, and Right Button

Double-clicking

You probably already double-click with the left button to open files and applications, but you can also double-click to perform other tasks. When working with text in a word processor or email, double-clicking a word automatically selects the word. You can then copy, delete, or add formatting to the text.

Image demonstrating how double-clicking a word will automatically select the word

Triple-clicking

Many people don't realize that triple-clicking with the left button is a useful shortcut for making selections in many situations.

In many word processing applications, you can triple-click on a paragraph to automatically select the entire paragraph.

Image demonstrating Triple-clicking on a paragraph to automatically select the entire paragraph

You can also select a URL (for example, in your web browser's address bar) by triple-clicking it. If you want, you can then use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+C (Windows) or Command+C (Mac) to copy the URL.

Image demonstrating using Triple-clicking to select a URL in the web browser's address bar

Right-clicking

In many applications, right-clicking displays a contextual menu. Depending on what you've selected and where you click, the options on the menu will be relevant to the context you're in.

You can right-click your desktop to change your background or other view options, such as the arrangement of files and applications.

Image demonstrating how Right-clicking your desktop will display a contextual menu

When you right-click in a word processor (like Microsoft Word), formatting options appear. When combined with double-clicking or triple-clicking to select text, you can quickly format words and paragraphs as desired.

Image demonstrating Right-clicking in a word processor like Microsoft Word to see formatting options

In your web browser, selecting a word and right-clicking it will allow you to search for the word (for example, in Google).

Image demonstrating Right-clicking a word in a web browser will allow you to search for the word for example, in Google

If you are using a Mac computer and your mouse is not right click-enabled, Ctrl+click is usually the same as right-clicking.

Scroll wheel

You may find your mouse's scroll wheel useful in some applications (like with your web browser).

You can press the scroll wheel, like a mouse button, to select a link and open it in new browser tab.

Image demonstrating how if you Click the Scroll Wheel like a Mouse button it allows you to select a link and open it in a new browser

Some websites and applications (like Google Maps) allow you to zoom in and out by scrolling the wheel up and down.

Image demonstrating how some websites and applications allow you to zoom in and out by scrolling the wheel up and down