Right click issue

[johnchristy44]

Hello

Please see this video - https://www.screencast.com/t/YAMVGWrzO06q

im using macbook pro and an external usb mouse. I have a small problem with the mouse cursor/right click. When i right click somewhere, it's highlighting whatever is infront. How can I disable/avoid this? there are similar discussions over here -

Right click highlights? - Apple Community

Thanks!

 

[MacInWin]

Can you describe the problem yourself? I don't click on links to things I don't know about so your two links are of no use to me.

The right click on my MBP with Catalina opens up a menu of potential actions and leaves the word I clicked on highlighted. That's how it is supposed to work.

 

[IWT]

Like this Jake?



Ian

 

[MacInWin]

Yep. Exactly. Right down to the DuckDuckGo option!

 

[RadDave]

Hello

Please see this video - https://www.screencast.com/t/YAMVGWrzO06q

im using macbook pro and an external usb mouse. I have a small problem with the mouse cursor/right click. When i right click somewhere, it's highlighting whatever is infront. How can I disable/avoid this? there are similar discussions over here -

Right click highlights? - Apple Community

Hi John - first, have you gone into settings and looked at the 'Mouse' options - might not be much choice, e.g. I use the trackpad on my laptops but plugged in my spare corded mouse (in case of needed backup to the BT ones) - opened the Mouse choices and had limited changes offered as to the right-left click buttons (see pic below). Second, have you tried the 'problem' mouse on another computer and/or have you tried a different mouse (corded or BT) to see if the issue is duplicated on the MBPro? Finally, does the trackpad work properly w/o the mouse attached? Dave
.

 

[johnchristy44]

Can you describe the problem yourself? I don't click on links to things I don't know about so your two links are of no use to me.

The right click on my MBP with Catalina opens up a menu of potential actions and leaves the word I clicked on highlighted. That's how it is supposed to work.

Hi Jake, one link is screencast (popular image/video sharing platform) so if you see the video you will see the issue and another link is official apple discussion forum link. So its safe to open both but in any case my issue is like @IWT shared, when you right click the previous word/space is getting highlighted. I was wondering if there is a way to disable that.

 

[johnchristy44]

Hi John - first, have you gone into settings and looked at the 'Mouse' options - might not be much choice, e.g. I use the trackpad on my laptops but plugged in my spare corded mouse (in case of needed backup to the BT ones) - opened the Mouse choices and had limited changes offered as to the right-left click buttons (see pic below). Second, have you tried the 'problem' mouse on another computer and/or have you tried a different mouse (corded or BT) to see if the issue is duplicated on the MBPro? Finally, does the trackpad work properly w/o the mouse attached? Dave
.
View attachment 30737

Hi @RadDave thank you for the reply.

My mouse if working without an issue because i have another windows laptop also and its working fine there.. In my Mac, even with trackpad im experiencing this same issue. when i press with 2 fingers the previous word/content is getting highlighted..

most of the time i dont use command+v to paste. I'm so used to mouse right click > paste option. But in mac when i try to do that its messing up my articles. For example lets say im writing a paragraph and then leaving a space, when i right click immediately its selecting the previous word so after i paste the content i need to manually move my cursor there and leave a space by pressing the spacebar..

 

[MacInWin]

I don't follow links, no matter what they say they are for. That's a good way to end up at a pretty dodgy site.

What you are seeing is how it works, as I said in post #2 and Ian shows in post #3. I know of no way to change the behavior, it's embedded in the system.

 

[IWT]

@johnchristy44

As stated, that is the normal behaviour when using the Right Click option. It's valuable because in any given situation, it brings up a list of options appropriate to where you Right Click.

If you Right Click on a word, as in my post #3, you get a list appropriate to that word; such as getting the meaning of the word, searching the internet for more info on it, copying it for pasting elsewhere, sharing it etc.

Where you Right Click and on what, yields different options. For example, on a blank Desktop (try it), on a photograph, on a Folder and so on.

You cannot disable it as such, but you can avoid inadvertently using the Right Click by going into System Preferences > Mouse > Point & Click and unchecking "Secondary Click".

This will ensure that a Left or Right Click will always behave as a Left Click. In that situation, you can only get a true Right Click if you hold down the Control key and Click (Rt or Lt, it doesn't matter). So you can "remove" the Rt Click in a manner of speaking.

But Rt Clicking is a very useful action as it brings up a list of options/actions appropriate to where you Click.

HTH??

Ian

 

[johnchristy44]

@johnchristy44

As stated, that is the normal behaviour when using the Right Click option. It's valuable because in any given situation, it brings up a list of options appropriate to where you Right Click.

If you Right Click on a word, as in my post #3, you get a list appropriate to that word; such as getting the meaning of the word, searching the internet for more info on it, copying it for pasting elsewhere, sharing it etc.

Where you Right Click and on what, yields different options. For example, on a blank Desktop (try it), on a photograph, on a Folder and so on.

You cannot disable it as such, but you can avoid inadvertently using the Right Click by going into System Preferences > Mouse > Point & Click and unchecking "Secondary Click".

This will ensure that a Left or Right Click will always behave as a Left Click. In that situation, you can only get a true Right Click if you hold down the Control key and Click (Rt or Lt, it doesn't matter). So you can "remove" the Rt Click in a manner of speaking.

But Rt Clicking is a very useful action as it brings up a list of options/actions appropriate to where you Click.

HTH??

Ian

I;m totally fine with right click menu. As you stated it will open up a menu and all good stuff. Its just the highlighting part is annoying. If you see the video i shared, if i right click it's trying to highlight the empty space in front and opening up a menu.

 

[IWT]

If you see the video i shared, if i right click it's trying to highlight the empty space in front and opening up a menu.

Yes, I did watch the video and again just now. Thank you.

To me, it is doing what I would expect. You are clicking on a blank space away from, or outside, the text. It is offering you options which you might find useful - like adding an emoji etc.

I'm open to criticism of not understanding your predicament; but to me, the Rt Click is behaving normally.

Ian

 

[MacInWin]

johnchristy44, what do you think a right click SHOULD do? And why is the highlighting bothersome? It goes away if you click anywhere else. It's been that way for a very long time. Why is it an issue now? Maybe there is a different solution to whatever it is that is objectionable to you.

 

[chscag]

I watched the video and do not see a problem. It appears when he right clicks, his mouse or pointing device has a bit of lag and leaves a very small highlight which goes away when the pointing device is moved. Could be the pointing device itself is causing it, but again, I do not see that as a problem.

 

[MacInWin]

Charlie, I broke my rule and watched the video. What is shown is exactly what is designed in. There is a space on that otherwise blank like, he is clicking on that space and it is being highlighted and the menu for character operations opens up. When he moves away, the menu collapses but the highlight of the space remains until he clicks away. Try it for yourself. Add one space to a blank line, then right click on that space. it also works if you click on a space between words. It's just how right click works. Nothing to do with whatever pointing device he is using.

 

[johnchristy44]

Thank you for your replies. I really appreciate it. Ok let me try and explain this scenario.. im a newbie here.. been using windows for years and this is my 1st macbook. Normally I do quite a lot of copy/paste. Contents from my notepad into our system etc. Im still getting used to command+c command+v key combination. So I use mouse right click > copy/paste functions. In windows if i right click yes, it will open up a menu where i can see these functions. In my mac, im getting that same menu, so all good, but the highlighing part is what causing trouble.

For example, see this screenshot - https://www.screencast.com/t/hLav1Dm5 I moved my cursor there, and right clicked that blank space to paste something, but as you can see it's highlighting. So if i just paste now, it will overwrite that "T" as well. I believe this is a default mac behavior - if that's the case im not gonna complain and im gonna get used to it.. but just wanted to know if there are any workarounds.

 

[IWT]

I see & understand your difficulty especially when you want to paste a word between two others in a sentence.

As I see it, it's a question of living with this or - as I do - use Command C and Command V - to Copy & Paste. As Keyboard shortcuts, they are pretty easy to remember and to execute. (and do't involve any clicks at all)

Ian

 

[johnchristy44]

I see & understand your difficulty especially when you want to paste a word between two others in a sentence.

As I see it, it's a question of living with this or - as I do - use Command C and Command V - to Copy & Paste. As Keyboard shortcuts, they are pretty easy to remember and to execute. (and do't involve any clicks at all)

Ian

yup I think thats what im gonna do. still getting used to it

Thank you!

 

[MacInWin]

@johnchristy44, I think you are moving the mouse, ever so slightly, as you click. I just tried it on your post and was able to click on a single character (space) just fine.

On the other hand, to do a cut/paste, all you need to do is get the mouse cursor in the right place. No need for a right click unless you are replacing what's there. If all you want is paste, just move the cursor to where it goes, left click to get the insertion bar there and cmd-v.

 

[chscag]

I think you are moving the mouse, ever so slightly, as you click.

That's what I noticed also when I watched his video. I described as a bit of lag in my reply above but your description is probably right on.

 

[johnchristy44]

ok thank you im gonna use cmd+v