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Tricks for the Mac trackpad

Here are two tricks for using the Mac trackpad that can save a lot of frustration.

1 - Yes, there is only a single button on the Mac trackpad. But it is possible to do a right-click on the trackpad. To do so, place two fingers side-by-side on the trackpad while you click the button. Ta-da, your click is now a right-click.

2 - It is also possible to use the trackpad to scroll through documents. Again, place to fingers side-by-side on the trackpad. Now as you move both of your fingers up and down on the trackpad, the document/page will scroll up and down accordingly.
Rating: 100% positive, 8 total Votes
Categories: mac notebook
Added: on Apr 20, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Added By: an anonymous user

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There are actually prefences in System Preferences > Keyboard & Mouse > Trackpad that control this behavior. I think the scrolling is turned on by default. But to do the right-click one, you need to turn on the preference that this be allowed.
– Added by an anonymous user on Apr 20, 2007 at 9:35 pm
The first tip only works on Intel Macs (i.e. Macbook, Macbook Pro). Won't work on older machines.
– Added by an anonymous user on May 04, 2007 at 12:19 am
False. I have a Powerbook and the first tip works perfectly!!!
Great tip. I used to use the Command key until now.
– Added by an anonymous user on Aug 14, 2007 at 12:57 pm
The first tip works here, on a 12" Powerbook 1.67 .
– Added by an anonymous user on Aug 15, 2007 at 7:28 pm
If your Mac has an older trackpad, look for the software "Iscroll2", which retrofits this functionality. Whether it works depends on your hardware. I think some trackpads themselves are not capable of understanding multi-touch gestures.
– Added by an anonymous user on Apr 28, 2008 at 1:20 am
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