Operating a mouse or trackpad is super easy, but behind their simple exteriors these intuitive input devices hide a whole host of shortcuts and extra features that aren’t immediately obvious—and if you don’t already know about them, you’re missing out. Here are our favorites.
Universal shortcuts
Go forwards and backwards: When browsing the web you can swipe left with two fingers to go back to the previous page, and right with two fingers to go forward.
Select blocks of text: Forget clicking and dragging—select text more precisely with a tap (or click) at the start of the block, then a Shift+Tap (or click) at the end.
Open links in new tabs: Pretty well known, but still—use Ctrl+Click (Windows, Chrome OS), Cmd+Click (macOS), or a scroll wheel click to open browser links in new tabs.
Windows shortcuts
Scroll around pages: In most web browsers and many other apps, click the scroll wheel to drop an ‘anchor’, then just move the mouse to scroll around in any direction.
Scroll left and right: Some (not all) models of mouse let you nudge the wheel to the left or right to scroll in that direction. Alternatively, hold Shift, then scroll up or down.
Launch new windows: If you click on the scroll wheel while hovering over an icon on the taskbar—whether File Explorer or Chrome—you launch another window for that app.
The secret Start menu: Right-click rather than left-click on the Start menu button for instant access to Device Manager, the command prompt, Task Manager and more.
See all open windows: Swipe up with three fingers to see all the applications you’ve got open in one convenient screen.
Zoom in and out: Hold down the Ctrl key while scrolling up and down with the mouse wheel to zoom in and out of webpages, documents, and so on.
Hi! I am a robot. I just upvoted you! I found similar content that readers might be interested in:
https://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/28-secret-mouse-and-trackpad-shortcuts-you-probably-did-1821943492