The hidden menu that works on almost everything on your Mac
There's a menu hiding behind almost everything on your Mac: Files, folders, words, links, images, your desktop, the Dock, the menu bar. It's called a contextual menu, and it shows you a list of actions specific to whatever you're clicking on. The menu changes depending on context, which is what makes it so useful.
The trick is knowing how to open it. If you've ever used a Windows PC, you may already be familiar with this menu because PC mice have always had two distinct buttons: left-click and right-click. Apple has traditionally hidden this feature in the name of simplicity, but it's there on every Mac. All of the methods below are what people mean when they say "right-click" on a Mac. Most Mac users have never been shown any of them.
On a trackpad
You know how you click on something by pressing the trackpad with one finger? To open the contextual menu, do the same thing but with two fingers instead of one. The menu will pop up and stay on screen, so you can let go of the trackpad. Then use one finger to move to the option you want and click it like normal.
If two fingers feel awkward, you can change it. Go to System Settings > Trackpad and look for "Secondary Click." There, you can switch to clicking the bottom-right corner or bottom-left corner of the trackpad instead.
With a mouse
By default, Apple's Magic Mouse doesn't have this feature turned on. If you're used to PC mice with two distinct buttons, this is especially baffling. To enable it, go to System Settings > Mouse and turn on "Secondary Click." Once it's on, clicking the right side of the mouse opens the contextual menu. You can also switch it to the left side if you're left-handed.
Because the Magic Mouse doesn't have two distinct buttons, it reads where your finger is when you click. Some people find that they accidentally bring up the contextual menu. If that keeps happening, turn Secondary Click back off and use the keyboard method described below instead.
If you're using a non-Apple mouse that has two buttons, the right button should work automatically. Any USB or Bluetooth mouse will work with your Mac.
With the keyboard
You can also hold the Control key on your keyboard and click. This does the same thing as any of the methods above.
Try it on everything
Once you know how to right-click, try it everywhere. Right-click on a file to rename it, move it to the trash, or get detailed info about it. Right-click on a word in a document to look it up, copy it, or translate it. Right-click on a photo in Safari to save it. Right-click on your desktop to change your wallpaper. Right-click on an app in the Dock to see its options. Right-click on a message in Mail or Messages to delete it. As a general rule, if you want to do something with an item on your screen but it's not immediately obvious how, try a right-click. There's a good chance the option you're looking for is in that menu.
Bonus tip: this works on iPhone and iPad too
Though not as pervasive, you can access similar menus on an iPhone or iPad by touching and holding an item until a menu pops up. Try it on a link, a photo in your library, an app on your Home Screen, or a message in Messages.
If you're still getting comfortable with your Mac and want someone to walk you through tricks like this, I offer one-on-one tech tutoring sessions in San Francisco, Washington DC, and via Zoom. Sometimes 30 minutes of hands-on help is all it takes to feel more confident with your computer.
