Buzz
Apple has discontinued the inclusion of a middle-click button on its mice. Currently, the company offers two mouse variants for Mac devices—the trackpad (accessible for desktops through the Magic Trackpad) and the Magic Mouse, which resembles a trackpad. Despite the touch-centric designs of these devices, users can still enable a middle-click functionality to enhance their productivity.
Benefits of Utilizing Middle-Click
PC users are familiar with the middle-click button integrated into the scroll wheel, a feature absent in Apple's current mouse designs. Pressing the scroll wheel activates specific functions, customizable based on the mouse's settings. Mac users can still enjoy these functionalities by connecting third-party mice, which support operations such as:
Open links in the background while browsing
Close tabs in your browser
Insert highlighted text directly into your Mac's Terminal
These features can significantly enhance efficiency and are incredibly user-friendly. For those transitioning from Windows to Mac, the absence of a dedicated middle-click function on Apple devices may feel like a notable drawback.
Default Middle-Click Functionality in macOS
While Macs do not include a dedicated middle-click button, users can achieve the same function by using the
A More Efficient Method for Middle-Clicking on Mac
For Mac users with a trackpad or Magic Mouse, the free utility MiddleClick-Sonoma can be added to enable a middle-click function. This app assigns the middle-click action to a three-finger tap, a gesture that works seamlessly on both devices. It facilitates opening links in the background across browsers, closing tabs, and swiftly pasting selected text in Terminal. From my usage, these features have consistently performed without issues.
To set up MiddleClick-Sonoma, visit its GitHub page and download the zip file. Extract it and move the app to your Mac's Applications folder via Finder to complete the installation. If a security alert from Apple appears, rest assured the app is secure. Navigate to System Settings > Privacy & Security on your Mac and select Open Anyway to launch the app.
The app will request Accessibility permissions to operate correctly. After granting these, ensure the app launches at startup by going to System Settings > General > Login Items and clicking the + button under Open at Login. Use the search function to locate MiddleClick and add it. This ensures the app remains active whenever your Mac is running.
Ensure the Look Up gesture is turned off
On Macs, the three-finger tap gesture is preconfigured for Look Up, enabling users to highlight text and retrieve definitions, meanings, or related online information. Personally, I find this gesture somewhat bothersome, as it often activates unintentionally when I don’t intend to use it.
Since MiddleClick relies on the same gesture, it’s advisable to disable Look Up to prevent interruptions while middle-clicking. To do this, navigate to System Settings > Trackpad > Point & Click on your Mac and turn off Look up & data detectors. This simple adjustment ensures smooth and uninterrupted middle-click functionality.
A premium option offering additional functionalities
While MiddleClick-Sonoma is an excellent free tool, it involves some initial setup and typically requires annual updates to remain compatible with the latest macOS versions. This means users may need to reinstall and reconfigure the app each year, especially if they regularly update their Mac (which is recommended).
For those who find this process cumbersome, a paid alternative like Middle might be a better choice. Priced at $8, it’s a worthwhile investment. The developer behind Middle also created Rectangle, a window management app we’ve endorsed on several occasions. Middle simplifies installation and setup, and it includes the benefit of automatic updates, ensuring long-term usability as long as the developer maintains it.
The app also provides flexibility to customize additional gestures for middle-click functionality. If the three-finger tap isn’t your preference, you can opt for alternatives like a Three Finger Click, Four Finger Tap, or One Finger Force Touch. Additionally, it offers the option to deactivate the middle-click feature in specific applications, a useful feature for tailored usability.
