Reverse the Function of the Right and Left Mouse Buttons

The mouse has a primary and secondary mouse button. You use the primary mouse button to select and click items, position the cursor in a document and drag items. You use the secondary mouse button to display a menu of tasks or options that change depending on where you click. The primary mouse button is normally the left button on the mouse. For accessibility needs, or for left-handed mouse use, you can reverse the buttons and use the right mouse button as the primary button. This procedure tells you how to reverse the function of the right and left mouse buttons through Mouse Properties in Control Panel.

Mouse actionsKeyboard actions
1 On the Start menu:
  • Select Control Panel
Display the Start menu by pressing CTRL+ESC (or the Windows logo key Windows logo key).
  • Select Control Panel by pressing C.
2 In Control Panel:
  • Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing).
  • If not, under Control Panel in the left pane, select Switch to Classic View.
  • Select Mouse.
 In Control Panel:
  • Be sure you are in Classic View (all Control Panel icons are showing).
  • If not, under Control Panel in the left pane, select Switch to Classic View by pressing TAB.
  • Press ENTER.
  • Move to Mouse by pressing the arrow keys.
  • Press ENTER.
3 In the Mouse Properties dialog box, on the Buttons tab, under Button configuration:
  • Select the Switch primary and secondary buttons check box.
  • Select OK.
 In the Mouse Properties dialog box, on the Buttons tab, under Button configuration:
  • Select the Switch primary and secondary buttons by pressing S.
  • Press ENTER.
4 To close Control Panel:
  • Select the Close button.
 To close Control Panel:
  • Press ALT+F, C.

Control Panel: Mouse: Buttons tab: Button configuration: Switch primary and secondary buttons

Control Panel: Mouse: Buttons tab: Button configuration: Switch primary and secondary buttons