The following table specifies the default button assignments for Microsoft mouse products.
Note: Some of the features listed are not available on all mouse models.
Button |
Action |
How to use it |
Left |
Click |
Move the pointer over an item on the screen, and then quickly press and release the left button. |
Double-click |
Move the pointer over an item on the screen, and then quickly press and release the left button twice. |
|
Drag an object |
Move the pointer over an item on the screen, press and hold the left button, move the pointer to move the object to a new location, and then release the left button. |
|
Right |
Right-click |
Move the pointer over the appropriate screen location, and then press the right button to display a shortcut menu or other program-specific feature. |
Wheel |
Vertical scrolling |
In a scrollable window, rotate the wheel toward you to move down, away from you to move up. |
Horizontal scrolling (some models only) |
In a scrollable window, tilt the wheel to the left to move left, and to the right to move right. |
|
Touch strip (some models only) |
For devices with a touch strip, slide your finger up and down or forward and backward to scroll. |
|
Zooming |
In some programs (such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel), you can increase or decrease the screen magnification by holding down the CTRL key while you are scrolling. |
|
Wheel |
Middle-click |
You can press the wheel like a button to access more features. In some programs, you can use middle-click for program-specific features. For example, in Internet Explorer 7, you can middle-click a link to open the link in a new tab. |
Flip, Flip 3D or Instant Viewer Task View |
Select how you want to view all your open programs: Flip lets you preview thumbnail images of all running programs. Flip 3D lets you flip through all open windows at the same time. If Flip or Flip 3D is not available, this key opens the Instant Viewer /Task View and displays all open items in a grid of thumbnail images. |
|
Other assignable buttons |
Other buttons may be unassigned by default, or have a default assignment, such as: Back and Forward Move back and forward in programs that support the Back and Forward commands, such as a Web browser. Magnify Enlarge text and images in a part of the screen. |
|
Dedicated buttons |
Some mouse models have buttons with dedicated features, such as presenter buttons or gaming buttons that cannot be reassigned. |
List of all button assignment options
Click here for a table lists and describes the button assignments that you can set on your mouse.
Assignments |
Description |
Click |
Selects the object that you are pointing at, positions the cursor, and drags text or objects from one location to another. |
Right-click |
Displays shortcut menus. |
Next window |
Makes the next window the active window. |
Previous window |
Makes the previous window the active window. |
Browser Back |
In a browser window, displays the last page that you visited. |
Browser Forward (browser) |
In a browser window, displays the last page that you visited before you clicked the Back button. |
Middle-click |
In some programs, middle-click lets you use program-specific features. For example, in Internet Explorer 7, you can middle-click a link to open the link in a new tab. |
Disable this button |
Turns off the mouse button. |
Alt |
Functions the same as pressing ALT on the keyboard. |
ClickLock On/Off |
Toggles between enabling and disabling ClickLock. This has the same effect as enabling or disabling ClickLock on the Activities tab. |
Close |
Closes the active document or window. |
Copy (CTRL+C) |
Copies the selected text or item to the Clipboard. |
CTRL |
Functions the same as pressing CTRL on the keyboard. |
Cut (CTRL+X) |
Cuts the selected text or item to the Clipboard. |
Shift |
Functions the same as pressing Shift on the keyboard. |
Delete |
Deletes the selected text, item, or other object. |
Digital Ink On/Off |
Enables you to annotate slides in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (in full-screen mode). |
Double-click |
Lets you use a single-click to represent a double-click. |
Enter |
Lets you initiate a command or control, or perform an action for the selected item. |
Exit program |
Closes the selected program. |
Flip /Flip 3D |
Flip lets you preview thumbnail images of all running programs. Flip 3D displays all open programs as a three-dimensional set of tiles that you can quickly page or scroll through. If Flip or Flip 3D are not available, this key opens the Instant Viewer and displays all open items in a grid of thumbnail images. |
Gaming toggle |
Lets you record and play back up to two favorite key sequences while in a game. |
Instant Viewer |
Displays all open items in a grid of thumbnail images. |
Macro |
Opens the Macro editor so that you can create a new macro and assign or modify an existing macro. |
Magnify |
Lets you enlarge text and images on any section of your screen. |
Maximize |
Lets you maximize the selected window. |
Minimize |
Lets you minimize the selected window. |
New |
Lets you create a new document or file. |
Open |
Lets you open an existing document or file. |
Paste (CTRL+V) |
Pastes the text or item in the Clipboard. |
Quick Turn |
Lets you spin a gaming character to face in the opposite direction. |
Redo |
Repeats the last action. |
Shift |
Functions the same as pressing SHIFT on the keyboard. |
Show/Hide desktop |
Minimizes/maximizes all open windows. |
Undo (CTRL+Z) |
Undo the previous action. |
Zoom in |
Lets you increase the screen magnification. |
Zoom out |
Lets you decrease the screen magnification. |
Key Combination |
Lets you assign a keyboard shortcut to a mouse button. |
Precision booster |
Lets you adjust your pointer speed for precision tasks, such as in-game targeting or photo editing. |
Open a program, webpage or file(custom) |
Lets you start a program or game that you specify. |
Task View |
Lets you open a new task view interface that stays open. |
Open Action Center |
Lets you open the Action Center. |
Open Cortana |
Lets you open Cortana in listening mode. |
Open OneNote |
Lets you open OneNote. |
Add new desktop |
Lets you add a new virtual desktop. |
Previous desktop |
Switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the left. |
Next desktop |
Switch to the virtual desktops you’ve created on the right. |
Close desktop |
Closes the current virtual desktop. |
Take Screen Clipping |
Take a screenshot of current window and copy it to your clipboard. |
Snap window left |
Snaps current window to left of screen. |
Snap windows right |
Snaps current window to right of screen. |
Snap windows up |
Snaps current window up the screen. |
Snap windows down |
Snaps current window down the screen. |
Switch Between Recent Apps |
Switches between recent apps on Windows 8/8.1. |
Open Recent Apps |
Opens latest active apps on Windows 8/8.1. |
Show/Hide App commands |
Shows/Hides Apps bar in Windows 8/8.1. |
Open the charms |
Opens the charm bar on Windows 8/8.1. |
Search |
Opens Search on your computer. |
Share |
Open Share on Windows 8/8.1/10. |
Devices |
Opens Devices in charm bar on Windows 8/8.1. Opens Connect on Windows 10. |
Settings |
Opens Settings on Windows 8/8.1/10. |
Go to Windows Start |
Opens Windows Start. |
Page Up |
Scrolls up by one page. |
Page Down |
Scrolls down by one page. |
Print Screen |
Prints the screen. |
Gadget |
Displays the gadgets on your desktop in Windows 7. |