How to right click in iPad without losing your mind

If you’re coming from a Mac or a PC, the iPad can feel like a beautiful, glass-walled prison. You want to do something basic. You want to open a link in a new tab, or maybe delete a file, or check the properties of an image. You instinctively reach for the right side of the trackpad or the mouse. Nothing. It’s frustrating. But here’s the thing: you can absolutely how to right click in iPad setups, it just doesn't always look like a physical "click."

Apple’s philosophy has always been about "Multi-Touch." They want you to poke the screen. When they finally added mouse support in iPadOS 13.4, they didn't just copy Windows. They made it weird. They made it contextual.

Honestly, most people struggle because they’re looking for a button that isn't there. Whether you are using a Magic Keyboard, a Bluetooth mouse, or just your index finger, the "right click" is hidden behind a gesture called Haptic Touch or a secondary click setting.

The finger method: Long pressing is the new right click

Forget the mouse for a second. If you’re just holding the tablet, your "right click" is a long press. Apple calls this Haptic Touch. You press and hold your finger on an app icon, a link, or an email until a menu pops up.

It feels slow. I get it. But it's the foundation of how the iPad handles secondary actions.

When you long-press a URL in Safari, you get a preview of the page and a list of options: Open in Background, Add to Reading List, or Copy. That is, for all intents and purposes, a right click. If you do this on the Home Screen, you get the "Edit Home Screen" or "Remove App" options.

The trick is the timing. If you let go too early, you just clicked. If you move your finger while pressing, you’re dragging. You have to be deliberate. Just park your finger there and wait for the haptic "thump" under the glass.

Why your long press might feel "broken"

Sometimes people think their screen is unresponsive. Usually, it’s a setting issue. You can actually change how fast this menu appears. Go into your Settings, hit Accessibility, then Touch, and finally Haptic Touch.

You’ll see a choice between Fast and Slow. If you’re a power user, set it to Fast. It makes the "right click" feel significantly more snappy. There’s a little test image of a flower there—use it to see if the speed feels natural to you. If it doesn't pop up immediately, you’re going to hate using the iPad for productivity.

Using a Mouse: Making it feel like a "Real" computer

If you’ve connected a Bluetooth mouse—like a Logitech MX Master or even a basic Pebble—you expect the right button to work. Out of the box, it often doesn't. It might just act like a regular click, which is infuriating.

To fix this, you have to dive into the settings while the mouse is actually connected.

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to General.
3. Tap on Trackpad & Mouse.
4. Toggle on Secondary Click.

Once you do this, you can choose whether the right click happens on the right side or the left side. Most of us want the right side. Now, when you click that right button, the context menu appears instantly. No waiting for a long press. It’s the closest you’ll get to a MacBook experience.

It’s worth noting that the iPad cursor isn't an arrow. It’s a little grey circle. Apple’s Craig Federighi explained years ago that the circle represents your fingertip. When you hover over a button, the circle disappears and the button itself glows. This "adaptive" cursor is why right-clicking feels a bit different; the target area is constantly shifting based on what the iPad thinks you’re trying to touch.

The Magic Keyboard and Trackpad shortcuts

If you’re rocking the Magic Keyboard, the trackpad is tiny but powerful. You don't have a "right" side of the trackpad to click because the whole thing is one big button.

To right click here, you use two fingers.

Just click the trackpad with two fingers at the same time. Boom. Context menu.

You can also hold the Control (Ctrl) key on the keyboard and click with one finger. This is the old-school Mac way. It still works. It’s actually my preferred way when I’m editing text because my hands are already on the keys.

Customizing the trackpad experience

Some people hate the "click" feel. If you prefer to just tap the surface without pushing the hinge down, go to Settings > General > Trackpad and enable Tap to Click. While you're there, make sure Two Finger Secondary Click is on.

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If you find the cursor moves too slow across the 12.9-inch screen, crank up the Tracking Speed. I usually keep mine at about 80% to make it feel responsive.

Where "Right Clicking" is actually useful on iPad

It’s not just for deleting files. In the Files app, right-clicking a folder lets you compress it into a ZIP file or see the file size—something that used to be a nightmare on iOS.

In Notes, a right click on a photo lets you "Small Images" to save space.

In Safari, right-clicking a tab allows you to "Close Other Tabs," which is a lifesaver when you have 50 things open.

The "AssistiveTouch" Workaround

Some people have physical limitations that make long-pressing or two-finger clicking difficult. Or maybe your mouse is just weird. There is a "God Mode" for iPad clicks called AssistiveTouch.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch. Turn it on.

You’ll see a floating circle on your screen. You can customize the "Top Level Menu" to include a "Long Press" or a "Secondary Click" shortcut. You can even map "Double Tap" to perform a right-click action. It’s a bit cluttered, but it’s a fail-safe if the standard gestures aren't working for you.

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Troubleshooting the "Ghost Click"

If you’ve enabled everything and how to right click in iPad still isn't working, check your mouse's firmware. Some older Bluetooth mice send a signal that iPadOS doesn't recognize as a secondary click.

Also, check if "Ignore Built-in Trackpad" is on if you have an external mouse plugged in. Sometimes the iPad gets confused about which input device is the boss.

Another weird quirk: if you’re in an app that hasn't been updated in years (looking at you, old enterprise apps), the right click might do nothing. The developer has to actually build in the menu support. In those cases, you’re stuck with the old-fashioned way of hunting for a "three-dot" menu icon.

Specific Shortcuts for Power Users

If you are using a mouse with extra buttons, like a gaming mouse, iPadOS lets you map them.

Inside the Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Devices menu, you can select your specific mouse and click "Customize Additional Buttons." I’ve mapped my thumb button to "App Switcher" and my scroll wheel click to "Screenshot."

It’s not technically a right click, but it gives you that same "one-click" access to deep features.

Moving forward with your iPad setup

The iPad isn't a laptop, and it isn't quite a phone. It's this weird middle ground. Mastering the right click is basically the "graduation" from using it as a media device to using it as a work machine.

Once you get the muscle memory for the two-finger tap or the right-side mouse click, the OS opens up. You stop hunting for buttons and start just... doing.

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To get the most out of this, go to your Settings right now and check your Haptic Touch speed. Most people find that switching from "Slow" to "Fast" instantly makes the iPad feel like a new, more professional device. If you're using a mouse, verify that Secondary Click is active under the General settings, as this is off by default on many new setups.

Experiment with the Files app first. It’s the best place to practice these gestures because the menus are clear and the feedback is instant. Once you’ve mastered right-clicking there, try it in Safari and Mail to speed up your workflow.

The transition takes about two days of consistent use before it becomes second nature. Don't fight the interface; just learn the gestures that Apple expects, and you'll find the iPad is much more capable than it first appears.