Where to find mouse settings on your Mac

Mouse settings live in System Settings, which is the control panel for your entire Mac. Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings" from the dropdown. Once it opens, look for "Mouse" in the left sidebar — it appears under the "Peripherals" section.

If you don't see "Mouse" in the sidebar, scroll down in that left panel. Your Mac groups settings by category, and mouse controls sit alongside trackpad and keyboard settings. Click "Mouse" and the adjustment panel opens on the right side of the window.

Key Takeaways

  • Mouse settings are in System Settings under Peripherals, accessible through the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
  • You can adjust pointer speed, scrolling speed, and which button is primary (left or right) without restarting your Mac.
  • Changes take effect when ready, so you can test a new setting and adjust it again if it doesn't feel right.
  • If your mouse doesn't appear in System Settings, it may not be paired to your Mac yet, or the connection has dropped.
  • Some third-party mice come with their own software that overrides Mac settings, so check the manufacturer's website if you own a gaming or specialized mouse.

Adjusting pointer speed and acceleration

The first slider you'll see is "Tracking speed," which controls how far your cursor moves when you move the mouse. Drag the slider to the left to make the cursor move slower (useful if you want precise control), or to the right to make it move faster (useful if you have a large monitor or prefer less physical movement). Test the speed by moving your mouse around the screen — you'll feel the difference when ready.

Below that is "Scrolling speed," which controls how fast the page moves when you scroll with the mouse wheel or scroll ball. A slower setting means each scroll movement moves the page less; a faster setting means each movement scrolls more content. This is separate from pointer speed and doesn't affect how the cursor itself moves.

Some mice also show a "Double-click speed" slider. This controls how quickly you need to click twice for your Mac to register it as a double-click rather than two separate clicks. If you find yourself double-clicking by accident, slow this down. If double-clicks aren't registering, speed it up.

Changing which mouse button is primary

By default, the left button is primary (the one that selects and opens things), and the right button brings up context menus. If you're left-handed or straightforward prefer the opposite, you can swap them. Look for the "Primary mouse button" option and select either "Left" or "Right" from the dropdown.

This change applies when ready — your next click with the right button will now select and open, while the left button shows menus. There's no restart needed, and you can change it back anytime if it doesn't feel natural.

Turning on secondary click (right-click)

If your mouse has only one button or you want to enable right-click functionality, look for "Secondary click" in the Mouse settings panel. Check the box next to it, then choose how you want to trigger a right-click: usually by clicking the right side of the mouse, or by holding down a modifier key (like Control) while clicking the left button.

Once enabled, right-clicking brings up context menus that show options specific to what you clicked on — like "Open in New Tab" for a link, or "Rename" for a file. This is one of the most useful features on Mac, so enabling it is worth the small adjustment if your mouse doesn't have a dedicated right button.

What to do if your mouse isn't showing up in settings

If you don't see your mouse listed in System Settings, the connection between your Mac and mouse has either never been made or has dropped. For wireless mice, check that the mouse is turned on and has fresh batteries. For Bluetooth mice, your Mac needs to pair with it first.

To pair a Bluetooth mouse, go back to System Settings and look for "Bluetooth" in the sidebar. Make sure Bluetooth is turned on, then put your mouse into pairing mode (usually by holding a button on the bottom for a few seconds — check your mouse's manual). Your Mac should detect it and ask you to confirm the pairing. Once paired, the mouse should appear in the Mouse settings panel.

If pairing doesn't work, try turning Bluetooth off and back on, or restarting your Mac. If your mouse still doesn't appear, the mouse itself may have a hardware problem, or it may require a USB receiver (a small dongle) rather than Bluetooth pairing.

Using manufacturer software for advanced settings

Some mice — particularly gaming mice or mice from brands like Logitech, Razer, or SteelSeries — come with their own software that provides extra features beyond what Mac's built-in settings offer. This software might include custom button programming, different sensitivity profiles, or lighting controls.

If you own one of these mice, read the manufacturer's software from their website and install it on your Mac. The software usually adds its own panel to System Settings or creates a separate app you can open. Settings in the manufacturer's software override Mac's built-in mouse settings, so if you install it, adjust your preferences there instead of in System Settings.

If you uninstall the manufacturer's software later, Mac's standard mouse settings take over again automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my mouse feel slower or faster after I restart my Mac?

Your settings should stay the same after a restart — Mac saves them automatically. If the speed feels different, you may have accidentally bumped the tracking speed slider, or a software update may have reset it. Open Mouse settings and check the slider position. You can also test with a different app to see if the speed is truly different or if it's just how one program feels.

Can I use a mouse and trackpad at the same time on my Mac?

Yes. Your Mac recognizes both devices and you can switch between them without changing any settings. Mouse settings and trackpad settings are separate, so you can adjust each one independently. If you want to disable the trackpad when a mouse is connected, that option is in the Trackpad settings panel, not the Mouse panel.

What if my mouse clicks are registering twice when I click once?

This usually means the mouse button itself is wearing out or has debris under it. Try cleaning the bottom of the mouse and the surface you're using it on. If cleaning doesn't help, the mouse may need replacement. This is a hardware issue, not a settings issue, so adjusting Mac's double-click speed won't fix it.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing mouse settings?

No. All mouse setting changes take effect when ready. You can adjust a slider, test it, and adjust it again without restarting. The only exception is if you install new manufacturer software — that may require a restart, but the software will tell you if it does.