How to use keyboard for clicks instead of mouse

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How to use keyboard for clicks instead of mouse
How to use keyboard for clicks instead of mouse
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In this article, you will learn how to use keyboard keys to move the cursor (mouse pointer) around the screen and click on items when the mouse is not working. This feature can be enabled for most keyboards on Windows and Mac OS X computers.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: On Windows

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 1
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 1

Step 1. Use the arrow keys and the ↵ Enter key

If you want to select a program or file icon on the desktop, use the arrow keys to highlight an item, and then press ↵ Enter to open it.

  • Pressing a letter key will highlight the item whose name begins with that letter. For example, if you press K, the Computer or Trash icon will be highlighted on the desktop.
  • Press Alt + F4 to close the open window. On some computers, you need to hold Alt + Fn and then press F4.
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 2
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 2

Step 2. Locate the numeric keypad on your keyboard

If your keyboard does not have a separate numeric keypad (on the right), you will not be able to enable the special function that controls the cursor using the keys. You can use the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • Alt + Tab ↹ - switch between open windows;
  • Tab ↹ - move through various menu options;
  • ↵ Enter - opens the items highlighted with the arrow keys;
  • ⇧ Shift + F10 or ☰ - opens the context menu;
  • Ctrl + Esc or ⊞ Win - opens the Start menu, where you can enter the name of the program or file, and then press ↵ Enter to open the program / file;
  • ⊞ Win + E - opens the Explorer window;
  • ⊞ Win + X - opens the additional options menu, through which you can open the settings window or turn off the computer.
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 3
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 3

Step 3. Open the Start Menu

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

Press the ⊞ Win key at the bottom left of your keyboard, or press the Ctrl and Esc keys at the same time.

If the mouse works, click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 4
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 4

Step 4. In the Start menu search bar, enter accessibility

Ease of Access Center appears at the top of the Start menu.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 5
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 5

Step 5. Press ↵ Enter

The Ease of Access Center window opens.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 6
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 6

Step 6. Highlight Make the keyboard easier to use and press ↵ Enter.

Use the ↓ key to move down and highlight the Make the keyboard easier to use option.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 7
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 7

Step 7. Highlight Customize Pointer Control and press ↵ Enter.

It's a blue link at the top of the page.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 8
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 8

Step 8. Review the keyboard shortcut

In the Shortcut Keys section, find the line "Enable Pointer Control from the Keyboard" with the keyboard shortcut. Press this key combination to enable keyboard cursor control.

The default shortcut is Left Alt, Left Shift, and Num ⇩ (all three keys must be pressed at the same time), but this combination may be different depending on your computer

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 9
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 9

Step 9. Set the speed at which the pointer moves

If you do not change the speed and acceleration of the pointer, it will move very slowly. That's why:

  • move down and grab the slider in the "Fastest speed" section;
  • press the → key to increase the speed;
  • press Tab ↹ to go to the slider in the "Acceleration" section;
  • press the → key to increase acceleration.
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 10
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 10

Step 10. Select OK and press ↵ Enter.

Press Tab ↹ several times to move to the OK button at the bottom of the window.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 11
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 11

Step 11. Turn on cursor control using the keys

Press the keyboard shortcut (the default keyboard shortcut is Alt + ⇧ Shift + Num ⇩) and then hold down one of the arrow keys on the numeric keypad (arrows are on the 4, 8, 6, 2 keys) to see if the cursor moves.

If the cursor does not move, press Num ⇩ and try again

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 12
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 12

Step 12. Move the pointer using the numeric keypad keys

Press 4 to move the cursor to the left; 8 to move the cursor up; 6 to move the cursor to the right; 2 to move the cursor down.

You can also press 7, 9, 1, 3 to move the cursor diagonally

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 13
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 13

Step 13. Press 5 on the numeric keypad to open the selected item (file or program)

You can also press ↵ Enter to do this.

If you pressed 5 and a menu opens, press / on the numeric keypad to switch to item activation mode

Method 2 of 2: On Mac OS X

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 14
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 14

Step 1. Open the Accessibility menu

Press Fn + ⌥ Option + ⌘ Command + F5 on a MacBook without a touch bar, or triple-click the Touch ID button on a MacBook with a touch bar.

  • On your iMac, press ⌥ Option + ⌘ Command + F5.
  • If the mouse works, open the Apple menu
  • Macapple1
    Macapple1

    , and then click System Preferences - Accessibility - Mouse & Trackpad.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 15
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 15

Step 2. Enable the Mouse Buttons function

Press ⌘ Command + ⌥ Option + F5 (or press the Touch ID button three times) to activate the feature.

Leave the Accessibility menu open when using Mouse Keys so that you can turn it on or off with the keyboard shortcut ⌘ Command + ⌥ Option + F5

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 16
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 16

Step 3. Move the pointer using the keyboard keys

Press U to move the cursor to the left; O to move the cursor to the right; 8 to move the cursor up; K to move the cursor down. You can also press 7, 9, J, L to move the cursor diagonally.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 17
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 17

Step 4. Press 5 to open the selected item (file or program)

This key simulates a left mouse click on the selected item.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 18
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 18

Step 5. Hold Ctrland then press 5 to simulate a right click.

The context menu for the selected item will open.

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 19
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 19

Step 6. Press M to hold down the mouse button or press. To release it

This allows you to activate certain menus (for example, the Trash menu).

Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 20
Use a Keyboard to Click Instead of a Mouse Step 20

Step 7. Disable the Mouse Buttons function

When this feature is enabled, you cannot enter text, so press ⌥ Option + ⌘ Command + F5 (or triple-click the Touch ID button) to disable the feature (when you open the selected item).

Advice

If your computer's built-in mouse does not work, use a wireless mouse or a mouse with a USB cable

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