How to Simulate Right-Click in Ubuntu Linux

Simulating a right-click in Ubuntu Linux opens shortcut menus when your mouse or touchpad lacks a physical right button. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and newer include built-in settings that let you do this with only the left mouse button. The feature is part of the Accessibility settings, so you do not need extra software or a terminal.

How to simulate right-click with the left mouse button in Ubuntu Linux

Simulated Secondary Click lets you open context menus with the left mouse button alone. Once it is on, you press and hold the left button, and when the hold time passes, Ubuntu treats the press as a right-click. The menu opens as it would from a real right button.

Turning it on does not disable normal left-clicking. A quick click still works as before, and only a longer hold counts as a right-click.

Turning this feature on or off takes only a few moments. The change applies immediately. You do not need to restart the computer or log out, and you do not need administrator rights.

Ubuntu keeps most of its configuration options in one place. System setup, user accounts, display options and accessibility features are all managed from the System Settings panel. The simulated right-click option is in this panel too.

1. Alternatively, click the System menu in the top-right corner of the desktop bar. A small panel opens with the network, volume and power controls.

2. Choose Settings from the System menu, as highlighted below. The Settings ⚙️ window opens.

3. With the Settings app open, select the Accessibility entry. In current Ubuntu releases it is listed in the sidebar on the left. The accessibility options appear on the right.

4. Scroll to the Pointing & Clicking section and select Click Assist. A pop-up window opens with the click options.

If you cannot find the option, check that you are in Accessibility and not Mouse & Touchpad. The two panels are easy to confuse.

5. In the Click Assist pop-up window, switch Simulated Secondary Click to the On position. The switch changes state right away.

To test it, move the pointer over the desktop or a file in Files, press and hold the left button, and keep holding until the context menu appears. Then release the button.

To undo the change, return to the same pop-up and switch Simulated Secondary Click back to the Off position. Long presses then go back to being ordinary left-clicks.

6. Adjust the Acceptance delay setting in the same pop-up. This sets how long you must hold the left button before the system registers a right-click.

A shorter delay opens menus faster but makes accidental right-clicks more likely when you press and pause. A longer delay avoids accidents but feels slower. Try a value, test it on the desktop, and adjust until it feels comfortable.

7. Close the Settings window. Your choices are saved as you make them, so there is no Apply or Save button to press.

Conclusion:

• Simulated Secondary Click lets you simulate right-click actions by holding down the left mouse button, so you can open context menus without a physical right button.
• Changing the Acceptance delay sets how long you must hold the left mouse button before it is recognized as a right click. Shorter is faster, longer avoids accidental menus.
• Ubuntu's centralized Settings panel is where you turn Simulated Secondary Click on or off, under Accessibility › Pointing & Clicking › Click Assist. No restart is needed.