Mac: Hover Mouse Auto Click
Mac has a auto-click feature: when the pointer stops moving, it automatically does a click.
Apple calls this feature “dwell”.
This saves you lots clicks. And is also extremely useful as a way to switch windows.
If you have hand pain due to mouse or keyboard, turn this on.
If you use Apple's touchpad, then you may not need this, because touch click is easy on the fingers.
I started to use this in 2017-09. It takes a week to get used to. You have to learn to park the pointer at an inactive area (such as at empty place of the menu at top of screen). But once used to, it's wonderful. I basically never have to mouse click, except doing drag.
macOS 12.1 Dwell
macOS 10.13 Dwell
Turn on Dwell
- Go to the menu [Apple ▸ System Preferences…]
- Click “Accessibility”
- Click “Keyboard”.
- Click tab “Accessibility Keyboard”.
- Click checkbox “Enable Accessibility Keyboard”.
- Click button “Dewell Options …” to control preference.
Stop the Keyboard Panel from Popping Up
Each time the mouse moves, a huge keyboard panel pops up.
To stop that, click on the button “Panel Editor”, and create a new panel “Empty”.
You can also use “Panel Editor” to create a small panel, just 2 buttons in it, “click” and “pause”. Make them small.
Also, make the panel not disappear. Uncheckbox the “fade panel after inactivity” in the keyboard preference.
Stop Dwell Temporarily
To stop auto-click temporarily, use the menu at upper right.
Or, setup a “hot corner” on the screen, so that you can move mouse there to stop the auto click.
macOS 10.12.6 (Sierra)
In earlier macOS version, the dwell setup is slightly different.
- Go to the menu [Apple ▸ System Preferences…]
- click Accessibility
- click Dwell Control.
I recommend setting the “Dewell movement tolerance” to 0. When it's not 0, small pointer movement will be ignored.
You can experiment by setting it to 0 or 50. You'll see the difference.
With Trackball
The auto-click feature is especially great when using a trackball or trackpad.
See also:
Customize Mouse
- Windows: Swap Mouse Right-Click Middle-Click
- Windows: Single-click Open File
- Windows: Mouse Hover to Activate Window
Mac Keyboard Guide
- Mac Keyboard Software Guide
- Mac: Swap CapsLock Control Option Command Keys
- macOS: Create Custom Keyboard Layout
- Mac Keyboard Viewer
- Mac: How to Switch to Dvorak Keyboard Layout
- Mac: Hover Mouse Auto Click
- Mac Keyboard Shortcuts
- Apple Keyboard Problems
- Apple Keyboard History ⌨
- Difference Between Apple and Microsoft keyboards