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I use the ctrl button to emulate the right-click in OS X on my MacBook with an integrated trackpad.

When I connect to a windows computer with Remote Desktop I do not get to use the ctrl button in the same way.

Is there a way to configure this to get right click from the trackpad?

bmike
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Joachim Bratteli
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    What hardware are you using to generate mouse clicks on OS X? I believe support for contextual menus was added by Apple about 20 years ago so I'm scratching my head to think that any software wouldn't support it by now. – bmike Oct 11 '15 at 16:07
  • Well, I was using the trackpad of my MacBook Pro. Remote Desktop takes over the ctrl key on my keyboard, so I cannot use the ctrl key as I normally would do within OS X. – Joachim Bratteli Oct 11 '15 at 18:16
  • I've edited that information in to the main post so that people can see it - comments do get deleted and hidden based on how old/many/bad they are. These aren't bad, but I don't want to lose that important part down the line. – bmike Oct 11 '15 at 18:19
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    Please don't think me a sore loser, but how is the accepted answer better than my answer, which not only gives alternatives for 3 input methods, but also describes how to activate them.... – Tetsujin Oct 11 '15 at 18:24
  • Both are good answers to the question. I got round to try Steves answer first, as he explains the function for the trackpad. I did not explain that I use the trackpad in my question at first, but now @bmike updated that to pinpoint my issue a bit better. I guess it is a bit of a meta-question, but what is considered the right thing to do when I feel both answers answer the question well in two different ways? – Joachim Bratteli Oct 11 '15 at 18:44
  • @JoachimBratteli the [meta] thing is to leave complimentary comments, up vote both and then choose with your gut. I often will give the tick to the user that really needs the +15 - but the simplest answer will help the most people so in a tie - I use the tick to try and help the most people find the answer that works the best. – bmike Oct 11 '15 at 18:46
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    at JoachimBratteli & @bmike - thank you both, for kind & rational explanations. [ 'at' is for system limitation on notifications using @ ] – Tetsujin Oct 11 '15 at 18:55

6 Answers6

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Actually I use RDP from a Mac all the time to Windows servers. The right-click can be simulated with a two finger tap on a track pad. The same behaviour works from a magic mouse and magic track pad.

Joachim Bratteli
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Steve Chambers
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    Worked! I probably should learn some more gestures for the trackpad, as I've been doing it "wrong" for a long time. – Joachim Bratteli Oct 11 '15 at 19:59
  • Thanks so much! I can't believe I've been using Ctrl-Click on the Mac instead of 2-finger tap!! – Hampden123 Apr 12 '17 at 11:30
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    it should be mentioned that this must be enabled in Systems Preference -> Trackpad -> Point and Click. – Michael Dec 19 '18 at 23:22
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    2020 / middle of covid-19 pandemic / still works; lifesaver :) – Octavian Theodor Mar 19 '20 at 07:27
  • Doesn't work, no effect – Dims Apr 12 '21 at 20:49
  • @dims check MRD preferences General > Use Mac shortcuts for copy, cut... If it still doesn't work you may have a system preference overriding MRD's settings. – Steve Chambers Apr 12 '21 at 21:25
  • Ah, it finally worked. I was using incorrect guesture... Looked at example in settings window. – Dims Apr 13 '21 at 05:02
  • On 11.3.1, my default setting was: two finger click – zeta May 16 '21 at 00:18
  • This answer should mention that it must first be configured to work in Apple Icon Menu (Top Bar Left Side) > System Preferences > TrackPad, and that it could be configured to work in a myriad of ways, not just via two-finger tap. For example, mine was configured to work by a single click in the bottom right corner of the trackpad. – MikeSchinkel Nov 18 '21 at 12:11
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RDP isn't really configurable in any real way.
Your only option is to actually send it a right click. Windows doesn't have any ctrl/click alternative, even with direct access.

From Remote Desktop Client on Mac: FAQ

Alternative hardware input methods & activation details :-

  • Standard PC two button USB mouse
  • Apple Magic Mouse: To enable right-click, click System Preferences in the dock, click Mouse, and then enable Secondary click.
  • Apple Magic Trackpad or MacBook Trackpad: To enable right-click, click System Preferences in the dock, click Mouse, and then enable Secondary click.
Tetsujin
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    In my case I should just have used the Secondary Click using two finger tap, as it has been configured like that all the time without my knowledge. Thanks for linking to an informative page about the Remote Desktop client @tetsujin – Joachim Bratteli Oct 11 '15 at 20:05
  • So if you just have an ordinary one-button apple mouse you are hosed, huh? – John Hascall Jun 28 '17 at 16:30
  • @JohnHascall - Macs haven't had a one-button mouse since about 2001.... – Tetsujin Jun 28 '17 at 17:23
  • You exaggerate considerably. Magic Mouse wasn't even introduced until 2009 – John Hascall Jun 28 '17 at 21:58
  • @JohnHascall - tbh, I'm struggling to remember, as I don't actually use the Apple ones much... I had a 3-button [ADB logitech?] in the mid 90's, no scroll-wheel in those days. My Bondi iMac's hockey-puck went in the drawer after 2 days, same with every variation of 'magic' mouse ever since. I'm still on Logitechs, but these days the 8-button MX518. – Tetsujin Jun 29 '17 at 06:09
  • Secondary Click using two finger tap worked for me – JeanCarlos Chavarria Jan 14 '22 at 14:42
  • On Mojave, it's under "Trackpad" instead of "Mouse" if you're using the built-in one, but aside from that, thanks for laying out the options. I switched it to lower-right to better match my PC muscle memory. – Amanda Debler Jul 11 '22 at 11:10
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I needed to make right button mouse clicks work on a Windows 7 VM accessed from the Microsoft Remote Desktop app on my Mac running MacOS Sierra with an Apple Magic Mouse.

Going to "System Preferences..." on the Mac, selecting "Mouse", ticking/checking "Secondary click" and selecting "Click on right side" did the try for me.

Then when I accessed my Windows VM, clicking once on the right side of the mouse enabled the pop-up menu I needed to access.

Peter Grant
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    I agree that this would be an answer if the question were about a magic mouse. For the trackpad you have a similar configuration under "System Preferences..." -> "Trackpad". The default setup seems to be "Click with two fingers" to obtain "Secondary Click" on the trackpad. It may be that the question raised in the title "How to emulate mouse right-click in Microsoft Remote Desktop?" should have stated that it is about the trackpad. – Joachim Bratteli Jan 09 '17 at 14:23
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The context key, aka menu key, should be the same as right clicking where the text caret is. Shift-F10 should be the same as the context key.

CSM
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  • Mac doesn't have a Context/Menu Key. Did you actually test any of this... from a Mac? – Tetsujin Oct 11 '15 at 19:23
  • This might have been a solution if the Shift-F10 did emulate the context key in Windows from my MacBook Pro and the pointer position would have been taken into consideration. It does not on both points. On my MacBook Pro Shift-Fn-F10 works to call the context menu function. Still; The context menu function on Windows is designed to get the context menu on the current selection, and not were the mouse pointer is located, as a right-click would do. – Joachim Bratteli Dec 02 '15 at 13:18
  • Man, this doesn't really answer this question, but it's the information I was looking for! – Owen Oct 19 '20 at 17:25
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Though this is old, this issue just hit me but I was not getting satisfactory results with the trackpad changes mentioned above. However, I was able to get something that works well for me using Keyboard Maestro. I created two new macros and restricted them to run only when Microsoft Remote Desktop application is active. Both macros use the "Move or Click Mouse" action, one set to emit "center button" and another set to emit "right button". For the macro trigger, I use "This device key" set to "Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad Button 1" with modifiers set to "^" (Control) to trigger the right mouse button event, and "⌥" (option) to trigger the middle button event.

Send Right Mouse Button

Brad Howes
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honestly, I got a cheap USB mouse for windows compatible with mac - I have not had any issues with remote desktops since. If it's stupid and it works...

ChristinaHS
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  • Yes, a mouse would of course do the trick when you have the possibility to use one. I still think there are a few scenarios were you would not have the option of using a mouse, and would like to use the trackpad insted. One would be when you do not have a table or similar to roll the mouse on. – Joachim Bratteli Aug 21 '20 at 11:52