Why does my touchpad right-button behave as left-button in Ubuntu 18.04?

Question

Recently the touchpad right-button stopped working as such and instead started behaving a left-button. For example, when I select text and right-click, instead of the expected context menu, the text gets deselected.

My mouse's right-button does work as expected.

It's a Dell Inspiron 7577 with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

How can I resolve this?

Josua, you changed your question!! What you now describe is right other than the first other, because you said that the left and right button behave the same! — abu_bua, Jul 26 '18 at 09:01
Possible duplicate of Right click not working on Ubuntu 18.04 and https://askubuntu.com/questions/1028776/no-secondary-button-right-click-on-touchpad — pomsky, Jul 27 '18 at 07:00
@abu_bua " you said that the left and right button behave the same". That is still true. Doesn't the text say that? — Joshua Fox, Jul 27 '18 at 15:56

Joshua Fox · Answer 1 · 2019-02-07T18:11:32.907

4

Here is the answer.

Summary:

Ubuntu 18.04 changed touchpad behavior: By default, you "right-click" by tapping with two fingers.
You can get back the right-button by installing gnome-tweaks, then Keyboard and Mouse -> Area.

edited Feb 07 '19 at 18:11

answered Jul 26 '18 at 06:28

Joshua Fox

2,941

sorry, showed you 1st the wrong way; i've myself disabled the finger function but didn't recognized it. Deleted the wrong answer. – abu_bua Jul 26 '18 at 08:57
+1 for info about two finger tap for right click. – Abdullah Leghari Feb 07 '19 at 14:55

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 26 '18 at 08:54

2

You can set it without installing gnome tweaks using

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad clickmethod "areas"

To set it back use

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.peripherals.touchpad click-method "fingers"

answered Jul 26 '18 at 08:54

abu_bua

10,783

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 27 '18 at 16:29

0

Apparently you reversed them. Go into Settings, then Keyboard & Mouse. At the top you'll see where you can select which is your 'main mouse button'. Click left and then you're all set!

answered Jul 27 '18 at 16:29

Ulvdet

3

There was no reversal. I had no rightclick functionality at all, just leftclick from both sides of the touchpad – Joshua Fox Jul 29 '18 at 04:23
That's odd. I don't know then, sorry. – Ulvdet Jul 29 '18 at 18:53
@alphaWold No problem, the issue was solved; see above – Joshua Fox Aug 01 '18 at 11:24

Why does my touchpad right-button behave as left-button in Ubuntu 18.04?

3 Answers3