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User profile for user: SmoothBall
SmoothBall Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

How to configure trackpad physical buttons in Mountain Lion

Hi,

I've just upgraded from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion on my iMac.

In Snow Leopard you could configure specific actions (e.g. to launch an application) to the two physical buttons in the lower left and right corners of the Magic Trackpad. This was configured in System Preferences -> Trackpad, as far as I can remember.

I can't seem to find where these buttons can be configured in Mountain Lion. I would have thought that it would still be under System Preferences -> Trackpad, but maybe it's moved elsewhere. 😕

Would be grateful if someone could shed some light.


Worse still, perhaps the buttons are no longer usable with Mountain Lion—can anyone confirm or deny this?

Thanks for the help.

Ken.

iMac 27", Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Aug 20, 2012 1:24 AM

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6 replies
User profile for user: SmoothBall
SmoothBall Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 20, 2012 1:34 AM in response to mende1

Yep, I'm fairly sure you can modify them.

However, I don't want to use them for right-clicking, as you suggest, mende1. I'm happy to 'right-click' using the two-finger tap.

Instead, I want to assign a specifc action to the physical buttons, like launching an application or running an automator script.

I just can't find where you can control what these buttons do. Feeling a bit stupid about it too—I'm sure it's simple and obvious, but you know what they say about the wood and the trees. 😉

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User profile for user: SmoothBall
SmoothBall Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Aug 20, 2012 4:22 AM in response to SmoothBall

Thanks guys, but my original post should have been clearer. Can I configure the trackpad buttons in Mountain Lion in the same manner as in Snow Leopard without relying on third party software?

I mean, I could configure the buttons in Snow Leopard without third party software; now, all I've changed is the operating system, and it seems I can't configure the buttons.

Either I'm looking in the wrong place in System Preferences or Mountain Lion doesn't allow you to configure these buttons. That's essentially what I'm asking.


I'd rather not rely on further pieces of software (to do something that was available in an earlier version of OSX).

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How to configure trackpad physical buttons in Mountain Lion

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