Here are Ten Useful Middle-click Shortcuts for Windows Users
1. Enable middle-click on trackpads: If your laptop’s trackpad lacks a middle button, you can simulate it. Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad > Three-finger gestures > Taps and choose “Middle mouse button” from the dropdown menu. Now, a three-finger tap will act as a middle click.
2. Auto-scroll: Middle-click on a webpage (or document) and move the cursor slightly up or down. The page will begin scrolling automatically in that direction. The further you move the cursor from the initial click point, the faster the scrolling. Middle-click again to stop auto-scrolling. This is great for hands-free reading.
3. Open links in new tabs: Middle-click any link on a webpage to open it in a new tab in your browser. This keeps your current page open and lets you explore linked content without navigating away.
4. Close tabs: Middle-click a tab in your browser to quickly close it. This is a handy way to manage multiple open tabs.
5, Open new app windows: Middle-click an application’s icon on the Windows taskbar to open a new instance of that program. This works even if the application is already running. For example, you can open multiple File Explorer windows. This works with most programs – but not all.
6. Close windows from the taskbar: Hover your mouse cursor over an application’s icon on the taskbar. This will display thumbnails of all open windows for that application. Move your cursor over the thumbnail of the window you want to close, and then middle-click.
7. Open the previous/next page in a new tab: In your web browser, middle-clicking the back or forward buttons will open the previous or next page in a new tab, preserving your current page.
8. Open bookmarks in new tabs: Middle-click a bookmark in your browser’s bookmarks menu (or bookmark bar) to open it in a new tab. You can also middle-click a bookmark folder to open all bookmarks within that folder in separate tabs.
9. Open browser suggestions in new tabs: When you type in your browser’s address bar, it often suggests websites from your history, bookmarks, or search results. Middle-clicking any of these suggestions opens them in a new tab.
10. Refresh and open in a new tab: Middle-clicking the refresh button in your browser will refresh the current page and open it in a new tab. This allows you to see the refreshed version without losing your place on the original page. This can be useful for comparing versions of a webpage.