How can I make my PC Mouse Left Handed?

I'm a leftie and when I use the mouse on my PC it drives me crazy because the buttons are reversed for the way I want to use them. I knew how to switch the mouse from right-handed to left-handed in WinXP but now that I'm running Windows 7, what's the trick?

Dave's Answer:

If you knew how to switch the settings on your PC mouse from right handed to left handed in Windows XP, you really should be able to switch it in Win7 too. Just saying...

Still, I can only imagine how confusing it is, particularly if some of the computers you use are oriented for right-handed people and others are not.

The difference, for those of you that aren't sure what we're talking about, is that on a "right handed" mouse configuration, the left button is the main button to click and the right button is the "additional" button. You've probably done this without thinking for years and aren't even aware that it's a deliberate layout based on which button your index finger is atop. For a left-handed person, the right button is the one under their index finger (on their left hand, of course) so it logically should switch.

Fortunately, it's easy to do in Windows 7 and, indeed, in every version of Windows.

Start out by going to the "Mouse" window in the Control Panels:

It can be a bit hard to find, but you can see above that I highlighted the "Mouse" option.

Choose that and front and center is the option you seek:

Check "Switch primary and secondary buttons", save the changes, and you're good to go. Leftie. With your Windows PC mouse.

Also check out:

Categorized: Windows PC Help (Article 9616, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: left-handed mouse, windows 7, windows customization, windows xp
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Comments (1) · Add Comment

Yeah! Way to cover something left-handed. It drives me crazy how this is a right handed world. Scissors are the most annoying thing in the world, however mice are a close second. This helps and at least shows me that the rest of the world is adopting equal rights for lefties. (That scissors thing is so annoying you wouldn't belive it)

Posted by: Nathan at November 10, 2010 5:26 PM

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!