You’re trying to learn how to play your new game when you see the message, “Press the RMB on the keyboard.”
However, there’s no button on the keyboard labeled “RMB.”
Can you replicate it with other keys?
What does the RMB do?
What’s RMB On A Keyboard?
The RMB (Right Mouse Button) on keyboards is a button that replaces the right-click button on the mouse.
It has the same functionalities as the right-click button and is located on the bottom row of most keyboards.
You may not find it on all laptops or desktop computers’ keyboards.
However, if your keyboard has an RMB key, it has the same functionality as on all other keyboards, regardless of the brand.
That said, the RMB key can have different shapes across different brands.
If there’s not a dedicated RMB key on your keyboard, you can use other keys for the same functionalities.
What’s The Purpose Of RMB On A Keyboard?
The RMB key is the right-click button on the mouse with the same functionalities.
The only difference is that the RMB is on your keyboard.
You may wonder why you should have this redundant key on your keyboard when you already have a mouse.
However, it’s a useful option added by manufacturers for the following reasons:
1. It Replaces The Mouse
Not every user has access to a mouse all the time.
You may encounter situations when you forget your mouse or it just stops working, leaving you high and dry.
Your keyboard should help you get through your tasks until you get a new mouse.
You can use the arrow keys to navigate up and down and the RMB key to right-click items.
2. It Boosts Productivity
While a mouse can make navigating your desktop a breeze, not every user is a mouse person!
When typing, some users prefer to keep their fingers on the keyboard without going back and forth between the mouse and the keyboard.
Keeping their hands on the keyboard helps them increase their speed and productivity.
That’s the same reason that keys have different functionalities or we have combinations of keys on keyboards to serve different purposes.
3. It’s More Accessible For Some Users
Although using a mouse seems more convenient for most users, it’s not an option for some users.
For example, if a person has a motor impairment, they may not be able to use the mouse but can use the keyboard with less difficulty.
In other cases, using a laptop’s touchpad instead of a mouse can be awkward for some people.
Instead, they feel more comfortable using the keyboard functionalities that mimic a mouse.
Where Is The RMB Key On The Keyboard?
Knowing the RMB key’s location on your keyboard is essential.
Even if you regularly use a mouse, you may get caught in a situation that requires using the function on the keyboard.
Depending on the keyboard’s design, you can find the dedicated RMB quite easily because it’s labeled so.
In addition, you should find the left mouse button (LMB) near the RMB because if your keyboard has one, it must have the other, too.
Most RMB keys are located on the lowest row of the keyboard, near the Ctrl or space buttons.
The point is that not all keyboards have a dedicated RMB key that you can easily find and press.
Here’s how you can find the RMB key on different computers.
1. Laptops
The RMB key is primarily a desktop computer’s keyboard feature because most laptops have a dedicated button for this functionality.
The touchpad works as a mouse, allowing you to navigate your desktop by moving your finger on it.
If your laptop has a touchpad, the left and right mouse buttons are on its sides or below it.
The placement of the RMB and LMB keys depends on the keyboard design.
The buttons may have a pronounced design to help you easily recognize them.
They may even have RGB lighting under them, as is the case with most gaming laptops.
In other cases, the left and right mouse buttons are more subtle, and you can feel them when pressing the left and right sides of the touchpad.
In any case, they’re hard to miss, as any laptop with a touchpad should have the right and left mouse buttons.
2. Trackballs
Trackballs are handy pointing devices that can replace mice.
You can find them built-in on some laptop and desktop keyboards, although most trackballs are external, and you can connect them to your computer wirelessly or through the USB port.
If the trackball is built in, the right and left mouse buttons are typically below the ball, which has a distinct color and shape to make it hard to miss.
For example, this Adesso trackball keyboard features a red trackball with the right and left click buttons on its sides.
External trackballs also have similar designs, and you can easily find the RMB and LMB.
3. TrackPoint
Some keyboards have a pointing device called TrackPoint or a pointing stick.
It’s red and the size of a pencil eraser, located in the center of the keyboard between the G, H, and B buttons.
Mostly found on Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard, a TrackPoint is a handy pointing device that’s highly popular among its fans thanks to its perfect placement, which is in the center of the keyboard.
The TrackPoint replaces the mouse, which you can move to navigate your screen.
Since there’s not enough space around the TrackPoint for the right and left mouse buttons, they’re located below the space key on the keyboard’s armrest.
4. Combination Keys
Most desktop PC keyboards don’t have a specific key that replaces the mouse.
However, you can still use your keyboard buttons to mimic a mouse’s function, although it may not be as convenient as a single button.
As mentioned, you can use these key combinations in emergencies to finish your work.
Windows allows you to right-click a selected item using the combination of Shift and F10.
It’s the most straightforward key combination and the first choice if you can’t have the above features to replace the RMB key.
Of course, you need to know other keys to select the item and right-click or left-click it.
You can use the arrow keys to move up, down, right, and left, and press Enter to click an item.
Another key you can use to right-click an item is the Menu button found on most Windows PC keyboards.
The Menu button is often located next to the space bar and has three horizontal lines on it.
To get the right-click functionality, you only need to select the item and press the Menu button.
If it doesn’t work, you may need to press the Fn key because it shares its function with Ctrl.
5. Mouse Keys Setting
A. Windows
The Mouse Keys setting is a Windows feature that allows you to use your number keypad as a mouse.
To access this setting, right-click the Start button to open the Settings app.
Go to Ease of Access and select Mouse.
Move the toggle under Control your mouse with a keypad to turn the option on.
Now, you can use your Numpad for this functionality.
Press the “minus” and “5” keys to right-click documents, files, or anything else on the screen.
The Mouse Key setting gives you all the mouse functionalities, using the numbers on the keypad for different mouse functions.
For example, you can use the “8” button to move the pointer up or press the 4 and 6 buttons to move left and right.
For double-clicking, you should press the “+” sign and single left click using the “5” button.
B. macOS
The same setting is available on macOS.
You can access it through System Preferences in the Apple menu.
Then go to the Universal Access Panel and select the Mouse tab.
Turn on Mouse Keys and adjust the settings to choose the key functionalities.
The RMB is enabled by pressing Ctrl and M or Ctrl + 0.
Note. Depending on your macOS version, you may find it under different settings.
If it’s enabled by default, you can press the Options button five times to turn the Mouse Keys on and off.
Like Windows, you can have different key combinations on the Numpad to move the pointer up, down, left, right, and diagonally.
For example, you can press the 4 and 6 keys to move left and right, respectively.
You can move diagonally using the 1 and 3 keys.
The difference between Mac and Windows Mouse Keys Settings is that macOS allows you to use the letter keys in addition to the numeric pad.
For example, you can use U and O to move the pointer left and right.
What Can You Do With The RMB Key?
The RMB key replicates the right mouse button on the keyboard, meaning they have the same functions.
The primary function of the right-mouse button is to expand menus and give more features.
For example, if you want to see a file’s properties, such as size and location, you can right-click on the file to see the options.
You can also select a text by pressing the RMB and dragging it over it.
However, the RMB’s functions don’t stop here.
Every program assigns different functions to the button.
In addition, you can customize it to give it different roles, especially in games.
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