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Why won't FireFox let me use the right touchpad button as primary as the primary button?

slaveblueraven
slaveblueraven
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The past two (or three) updates of Firefox have automatically changed my mouse and touchpad settings back to the settings used for right-handed people. I have tried to change them in Windows multiple times, but once I use Firefox they seem to change back so that the primary button is the left. (However, it doesn't actually change the Windows setting.) I restarted and changed the setting and it stayed at this setting until I opened and started using Firefox. (It was fine until I tried to open or close another tab. Prior to this I could click on the right button to open links, but once I tried to close a tab it changed back and all of my other programs then forced me to use the left button as the primary button.) It's frustrating to always have right-handed privilege thrown in my face. How do I change this so that I can use my touchpad and mouse with the right button as the primary button?

The past two (or three) updates of Firefox have automatically changed my mouse and touchpad settings back to the settings used for right-handed people. I have tried to change them in Windows multiple times, but once I use Firefox they seem to change back so that the primary button is the left. (However, it doesn't actually change the Windows setting.) I restarted and changed the setting and it stayed at this setting until I opened and started using Firefox. (It was fine until I tried to open or close another tab. Prior to this I could click on the right button to open links, but once I tried to close a tab it changed back and all of my other programs then forced me to use the left button as the primary button.) It's frustrating to always have right-handed privilege thrown in my face. How do I change this so that I can use my touchpad and mouse with the right button as the primary button?

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Firefox should not modify the Windows mouse settings; that is troubling.

If this problem started around the time of Firefox 30, perhaps it's this:

Firefox 30 switched many plugins from "Always Activate" to "Ask to Activate". The purpose of this change was to require your permission for untrusted sites to use plugins. However, some plugins that affect the user interface and/or operate globally on all pages do not work well with this setting and unpredictable UI breakage can result.

Could you review your plugins as follows:

Open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Plugins. Then I suggest:

  • For "in-page"/"player" plugins like Flash, Silverlight, or Java, no changes are needed
  • For global plugins like fingerprint readers or security software, switch to either:
    • "Always Activate" if you use this plugin on a regular basis
    • "Never Activate" if this plugin is not important or very rarely used

If in doubt, set "Never Activate".

This might not take effect immediately in the current window, but should work in new windows, or after you exit and restart Firefox.

Any difference?

slaveblueraven
slaveblueraven Question owner
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jscher2000's response didn't help, however the more recent updates did correct the issue. I'm hoping I won't have this problem with any future updates.

Thanks for your suggestion jscher2000.