Why does clicking a link open a menu?

You click a link, but a menu appears instead of the page. If the menu includes options such as opening the link in a new tab or copying its address, the browser is treating your action as a right-click or another secondary click.

Test whether your mouse is sending the wrong button, then check the settings and shortcuts that can open a menu. The Mouse Test checks each button in your browser.

Test what your mouse is sending

1. Open the Mouse Test and click in its test area with each mouse button, one at a time.
2. Notice which button registers when you press the left button, then repeat with the right button. Test the middle button too if your mouse has one.
3. Return to the page with the problem and try an ordinary left click on a different link. Avoid holding down a keyboard key while you click.
4. If you use a touchpad, try a single-finger tap or press. Then check whether a two-finger tap or a click on the touchpad's lower-right area opens the same menu.

A menu with link actions such as Open link in new tab is the browser's context menu. A menu that belongs to the website, such as a navigation dropdown, may instead be part of the page itself.

What the result means

The left button registers as the right button

Your mouse may have its primary and secondary buttons swapped in the operating system, or a mouse utility may have remapped them. Change the button assignment in settings and test again.

The right button registers when you press the left button

The mouse may have a damaged switch, or its software may be assigning the wrong action. If it behaves this way on another computer too, the mouse is the likely cause.

Both buttons register correctly, but the menu still appears

The click may be coming from a touchpad gesture, a held keyboard key, an accessibility feature, or a browser extension. Check the way you are clicking, then try the fixes below.

The menu appears only on one website

The site may have its own menu or script that responds to a click. If other links work normally, the mouse is less likely to be at fault. Try the same link in another browser to see whether the behavior follows the site or the browser.

The menu appears after a long press on a touchscreen

Many browsers show link options when you press and hold a link. That is normal touch behavior, not evidence of a faulty mouse.

How to fix it

1. Check the click itself. Press and release the left mouse button once, without holding it. Make sure a finger is not resting on the right button. On a Mac, Ctrl + click can act as a secondary click, so release Ctrl and try again.
2. Check the primary button setting. In Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Mouse and set Primary mouse button to Left if you want left-click behavior. On macOS, open System Settings › Mouse and review Secondary click. For a trackpad, check System Settings › Trackpad and its secondary-click setting.
3. Check the touchpad gesture. On Windows 11, open Settings › Bluetooth & devices › Touchpad › Taps. Review the two-finger tap and other right-click gestures. Turn off a gesture temporarily if it fires when you mean to make a normal tap.
4. Disconnect and reconnect the mouse. Unplug a wired mouse and connect it to another USB port. For a wireless mouse, reseat its receiver or reconnect it through Bluetooth. If possible, test with another mouse.
5. Close mouse customization software. Gaming mice and accessibility utilities can remap buttons. Quit the utility or restore the default button assignments, then test again. If the problem started after changing a profile, switch back to the previous profile.
6. Check whether the browser is involved. Open the page in another browser, or temporarily disable extensions that change clicks or page behavior. If the menu only appears in one browser, update it and re-enable extensions one at a time to find the cause.
7. Restart the computer. If the button test and settings look normal, restart to clear a stuck input state or a mouse utility that has stopped responding correctly.

When the mouse may be faulty

If the left button registers as a right click in the Mouse Test, try the mouse on another computer before replacing it. If the same wrong button registers there, check whether its configuration software is remapping clicks. If there is no remapping and the problem follows the mouse, its switch or internal electronics may be failing.

If the mouse is under warranty, contact the seller or manufacturer before opening it. Otherwise, compare the cost of repair with a replacement. For a built-in laptop touchpad that keeps opening menus after you disable its gestures, have the device checked by a repair shop.

Tell a browser menu from a website menu

A browser context menu usually offers actions for the link itself, such as copying its address, opening it in a new tab, or saving it. A website menu usually shows site choices, navigation links, or controls designed by that page. The browser's menu can appear on links and ordinary page areas after a right-click, while a website menu often opens in a specific place when you click or hover over a control.

If only one link opens a website menu, try a different link on the same page. If every link opens the browser's context menu, focus on the mouse, touchpad, keyboard, and button settings.