# Can I create a keyboard shortcut that mimics the middle mouse button? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2009, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-create-a-keyboard-shortcut-that-mimics-the-middle-mouse-button/501251 "2009-06-28T10:58:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-create-a-keyboard-shortcut-that-mimics-the-middle-mouse-button/501251/1 "2009-06-28T10:58:00Z")
The title pretty much says it all. My laptop (Dell Inspiron, with touchpad and left and right mouse buttons) uses the simultaneous pressing of both pad buttons to create the function of the middle mouse button (eg to open a link in a new tab in Firefox). However, it’s not great and often executes other undesired functions (navigates to a link in this page as well as in a new tab for example). It is set up correctly, perhaps I’m just not great at synchronising hitting both buttons adequately. So, can I program a function key to act as a middle mouse button generally, or even just in Firefox? ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-create-a-keyboard-shortcut-that-mimics-the-middle-mouse-button/501251/2 "2009-06-28T14:28:13Z")
Per the online help, ctrl+left-click and ctrl+shift+left-click will open links in new tabs. Are these shortcuts not acceptable? (e.g., are you looking for a keyboard shortcut that doesn’t involve mouse clicks at all?) ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-create-a-keyboard-shortcut-that-mimics-the-middle-mouse-button/501251/3 "2009-06-28T14:36:07Z")
That seems like a pretty satisfactory solution in Firefox 🙂 Thanks! Still, I’d like to know if it’s possible directly through a function key in general, not necessarily in Firefox. ---
**Author:** ![Sofis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Sofis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofis)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-create-a-keyboard-shortcut-that-mimics-the-middle-mouse-button/501251/4 "2009-06-28T15:46:24Z")
It looks like [AutoHotkey](http://www.autohotkey.com/docs/misc/Remap.htm) can do something like that.