How to Use Blender without a Middle Mouse Button or a Scroll Wheel

 It’s possible to use Blender without a middle mouse button or a scroll wheel. On a typical mouse, the scroll wheel also functions as the middle mouse button. So if you don’t have a middle mouse button, then there’s a good chance that you don’t have a scroll wheel either. The good news is that you can use Blender without a middle mouse button or a scroll wheel. Both of these issues are addressed separately below.

 

How to use Blender without a Middle Mouse Button

Blender has a 3 Button Mouse Emulation setting. By enabling it, a 1 or 2 button mouse can take the place of a 3 button mouse. To enable Blender’s 3 Button Mouse Emulation, follow these instructions.

1. From the File menu, select User Preferences.
2. Click the Input tab.
3. Put a check mark next to Emulate 3 Button Mouse.
4. Click Save User Settings to save the settings for the next time Blender opens.

Steps to Enable 3 Button Mouse Emulation

 

After enabling 3 button mouse emulation, the mouse buttons work as follows:

If you’re using a PC with a 2 Button Mouse

Alt + Left Mouse = Middle Mouse button

Example Usage

• To rotate the view, press Alt + Left Mouse button and drag.
• To pan the view, press Shift + Alt + Left Mouse button and drag.

If you’re using an Apple with a single button mouse

Option + Mouse button  = Middle Mouse button

Command(Apple) + Mouse button = Right Mouse button

Example Usage

• To rotate the view, press Option + Mouse button and drag.
• To pan the view, press Shift + Option + Mouse button and drag.
• To select an object, press Command(Apple) + Mouse button.

 

How to use Blender without a Scroll Wheel

Blender has alternate methods that can be used instead of using a scroll wheel. Here’s how to do some common Blender tasks.

Zooming Without a Scroll Wheel

Any of the following methods can be used for zooming instead of using the Scroll Wheel.

• Hold down the Ctrl key and the Middle Mouse button while dragging.
• Hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the = or – key.
• Use Numpad + and Numpad – keys. If you don’t have a number pad then you can read 2 Ways to Use Blender without a Number Pad.

Loop Cuts Without a Scroll Wheel

After pressing Ctrl R to initiate the Loop Cut, you can do any of the following to specify the number of cuts.

• Enter a numeric value.
• Use Page Up and Page Down keys.
• Use Numpad + and Numpad – keys. If you don’t have a number pad then you can read 2 Ways to Use Blender without a Number Pad.

Proportional Editing Without a Scroll Wheel

When using Proportional Editing, you can control the size of the control area (white circle influence area) by using the Page Up and Page Down keys.