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

December 4, 2016 tutor4u

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.

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

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.