Click and move the mouse pointer without a mouse
If you have difficulties using a mouse or other pointing device, you can control the mouse pointer using the numeric keypad on your keyboard.
Click the icon at the very right of the top panel and select System Settings.
Click Universal Access.
Select the Pointing and Clicking tab.
Switch Mouse Keys on.
Make sure that Num Lock is turned off. You will now be able to move the mouse pointer using the keypad.
You can quickly turn this feature on and off from the universal access menu.
The keypad is a set of numerical buttons on your keyboard, usually arranged into a square grid. If you have a keyboard without a keypad (such as a laptop keyboard), you may need to hold down the function (Fn) key and use certain other keys on your keyboard as a keypad. If you use this feature often on a laptop, you can purchase external USB keypads.
Each number on the keypad corresponds to a direction. For example, pressing 8 will move the pointer upwards and pressing 2 will move it downwards. Press the 5 key to click once with the mouse, or quickly press it twice to double-click. Most keyboards have a special key which allows you to right-click; it is often near to the space bar. Note, however, that this key responds to where your keyboard focus is, not where your mouse pointer is.
If you want to use the keypad to type numbers while Mouse Keys is enabled, turn Num Lock on. The mouse cannot be controlled with the keypad when Num Lock is turned on, though.
The normal number keys, in a line at the top of the keyboard, will not control the mouse pointer. Only the keypad number keys can be used.
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See Also
- Disable touchpad while typing — Turn the touchpad off while typing to prevent accidental clicks.