5 Best Software to Map Mouse Buttons for Custom Controls
- Best for Windows: X-mouse
- Best for Mac: Mac mouse repair
- Best for Linux: Input remapper
- Most suitable for roller customization: Viz Mouse
- Best for recording macros: macro recorder
Computer mice have been used for decades and are easily taken for granted. Even so, you can make your mouse more attractive by customizing its behavior. There are several utilities that allow you to reassign the behavior of your mouse buttons or scroll wheel. There are even utilities that can record macros of mouse movements. This article lists five such utilities.
1.X mouse
X-Mouse is arguably the most popular mouse mapping software on Windows devices. It allows users to assign specific functions and macros to different buttons on the mouse. For example, if you hover your mouse over a YouTube video, the scroll wheel on your mouse will automatically adjust the volume instead of scrolling up or down. You can create different profiles for different applications and simulate complex keyboard input with just a click. X-Mouse is ideal for gamers and power users looking to increase their productivity.
feature
Customizable button assignments, per-app profile switching
price
free
look: How to connect an Apple wireless keyboard to Windows 10 and Windows 11
2.Mac mouse repair
Mac Mouse Fix is perfect for those who are frustrated by default macOS mouse settings. It brings all the features of Apple’s trackpad, such as Quick View and Zoom, to third-party mice. Mac Mouse Fix also addresses common issues such as pointer acceleration and scroll smoothing, and allows customization of mouse actions initiated through click, drag, and scroll. Finally, it’s 100% open source, giving you peace of mind.
feature
Smooth scrolling, customizable actions
price
$2.99 after 30-day free trial
3. Input remapper
If you are a Linux user, the best tool for customizing your mouse is Input Remapper. Creator sezanzeb has made it available for free on GitHub. It has a simple graphical user interface that makes it easy to assign mouse operations to different buttons and set up scheduled macros. In addition to a computer mouse, the program can also be used to map keyboards, arrow keys, and joysticks.
feature
User-friendly interface, scheduled macros, game controller support
price
free
4. Viz Mouse
Viz Mouse is a free utility that can be used to customize mouse behavior. This utility enables the mouse wheel for applications that do not natively support the use of a mouse wheel. There’s also a handy “reverse” function when the mouse scrolls backwards. WizMouse can be enabled or disabled from the system tray.
feature
Scroll in inactive windows and in applications that don’t support the mouse wheel.
price
free
5. Macro Recorder
Macro recorder can be used to automate repetitive tasks performed using the mouse. The tool records mouse movements and clicks as well as keyboard input, and can play back the generated macros to save users time and effort. The program also includes options for fine-tuning the recorded operations to suit specific needs, e.g.
feature
Record macros to automate mouse-driven tasks.
price
The standard version starts at $111.
What is mouse button remapping and why is it useful?
Mouse button remapping assigns the default functions of mouse buttons to different actions. This can be done using software that allows users to customize the behavior of each button, such as executing keyboard shortcuts or launching applications. This is useful because depending on how you use the equipment, it can increase productivity and reduce repetitive strain injuries. For example, gamers can assign complex combinations to a single mouse button, while professionals can streamline their workflow by assigning custom shortcuts.
How to remap mouse buttons on Windows?
You can perform a limited amount of remapping on Windows 11 without downloading third-party software. To do this, go to Settings → Bluetooth & Devices → Mouse. Under the “Primary Mouse Buttons” menu, you can switch between the primary and secondary mouse buttons, or the left and right buttons.
Scroll-related settings can be found under Scroll, and you can choose to display a trace on the screen as the indicator moves by selecting the “Show indicator trace” checkbox under “Indicator Options”. If you want to use the numeric keypad to control your mouse, navigate to Accessibility in Settings, select Mouse under Interaction, and turn on the Mouse Keys switch.
Brian Posey contributed to this article.
2024-12-24 13:00:26