How to use mouse side buttons (back and forward) on a Mac

Why side buttons do nothing in Safari and Finder

The side buttons are extra buttons, numbered 4 and 5 after left, right and the wheel. macOS passes their clicks to the app in front and leaves it to the app to decide what they mean. Chrome, Firefox and apps such as VS Code treat them as back and forward. Safari and Finder expect the keyboard shortcuts or a swipe instead, so the buttons do nothing there.

System Settings > Mouse only lists Apple's own options, such as tracking speed, natural scrolling and secondary click. There is nowhere to assign an extra button.

Your options

• The mouse maker's software. Logi Options+ can assign Back and Forward to the buttons of the Logitech mice it supports. Other brands have their own apps for some models.
• SaneSideButtons: free and open source, for macOS 13 Ventura and later on Apple silicon and Intel. It makes the buttons act like two-finger swipes, so they go back and forward in almost any window with a history.
• SensibleSideButtons: the original app SaneSideButtons was forked from. It is no longer maintained, so prefer the fork on a current Mac.
• General remappers such as Mos (free), SteerMouse, Mac Mouse Fix and Scrollwise Pro let you choose what each button does.
• The keyboard. Command [ goes back and Command ] goes forward in Safari, Finder and most browsers.

Pick one app for the buttons. Two remappers handling the same click can each send their own action.

How to set up side buttons with Scrollwise

1. 1Download Scrollwise, drag it into Applications, open it and allow Accessibility access. Button settings are part of Scrollwise Pro, $2.99 once, with a 7-day free trial you start from the app.
2. 2Click the Scrollwise icon in the menu bar and pick your mouse's card. Under Buttons, it shows only the buttons your mouse has, such as Back side button and Forward side button. If one is missing, press it and it shows up.
3. 3Set the back button to Back and the forward button to Forward. They send Command [ and Command ], the back and forward shortcuts in Safari, Finder and most browsers.
4. 4Or give a button something else: Mission Control, App Exposé, Show Desktop, the previous or next desktop, Close Tab, Paste, Gestures, or Type a shortcut… for any key combination.
5. 5If an app uses other shortcuts, open the Apps tab, add the app and choose what its back and forward buttons do there.

The middle button gets the same choices, plus Hold and move to scroll. With Gestures, you hold a button and move the mouse up, down, left or right for Mission Control, the desktop or the next desktop.

Side buttons still not working?

• Check that the remapping app is running and has Accessibility access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. If its switch is on but nothing happens, remove it from the list and add it again.
• Quit other mouse apps, including the mouse maker's, while you test. One of them may be taking the buttons first.
• Try the buttons in Chrome. If they work there but not in Safari, the mouse is fine and you need a remapper.

Questions

Do mouse side buttons work on a Mac?

They are recognised, but macOS has no setting for them. Chrome and Firefox use them for back and forward; Safari and Finder usually need a remapping app.

How do I make my mouse back button work in Finder?

Use an app that turns it into a swipe or into Command [, such as SaneSideButtons, Logi Options+ for Logitech mice, or Scrollwise Pro.

How do I remap mouse side buttons on a Mac?

Use the mouse maker's software or a remapper such as Mos, SteerMouse or Scrollwise Pro, then choose an action or keyboard shortcut for each button.

Why do my Logitech side buttons work in Chrome but not Safari?

Chrome handles extra mouse buttons itself and Safari doesn't. Assign Back and Forward in Logi Options+ or use a remapper.

Is SensibleSideButtons still maintained?

No. SaneSideButtons is a maintained fork with native Apple silicon support, for macOS 13 Ventura and later.