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Root » Houdini Indie and Apprentice » Middle Mouse on Macbook

Simon Russell

June 14, 2018 05:24:22

Hey,

I was using Magic Prefs but that doesn't appear to work anymore for a 3 fingered middle click. Anyone got any suggestions how to get this functionality back on a newish macbook?

Midphase

June 14, 2018 12:00:16

Works on my MBP, it's a little twitchy at times, but it does work. What version OS X are you on?

I wish Houdini just allowed a user to set up something like Option-Click or Shift-Click in lieu of the middle-button, it's quite annoying that it doesn't do that, and I bet it inconveniences Windows users too on some laptops.

Simon Russell

June 20, 2018 09:40:45

Hey,

I'm using High Sierra. On a new Macbook Pro.
Seems there's a note on MagicPref's front page [magicprefs.com] about Apple changing the API's and mucking up his plugin:
“TLDR if it doesn't work anymore thats it, if it still works then its just a matter of time until it won't.”

Really it's just for navigation (both the viewport and chops) that I need it. Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks

Midphase

June 20, 2018 13:12:33

I don't understand what thoughts you're looking for? It still works fine on my MBP with the latest OS X version 10.13.5. I have it set up for 3-finger click = middle button. As I said, sometime it takes a couple of tries to engage properly but it does work.

Midphase

June 24, 2018 12:29:49

I just found out a new solution that can bypass Magic Prefs completely and appears to work quite well making Houdini instantly more useable to Mac users.

Go in your Houdini.env file (it's in your User Library/Preferences/Houdini), and simply add this somewhere in the text file:

# HOUDINI MIDDLE MOUSE PAN ENABLE/DISABLE
HOUDINI_MMB_PAN = 0

What it does is basically tell Houdini to disable the Middle Button for panning, which in turn switches panning to the Right Button. So now the Left Button rotates, the Right Button Pans…but what about Zoom? No problem, just use the 2-Finger scroll on your pad and you can now Zoom. Neat huh?

Simon Russell

July 8, 2018 14:50:09

Midphase
I just found out a new solution that can bypass Magic Prefs completely and appears to work quite well making Houdini instantly more useable to Mac users.

Go in your Houdini.env file (it's in your User Library/Preferences/Houdini), and simply add this somewhere in the text file:

# HOUDINI MIDDLE MOUSE PAN ENABLE/DISABLE
HOUDINI_MMB_PAN = 0

What it does is basically tell Houdini to disable the Middle Button for panning, which in turn switches panning to the Right Button. So now the Left Button rotates, the Right Button Pans…but what about Zoom? No problem, just use the 2-Finger scroll on your pad and you can now Zoom. Neat huh?

Yeah very neat. Thanks loads

sususk

Dec. 22, 2023 06:21:14

How do you access any functionality that relies on the middle mouse button then?

mestela

Dec. 22, 2023 09:24:41

I use karabiner and map the right cmd key to middle mouse click.

TwinSnakes007

Dec. 22, 2023 17:03:00

mestela
I use karabiner and map the right cmd key to middle mouse click.

Thanks Matt - Steve would've resolved this by now....Apple is just being snobs about this I feel.

NullPointerDD

Jan. 21, 2026 22:24:44

Disclosure: I made this tool.

There's now a free, open-source solution that gives you actual three-finger middle-click and middle-drag on the trackpad: no keyboard workarounds needed.
MiddleDrag [middledrag.app] runs in the menu bar and does exactly what MagicPrefs used to do:

Three-finger tap → middle click
Three-finger drag → middle drag (orbit/pan in Houdini viewports)

It works alongside Mission Control (no need to disable system gestures) because it intercepts touch data before the system gesture recognizer sees it.

Install via Homebrew:

brew tap nullpointerdepressivedisorder/tap
brew install --cask middledrag

Or grab the installer from GitHub [github.com].

Works on macOS 15+, MIT licensed. Been using it daily in Blender and Fusion 360: should work identically in Houdini.