How to Use Side Button on Mouse | Fix & Remap Guide

Mouse side buttons, or the fourth and fifth buttons, trigger Back and Forward navigation in most browsers by default.

You’ve probably clicked a side button on your mouse and watched your browser jump back a page. That’s the default function of the thumb buttons on most mice. Whether you want to keep that behavior or remap the buttons for something more useful, here’s how to use side button on mouse and take control of them on Windows and macOS.

What Do Mouse Side Buttons Do?

Pressing the side buttons usually triggers Back and Forward navigation. The button closest to your palm goes back to the previous page, while the one near your thumb’s tip goes forward. It works instantly in browsers and file explorers like Windows Explorer and Finder.

Many sources describe them as the fourth and fifth mouse buttons. On Windows systems, some device-support documents simply call them the back button and forward button.

Beyond navigation, the buttons can be remapped for copy/paste, page up/down, opening apps, media controls, volume, zoom, and game actions. Support depends on two things: the mouse’s software and the app receiving the input. A button that works in Chrome might do nothing in your video editor.

How to Use Side Buttons Without Software

On many mice, the default Back/Forward behavior works immediately — no software or driver installation needed. Plug in the mouse, open Chrome or your file explorer, and press the buttons to test them.

If nothing happens, the buttons might be disabled, remapped, or unsupported by that specific application. Microsoft support guidance suggests checking your mouse settings first, including any vendor software and OS-level mappings before assuming the hardware is broken.

Browser navigation is the single most consistent use across computers. Safari on macOS also supports this default Back/Forward behavior for standard mice, though advanced remapping often needs third-party utilities or the mouse maker’s software.

How to Remap Side Buttons on Windows

Windows offers two routes for assigning new functions: the built-in Control Panel and vendor-specific software. The right one depends on your mouse model and whether you need simple or advanced remapping.

Option 1: Control Panel (Basic)

For basic assignments, open Control Panel > Mouse > Buttons. Here you can assign functions to the side buttons, then click Apply and OK. This path covers standard commands but won’t create macros.

Option 2: Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Center

Microsoft’s utility lets you select a side button, choose a command from the list, and save it. You can set application-specific settings so the button does one thing in Excel and another in Photoshop. There’s also an option to Disable this button if you keep pressing it accidentally — a practical fix for users who hit the thumb buttons by mistake.

Option 3: Vendor Software

Logitech’s customization tools support default browser Back/Forward behavior plus gesture and customization options depending on the model. Some Windows software exposes side buttons as 4 and 5 rather than “back” and “forward,” so look for numbered buttons if you don’t see label names.

Gaming mice take this further. Their software maps side buttons to in-game commands or macros, letting you reload, crouch, or trigger abilities without reaching for the keyboard. Game mode settings inside the mouse app can interfere here — check both the mouse software and the game’s keybind menu if something stops responding.

Why Won’t My Side Buttons Work?

Side buttons fail for three main reasons: the app doesn’t support them, the mouse software has remapped or disabled them, or the buttons are physically arranged differently than expected. Not every application recognizes side buttons — Citrix for macOS notes that side-button behavior depends on application support and can be configured for browser navigation, macros, or custom commands inside the virtual app environment.

The physical order of buttons and default mappings also vary by brand and model. Some software labels side buttons as 4 and 5 rather than back and forward, which causes confusion when the button order differs from the label expectation. If a button does nothing, open the vendor software and check for a disabled state or an accidental remap.

If you’re ready to buy a mouse with more programmable buttons, our tested roundup of the best 6-side-button mouse models compares the top options for gaming and productivity.