How to Fix Middle Click Not Working on YouTube in 6 Easy Steps

YouTube is one of the most popular online video-watching and sharing sites. Every day, millions of people use YouTube to watch their favorite videos, learn new things, or just have fun. However, YouTube may be frustrating at times, especially when some features do not function as expected.

One of the most common problems that many YouTube viewers encounter is that the middle click does not work. In this case, middle click is the action of pressing the scroll wheel or the middle button of your mouse. It can do many things on YouTube, such as:

• Opening new tabs with videos without leaving the current page
• Copying video URLs to the clipboard without right-clicking
• Pausing or resuming videos without clicking on the play button
• Scrolling through long video descriptions or comments without moving the scrollbar

However, some YouTube users have reported that the middle click does not work on YouTube or that it opens the video in the same tab instead of a new one. This can be annoying, especially if you want to watch several videos at once or compare different videos side by side.

Don’t worry if you’re one of the users experiencing this problem. There are various simple and efficient ways that can help you resolve the middle click not working issue on YouTube. In this article, we will show you how to resolve this issue so that you can enjoy YouTube without any hassle, whether you are watching YouTube on your computer, phone, tablet, or smart TV, these solutions will help you enjoy your streaming experience without any interruption.

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Solution 1: Test Your Mouse

Testing your mouse is one of the simplest and quickest ways to fix the middle click not working on YouTube. Sometimes the issue is with your mouse instead of YouTube. Your mouse could be broken, dirty, out of battery power, or outdated.

To test your mouse, you can try the following steps:

• Try using your mouse on a different website or app to check if the middle click works. You can, for example, use the middle click to open links in new tabs on Google or Wikipedia.
• Try a different mouse to see if the middle click works. For example, you can borrow a mouse from a friend or use a spare one if you have one.
• Try cleaning your mouse and see if the center click works. You can, for example, carefully wipe the scroll wheel or the central button of your mouse with a cotton swab or a soft cloth.
• To see if the middle click on your mouse works, try changing the battery. For instance, you can recharge or use a new battery for your wireless mouse.
• To see if the middle click works, try updating your mouse’s driver. You can, for instance, access your computer’s device manager and search for your mouse under mice and other pointing devices. Then right-click on your mouse and select Update driver.

If testing your mouse does not work, try the next solution.

Solution 2: Turn Off the Inline Player

Another reason why middle-clicking on YouTube does not work is that the inline player is enabled. The inline player is a YouTube feature that allows you to watch videos in a small window while browsing other pages. It can come in handy if you want to multitask or preview videos before playing them in full-screen mode. However, it can interfere with YouTube’s middle-click functionality. It may prevent you from opening videos in new tabs by using the middle mouse button.

To fix this, you need to turn off the inline player on YouTube. You can do this by following these steps:

• Go to YouTube.com and sign in using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.
• Select settings by clicking on your profile icon in the top-right corner of the page.
• On the left sidebar, navigate to playback and performance and look for picture-in-picture mode.
• Uncheck the box that says enable picture-in-picture mode for all videos.
• Refresh the page and try using middle click on YouTube.

If turning off the inline player does not work, try the next solution.

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Solution 3: Middle Click on the Title Instead of the Thumbnail

Another reason why middle clicking isn’t working on YouTube is because you’re middle clicking on the thumbnail rather than the video title. On YouTube, the thumbnail is the image that represents the video. It can be attractive and eye-catching, but it can also cause problems with YouTube’s middle-click functionality. Using the middle click, it can open videos in full screen rather than in new tabs.

To fix this, you need to middle-click on the title instead of the thumbnail of the video. The title is the text that describes the video on YouTube. It can be boring and plain, but it can also ensure that middle-click works properly on YouTube. It can open videos in new tabs using the middle click.

Here are some examples of how to middle-click on the title rather than the thumbnail on different YouTube pages or sections:

• Look for videos on the home page under the recommended for you or what to watch next sections. Click in the middle of the thumbnail on the video title, not the thumbnail itself.
• Look for videos in the video results or related searches sections of the search results page. Click in the middle of the thumbnail on the video title, not the thumbnail itself.
• Look for videos in the up next or related videos areas of the watch page. Click in the middle of the thumbnail on the video title, not the thumbnail itself.

If middle clicking on the title instead of the thumbnail does not work, try the next solution.

Solution 4: Update Mouse Drivers

Another reason why your middle click on YouTube isn’t working is because your mouse drivers are out of date. Mouse drivers are pieces of software that allow your computer and mouse to communicate. They have the potential to affect the functioning and performance of your mouse. If your mouse drivers are out of date, you may be unable to enjoy YouTube’s latest features or updates. They may also cause compatibility or security issues with YouTube.

To resolve this, you must upgrade your mouse drivers to the latest version and ensure that they support YouTube. You can do this by taking the following steps:

• Press Windows + X keys on your keyboard and select “Device Manager” from the menu.
• Right-click on your mouse device and expand the “Mice and other pointing devices” category.
• Select “Update driver” from the menu and follow the on-screen instructions to install the most recent mouse driver.
• Restart your computer and check YouTube to see whether the middle click works.

Updating your mouse drivers can help with compatibility and performance issues with YouTube’s middle click. They can also improve the operation and performance of your mouse.

Solution 5: Run the Hardware Troubleshooter

Another reason why middle-click is not working on YouTube could be a hardware issue with your mouse or computer. Physical damage, a loose connection, a faulty port, or a corrupted file could all affect YouTube’s middle-click functionality. Run the hardware troubleshooter on your device to discover and fix any hardware issues.

The hardware troubleshooter is a tool for scanning and diagnosing hardware problems on your device. It can also provide solutions or suggestions on how to fix them.

Here are some procedures for running the hardware troubleshooter on different devices:

• Press Windows + I keys on your keyboard to open settings.
• Click on “Update and security” and then on “Troubleshoot.”
• Click “Hardware and Devices” under “Find and fix other problems,” then on “Run the troubleshooting.”
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooting process and apply any recommended fixes.
• Restart your computer and check YouTube to see whether the middle click works.

Running the hardware troubleshooter can help in detecting and resolving any hardware issues that may be affecting middle-click on YouTube.

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Solution 6: Use Chrome Extensions

Another reason why the middle click does not work on YouTube is if there is a bug or glitch with YouTube itself. There could be a coding fault, a server problem, or a feature change affecting YouTube’s middle-click functionality. To fix this, you need to use chrome extensions that can enhance or restore middle click functionality on YouTube.

Chrome extensions are small programs that can add new features or modify existing ones in your browser. They can help you customize your browsing experience and improve your productivity.

Here are some examples of Chrome extensions that can help with middle clicks on YouTube:

• SmartVideo: This extension allows you to control how videos are played on YouTube. It allows you to open videos in new tabs with a middle click, adjust video quality and speed, loop videos, etc.
• Open Link in New Tab: Even if it is disabled by default, this extension can help you open any link in a new tab through the use of the middle click. For example, It can also open multiple URLs in new tabs with shift + middle click.
• Middle Button New Tab: This extension allows you to open any link in a new tab with a middle click without switching to the new tab. For example, It can also open links in the background with ctrl + middle click.

To install and use chrome extensions, you need to follow these steps:

• On Chrome, go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the extension that you want to use.
• Click on Add to Chrome and confirm your action.
• Once the extension has finished installing, click the extension icon (which looks like a puzzle piece) in the toolbar.
• Click on the extension you want to use and customize its settings or preferences to your needs.
• Refresh YouTube and try using middle click on it.

Using Chrome extensions can help improve or restore YouTube’s middle-click functionality. However, be careful while using Chrome extensions since they could cause problems with your browser or other websites. Use reliable and up-to-date extensions, and disable or uninstall any that cause problems.

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Conclusion

The middle click is a useful feature that can help you get the most out of YouTube. It can open videos in new tabs, copy video URLs, pause or resume videos, read through descriptions or comments, and do a variety of other things. However, middle-click may not always work on YouTube due to various reasons.

In this article, we’ve shown you how to fix middle-click issues on YouTube by attempting a few quick and easy solutions, like updating your mouse drivers, disabling the inline player, middle-clicking on the title, running the hardware troubleshooter, using the hardware troubleshooter, or using chrome extensions. 

We hope that this article has helped you resolve the middle-click issue on YouTube so that you can watch videos without interruption. Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions.