What the Menu key does
The Menu (Application) key opens the right-click context menu for whatever is selected, without using the mouse. It is useful when a mouse is unavailable and for accessibility. Some keyboards replace it with a Fn or Copilot key.
On a Mac
No equivalent key. Use Control+click, or enable keyboard navigation and press Control+Return in some apps.
On a laptop
If missing, press Shift+F10 to open the context menu.
Shortcuts that use the Menu key
| Shortcut | What it does |
|---|---|
| Menu | Open the context menu for the selection |
| Shift+F10 | Same, on keyboards without a Menu key |
| Menu, then a letter | Choose an item by its underlined letter |
If the Menu key is missing or not working
If Menu does nothing, an app may not support it; Shift+F10 is the reliable fallback. Test the key below (it reports as ContextMenu).
Test it here: click the tester, press the key, and it should light up green. A red key is stuck; a key that never lights up is dead or intercepted by the system. The full keyboard tester has the press log and more detail.
Click the tester, then press any key. Browser shortcuts are blocked while it has focus.
—
- key
- —
- code
- —
- keyCode
- —
none
Max at once: 0 (rollover)
None detected. A key held for more than 2 seconds is flagged.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Menu key for? +
It opens the same context menu as a right-click, for the item currently selected.
My keyboard has no Menu key. What do I press? +
Shift+F10 opens the context menu on any Windows keyboard.
Is there a Menu key on a Mac? +
No. Control+click or two-finger tap on the trackpad opens the context menu.