Disable Linux Mouse Scroll Wheel Click Paste

Follow the steps below to disable mouse middle or wheel click button:

From Terminal run xinput to discover the mouse device name

xinput list
⎡ Virtual core pointer                          id=2    [master pointer  (3)]
⎜   ↳ Virtual core XTEST pointer                id=4    [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎜   ↳ Microsoft Microsoft® Classic IntelliMouse®        id=10   [slave  pointer  (2)]
⎣ Virtual core keyboard                         id=3    [master keyboard (2)]
    ↳ Virtual core XTEST keyboard               id=5    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=6    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Power Button                              id=7    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ Belkin Corporation Flip CC                id=8    [slave  keyboard (3)]
    ↳ LITE-ON Technology USB NetVista Full Width Keyboard.      id=9    [slave  keyboard (3)]

Run xinput get-button-map with the mouse device name to output the mouse button map. The first three digits (1 2 3) of the map represent the left, middle, and right mouse buttons. Setting the digit in position 2 to zero disables the mouse middle or wheel click button.

xinput get-button-map "Microsoft Microsoft® Classic IntelliMouse®"

1 0 3 4 5 6 7

From Terminal run xinput as follows to disable middle button for the current session

xinput set-button-map "Microsoft Microsoft® Classic IntelliMouse®" 1 0 3 4 5 6 7

For a permanent solution create a desktop file, e.g. “mousewheelpasteoff.desktop” with the contents below and save it to ~/.config/autostart folder. This script will run at login to disable the wheel click button.

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Disable mouse wheel click at login
Comment=Disable mouse wheel click at login
Exec=xinput set-button-map "Microsoft Microsoft® Classic IntelliMouse®" 1 0 3 4 5 6 7
Icon=utilities-terminal
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Utility;Application

One comment on “Disable Linux Mouse Scroll Wheel Click Paste”

  • I would prefer the default for mouse wheel click paste was disabled. For me it has corrupted working script files and emails whilst viewing them by dumping arbitrary paste buffer content into random places whilst scrolling and accidentally clicking the mouse wheel. Admittedly I am heavy handed with my index finger but challenge anyone not to accidentally click the mouse wheel whilst scrolling and editing documents.

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