Using a presentation clicker on a Mac

Updated 21 October 2026

With a clicker you can move freely around the room and still advance reliably. Here is how presentation clickers work on a Mac with HTML slides and presenthtml.

How clickers work

Most presentation clickers register with the Mac as a keyboard. When you press “next”, they send keys such as right arrow or Page Down. That’s why they usually need no drivers or settings.

Connecting a clicker

1. USB receiver: plug it in and you’re done. On Macs with USB-C you may need an adapter.
2. Bluetooth: put the clicker in pairing mode and connect it in System Settings → Bluetooth.
3. Test: open presenthtml and go forwards and backwards a few times.

Keys presenthtml understands

Many clickers have a “black screen” button that sends B or .. After the last slide, “next” in presenthtml also switches to a black screen.

Choosing a control mode

presenthtml translates the clicker’s keys into commands for the HTML deck. If a deck doesn’t respond to arrow keys, choose a different control mode at the top of the presenter view, such as space bar or Page Up/Down. The clicker itself doesn’t need changing.

Pitfalls

• Start/stop button: some clickers alternately send F5 and esc. esc ends the presentation in presenthtml, so avoid that button during your talk.
• Wrong app in front: keys go to the active app. If you clicked into Teams in between, click back into presenthtml once.
• Flat battery: check before your talk and bring a spare.

Coming soon to the Mac App Store.

For macOS 13 and later, Apple silicon and Intel.

Coming soon

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