Most gamers need two side buttons, while four suit players who regularly use several extra actions under the same thumb. Six or more can help in MMOs and other command-heavy games, provided you can reach and identify every button without changing your grip. The useful number depends less on genre labels than on what you bind, how your thumb moves, and whether extra controls interfere with aiming.
Two, Four, or More Side Buttons? Start With the Actions You Use
Focus on commands you use repeatedly during a match, especially those that make you lift a movement finger from WASD or interrupt your aim. Menu shortcuts and other occasional inputs can stay on the keyboard.
| Side Button Count | Usually Fits | Example Actions | Main Check Before Buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | FPS, battle royale, casual action games, everyday use | Melee, push-to-talk, ping, ability, browser back and forward | Both buttons should sit inside your natural thumb range |
| 4 | Hero shooters, MOBAs, survival games, action RPGs | Two frequent combat actions plus inventory, map, heal, or equipment controls | You should identify all four by feel |
| 6 or more | MMOs, complex RPGs, simulators, shortcut-heavy work | Ability bars, targeting, item slots, editing commands | Rows or groups need clear spacing and tactile differences |
Count the actions you want under your thumb in almost every match. Leave commands on the keyboard when they are already easy to reach, and avoid binding an ultimate or another high-impact action to a button you may squeeze by accident. If four commands remain, a gaming mouse with 4 side buttons is worth testing.
Why Extra Buttons Can Become Harder to Reach and Tell Apart
Extra buttons become harder to use when they extend beyond the thumb's relaxed movement area or sit too close together. A dense cluster may offer more commands, yet some of them can require a grip adjustment, a pause to locate, or extra care to avoid the neighboring button.
Your grip changes which positions work. With a palm grip, the hand stays anchored and the thumb usually follows a shorter, more consistent path. A claw or fingertip grip may place the thumb farther forward or allow more movement. Hand size, mouse width, button height, and the slope of the side wall also affect access.
Physical separation matters as much as quantity. Different shapes, gaps, angles, or textures help the thumb recognize a button while your eyes remain on the screen. Four clearly separated controls can be easier to learn than six identical buttons packed into a flat grid.
Watch for three signs that a side button falls outside your usable range:
- Your palm lifts or slides when you press it.
- Your aim or pointer moves during the press.
- You need to feel around before choosing the correct button.
A button directly under the thumb may fire whenever you tighten your grip. Remapping that position to a harmless command can help, but repeated misclicks usually mean the shape or placement does not suit your hand.
Total Buttons, Side Buttons, and Programmable Buttons Are Different Counts
Total buttons, side buttons, and programmable buttons describe different parts of a mouse. Check which count a product page uses before comparing two models.
Total buttons can include left click, right click, scroll-wheel click, DPI controls, profile switches, wheel tilt, and every side input. A mouse advertised with seven buttons may still have only two positioned for the thumb.
Side buttons are the physical controls placed on either side of the shell. On a right-handed design, they are usually located on the left side for the thumb. An ambidextrous-looking shape does not guarantee buttons on both sides, so left-handed players should inspect the actual layout.
Programmable buttons are controls that compatible software can reassign. The programmable count may include the primary clicks and scroll-wheel click along with the side controls.
The MAMBASNAKE M3 includes five macro buttons and supports key mapping through its software and web driver. The macro-button count covers configurable controls across the mouse, while the side-button count refers only to the buttons positioned for the thumb.
When comparing mice, check the thumb-button layout, available key-mapping options, and whether saved bindings work in your preferred connection mode.
A Quick Grip Test to Find Your Usable Button Count
Your usable button count is the number you can identify and press without moving your palm, disturbing pointer control, or hitting another control.
1. Set your normal grip. Sit at your usual desk, place your forearm as you would while playing, and hold the mouse naturally. Avoid stretching your fingers to create extra reach.
2. Keep your eyes on the screen. Locate each side button by touch. If two positions feel identical, switch between them several times in a random order.
3. Press while moving the mouse. Make small tracking movements and click each side button. Remove any position that repeatedly changes your aim or pulls your palm away from its resting point.
4. Check for neighboring clicks. Press each control ten times at a normal game pace. A button fails if you regularly catch the one beside it.
5. Match the surviving buttons to real actions. Assign the easiest position to the action you use most. Put less frequent commands on the buttons that require a slightly longer thumb movement.
If only two positions pass, a standard two-button layout gives you the control you can actually use. If four pass and all four have clear jobs, a four-button layout is justified. A larger cluster makes sense when six or more positions pass and your regular command list can fill them.
FAQs about Gaming Mouse Side Buttons
Q1. Can You Use Gaming Mouse Side Buttons Outside Games?
Yes. Side buttons can handle browser navigation, media controls, push-to-talk, editing shortcuts, or other commands when the operating system or mouse software supports the assignment. Separate profiles can keep work shortcuts from interfering with game bindings.
Q2. Should You Assign Hold Actions to Side Buttons?
Assign a hold action only when you can keep the button pressed without tightening your grip or dragging the pointer. Test the binding during movement. A tap action may suit a less comfortable position better than a command you must hold for several seconds.
Q3. How Should You Learn a Mouse With More Side Buttons?
Add one or two bindings at a time, beginning with actions you already use often. Add another binding only after you can use the current ones without pausing or pressing the wrong button.
Q4. Why Does a Game Not Detect Every Mouse Button?
Some games recognize only standard mouse inputs, while extra controls need a driver profile or keyboard-key assignment. Check the in-game binding menu and the mouse software. Follow the game's rules before using macros, especially in competitive modes.
