Context menu triggers unwanted action on right-click release in IntelliJ IDE

Problem

In IntellijIDE for macOS and Linux, releasing the right mouse button over an open context (right-click) menu can trigger the menu item currently under the pointer. Because the menu opens directly beneath the click point, a right-click followed by a small pointer movement and release is interpreted as a click-by-drag selection and invokes an unintended action, such as closing a file.

Cause

The context menu opens directly under the cursor, and menu items respond to right-button drag-and-release (click-by-drag) with no minimum drag distance. Any release over an item triggers that item.

Resolution

A configurable drag-distance threshold is available starting from 2026.2. When set, a menu item is triggered by right-button drag-and-release only if the drag distance exceeded the threshold on either axis. It is not enabled by default.

1. Open Find Action with Cmd+Shift+A (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+A (Linux).
2. Search for Registry and open it.
3. Locate the key for the platform: popup.menu.drag.distance.threshold.mac (macOS) or popup.menu.drag.distance.threshold.linux (Linux).
4. Set the value to a positive distance in pixels. 10 works well.
5. Close the Registry.