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Trackpad and Mouse

How to connect Magic Trackpad to iPad

by Moses Johnson

You can connect Magic Trackpad, including Magic Trackpad 2, to your iPad (Magic Trackpad sold separately). If it’s already paired with your Mac or another iPad, though, you must unpair them first, and you can reconnect it to your iPad later.

Pair Magic Trackpad

  1. Make sure Magic Trackpad is turned on and charged.
  2. On iPad, open Settings, tap Bluetooth, and then turn on Bluetooth.
  3. Select the device when it appears in the Other Devices list.

Note: Before you can connect Magic Trackpad to your iPad, unpair Magic Trackpad from your Mac or another iPad if it’s paired there, by doing one of the following:

  • On iPhone or iPad: See Unpair a Bluetooth accessory.
  • On macOS 13 or later: Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Bluetooth in the sidebar, Control-click the device, then choose Forget.
  • On macOS 12.5 or earlier: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Bluetooth, Control-click the device, then click Remove.

Reconnect Magic Trackpad to iPad

Turn the Magic Trackpad switch to Off, or move it or iPad out of Bluetooth® range (about 33 feet, or 10 meters), and the trackpad disconnects.

To reconnect, turn the trackpad switch to On, or bring the trackpad and iPad back into range, then click the trackpad.

See also

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How to use trackpad gestures on iPad

by Stacey Butler

You can use Magic Trackpad or the trackpad built into the Magic Keyboard for iPad and the Magic Keyboard Folio to open apps, go to the Home Screen, open Slide Over, and more (all trackpads sold separately).

When your iPad is near your Mac (macOS 12.3 or later required on supported models), you can also share a trackpad between both devices, and many of these trackpad gestures are supported by Mac trackpads. Gestures can open the Dock, Control Center, Notification Center, and the App Switcher. And there’s more with Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Keyboard, like gestures to scroll, zoom, and switch between open apps.

Trackpad gestures for Magic Trackpad, Magic Trackpad 2, Magic Keyboard for iPad, and Magic Keyboard Folio

Gesture Description
An illustration symbolizing a click on a trackpad. Click. Press with one finger until you feel a click.
An illustration symbolizing the touch-and-hold gesture on a trackpad. Click and hold. Press and hold with one finger.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for dragging an item. Drag. Click and hold an item, then slide your finger across the trackpad to move it.
An illustration symbolizing a click on a trackpad. Wake iPad. Click the trackpad.

Or, if you’re using an external keyboard, press any key.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening the Dock. Open the Dock. Use one finger to swipe the pointer past the bottom of the screen.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for showing the Home Screen. Go Home. Use one finger to swipe the pointer past the bottom of the screen. After the Dock appears, swipe the pointer past the bottom of the screen again.

Alternatively, click the bar at the bottom of the screen (on an iPad with Face ID).
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening Slide Over. View Slide Over. Use one finger to swipe the pointer past the right edge of the screen. To hide Slide Over, swipe right again.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening Control Center. Open Control Center. Use one finger to move the pointer to select the status icons at the top right, then click.

Or, select the status icons at the top right, then swipe up with one finger.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening Notification Center. Open Notification Center. Use one finger to move the pointer to select the status icons at the top left, then click.

Or, use one finger to move the pointer past the top of the screen near the middle.

Additional gestures for Magic Trackpad 2, Magic Keyboard for iPad, and Magic Keyboard Folio

Gesture Description
An illustration symbolizing the gestures on a trackpad for scrolling up and down. Scroll up or down. Swipe two fingers up or down.
An illustration symbolizing the gestures on a trackpad for scrolling left and right. Scroll left or right. Swipe two fingers left or right.
An illustration symbolizing the gestures on a trackpad for zooming in and out. Zoom. Place two fingers near each other. Pinch open to zoom in, or pinch closed to zoom out.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for returning to the Home Screen. Go Home. Swipe up with three fingers.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening the App Switcher. Open the App Switcher. Swipe up with three fingers, pausing before you lift your fingers.

Or, pinch four fingers together, pausing before you lift your fingers.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for switching between open apps. Switch between open apps. Swipe left or right with three fingers.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening Today View. Open Today View. When the Home Screen or the Lock Screen is visible, use two fingers to swipe right.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for opening search from the Home Screen. Open search from the Home Screen. Swipe down with two fingers.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a trackpad for a secondary click. Secondary click. Click with two fingers to show the Quick Actions menu for items like icons on the Home Screen, messages in a mailbox, and the Camera button in Control Center.

Or, if you’re using an external keyboard, you can press the Control key while you click the trackpad.
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How to use a mouse with iPad: actions and gestures

by Chris Smith

You can use a mouse to open apps, go to the Home Screen, open Slide Over, and more (mouse devices sold separately). When your iPad is near your Mac (macOS 12.3 or later required on supported models), you can also share a mouse between both devices.

A mouse can open the Dock, the App Switcher, Control Center, and Notification Center. And with Magic Mouse 2, there are gestures to scroll, show Quick Actions with a secondary click, open Today View, and open search from the Home Screen.

Note: Not all mouse devices are fully compatible with all models of iPad.

Mouse actions

Action Description
An illustration symbolizing a click on a mouse. Click. Press the mouse until you feel a click.
An illustration symbolizing touch and hold on a mouse. Click and hold. Press and hold the mouse.
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to drag an item. Drag. Click and hold an item, then move the mouse.
An illustration symbolizing a click on a mouse. Wake iPad. Click the mouse.

Or, if you’re using an external keyboard, press any key.
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to open the Dock. Open the Dock. Move the mouse to position the pointer at the bottom of the screen.
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to go to the Home Screen. Go Home. Move the mouse to position the pointer at the bottom of the screen. After the Dock appears, move the pointer past the bottom of the screen.

Or, click the bar at the bottom of the screen (on an iPad with Face ID).
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to open the App Switcher. Open the App Switcher. With the Home Screen visible, move the pointer past the bottom of the screen.

Or from an app, drag the bar at the bottom of the screen toward the middle of the screen and pause (on an iPad with Face ID).
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to view Slide Over. View Slide Over. Use the mouse to move the pointer past the right edge of the screen. To hide Slide Over, move the pointer past the right edge again.
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to open Control Center. Open Control Center. Use the mouse to move the pointer to select the status icons at the top right, then click.

Or, move the pointer past the top-right corner of the screen.
An illustration symbolizing how to use a mouse to open Notification Center. Open Notification Center. Use the mouse to move the pointer to select the status icons at the top left, then click.

Or, use the mouse to move the pointer past the top of the screen (near the middle).

Mouse gestures for Magic Mouse 2

Gesture Description
An illustration symbolizing the gestures on a mouse for scrolling up and down. Scroll up or down. Slide a finger up or down on the surface of the mouse.
An illustration symbolizing the gestures on a mouse for scrolling left and right. Scroll left or right. Slide a finger left or right on the surface of the mouse.
An illustration symbolizing a secondary click on the right side of the mouse. Secondary click. Use a finger on one side of the mouse to show the Quick Actions menu when clicking items like icons on the Home Screen, messages in a mailbox, or the Camera button in Control Center.

Note: To turn on Secondary click and choose which side of the mouse to use, go to Settings > General > Trackpad & Mouse > Secondary Click.

If you’re using an external keyboard, you can press the Control key while you click the mouse. On a multi-button mouse, click the second button.
An illustration symbolizing the mouse gesture for opening Today View. Open Today View. When the Home Screen or the Lock Screen is visible, swipe right on the surface of the mouse.
An illustration symbolizing the gesture on a mouse for opening search from the Home Screen. Open search from the Home Screen. Swipe down on the surface of the mouse.
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