Apple Explains How to Connect and Use a Bluetooth Mouse or Trackpad With iPad

[MacRumors]

Apple has shared two new support documents that outline how to connect and use a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad with compatible iPad models, including all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 or later, the fifth-generation iPad or later, and the iPad mini 4 or later.

Connecting a Bluetooth mouse, standalone trackpad, or keyboard with a built-in trackpad to an iPad requires iPadOS 13.4, released Tuesday. Apple's own Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad 2, and Magic Mouse 2 can be used, as can third-party options like Logitech's new trackpad keyboards for the 10.5-inch iPad Air and 10.2-inch iPad.

Apple explains how to connect and disconnect Bluetooth accessories, adjust mouse and trackpad settings, customize the cursor, and more.

Apple will be releasing its own Magic Keyboard case with a built-in trackpad in May for 2018 and later iPad Pro models, and we have put together a guide with everything you need to know. Ahead of time, we've also shared a hands-on video showing how trackpad functionality works on an iPad Pro using Apple's Magic Trackpad 2.

When available, the Magic Keyboard case will cost $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in the United States.

Article Link: Apple Explains How to Connect and Use a Bluetooth Mouse or Trackpad With iPad

 

[ZMacintosh]

I'm liking the way they implemented the cursor on iOS. Perhaps things to come for future macOS or Mac/iPad OS integration.

What I'm not liking is $299 for a trackpad/keyboard, maybe $199.

 

[4God]

Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

 

[Populus]

I’m willing to use the same Bluetooth Keyboard and Trackpad with both my Mac mini and my iPad Pro.
Does anyone know...

1) A quick way to switch between the iPad and the Mac using the same Apple Magic accessories?

2) A third party keyboard and trackpad that allows me to quickly switch between my iPad and my Mac? There are plenty of keyboards that allow us to switch between different devices, but I don’t know any third party trackpad that allows this...

Thank you.

 

[Hairball]

I was able to connect the original magic mouse, but all it could do was point and click. No scrolling or gestures. Logitech MX3 works perfectly.

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

I'm liking the way they implemented the cursor on iOS. Perhaps things to come for future macOS or Mac/iPad OS integration.

What I'm not liking is $299 for a trackpad/keyboard, maybe $199.

Brydge has the cool,stuff
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Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

No chance to load it anyways as iPad has usbc

 

[GeoStructural]

Have they fixed the scrolling direction issue? This is one of the things I hate about Apple and their annoying arrogance, their "natural scrolling" doesn't feel natural to everybody and they don't give you the option to customize it.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Have they fixed the scrolling direction issue? This is one of the things I hate about Apple and their annoying arrogance, their "natural scrolling" doesn't feel natural to everybody and they don't give you the option to customize it.

You mean turning it off (and reversing the natural direction)? The option is certainly there in iPadOS 13.4.

 

[HiVolt]

I was able to connect the original magic mouse, but all it could do was point and click. No scrolling or gestures. Logitech MX3 works perfectly.

Yeah, same here. I had the original Magic Mouse that I wasn't using, figured I'd try. Useless, no gestures, no scrolling, not even the ability to add a "right click" context menu.

I have a feeling the original Magic Trackpad will also be useless without gestures, because the Apple support document only makes reference to the Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 as supporting gestures.

It's also not great with a good bluetooth mouse, like my MX Master 2, while you can program buttons, you can't set the forward/back buttons to perform their basic functions in a browser.

 

[4God]

No chance to load it anyways as iPad has usbc

Of course. But no, I mean like on MacOS I can see battery life in System Preferences on my Trackpad 2. It's nice to see how much battery time I have left before I have to recharge.

 

[edwrap]

Have they fixed the scrolling direction issue? This is one of the things I hate about Apple and their annoying arrogance, their "natural scrolling" doesn't feel natural to everybody and they don't give you the option to customize it.

Nope. Attaching a Logitech M720 mouse also caused a warning saying WiFi and Bluetooth might be impacted. Why, and how? Back button doesn't work, middle mouse click does nothing... I wasn't really surprised Apple didn't support features that don't exist on the Magic Mouse or Trackpad, but the experience was still subpar even for a first try.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

You mean turning it off (and reversing the natural direction)? The option is certainly there in iPadOS 13.4.

The ability to disable this feature has been in macOS since the Magic Trackpad was a thing. Literally a non-issue.

 

[darkslide29]

I'm liking the way they implemented the cursor on iOS. Perhaps things to come for future macOS or Mac/iPad OS integration.

What I'm not liking is $299 for a trackpad/keyboard, maybe $199.

The $299 price is steep for sure. But since so many (myself included) were willing to pay $179 for the current keyboard folio, improving the keyboard plus backlight, adding a trackpad and the other smaller things probably does warrant a more than $20 increase. But don't get me wrong, I'd love it at $199.

 

[viss]

Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

Battery widget shows the trackpad‘s percentage.

 

[CarlJ]

Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

iOS has a nice "Today Widget" that shows battery levels for the phone and Bluetooth connected devices (AirPods, Apple Watch, external speakers) - does it not show the trackpad there?

 

[Zdigital2015]

Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

Turn on the Batteries Widget in the Today View and then you can see it there, even if you don’t display it on your Home screen.
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iOS has a nice "Today Widget" that shows battery levels for the phone and Bluetooth connected devices (AirPods, Apple Watch, external speakers) - does it not show the trackpad there?

It does...I have 91% left on my Magic Trackpad 2 showing right underneath the iPad Pro’s battery life remaining.

 

[sintra1]

Have they fixed the scrolling direction issue? This is one of the things I hate about Apple and their annoying arrogance, their "natural scrolling" doesn't feel natural to everybody and they don't give you the option to customize it.

This plain rubbish the Magic Mouse indeed the previous Mighty Mouse has ALWAYS had the facility in system preferences to CHOOSE the preferred scrolling direction. Indeed even Windows has the option built in to set the preferred scrolling direction.

As someone that uses all Three every day and has been using iOS mouse support for some time personally don’t even think whether about it these days.

 

[fbr$]

That's the way to become a US$ 1 trillion company!

Charge insane high prices, then make not-so-old devices obsolete for no good reason!

 

[4God]

iOS has a nice "Today Widget" that shows battery levels for the phone and Bluetooth connected devices (AirPods, Apple Watch, external speakers) - does it not show the trackpad there?

Turn on the Batteries Widget in the Today View and then you can see it there, even if you don’t display it on your Home screen.
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It does...I have 91% left on my Magic Trackpad 2 showing right underneath the iPad Pro’s battery life remaining.

Ah, got it. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[sintra1]

Have they fixed the scrolling direction issue? This is one of the things I hate about Apple and their annoying arrogance, their "natural scrolling" doesn't feel natural to everybody and they don't give you the option to customize it.

Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

Its right there is the widget
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You mean turning it off (and reversing the natural direction)? The option is certainly there in iPadOS 13.4.

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Now if only I could see my Trackpad 2 battery percentage (as on MacOS), that would be great!

[automerge]1585156931[/automerge]

Nope. Attaching a Logitech M720 mouse also caused a warning saying WiFi and Bluetooth might be impacted. Why, and how? Back button doesn't work, middle mouse click does nothing... I wasn't really surprised Apple didn't support features that don't exist on the Magic Mouse or Trackpad, but the experience was still subpar even for a first try.

Go to accessibility - Right here if you have more buttons on your mouse you can set them to do a varirty of things

 

[tinman7162]

Yeah, same here. I had the original Magic Mouse that I wasn't using, figured I'd try. Useless, no gestures, no scrolling, not even the ability to add a "right click" context menu.

I have a feeling the original Magic Trackpad will also be useless without gestures, because the Apple support document only makes reference to the Magic Mouse 2 and Magic Trackpad 2 as supporting gestures.

It's also not great with a good bluetooth mouse, like my MX Master 2, while you can program buttons, you can't set the forward/back buttons to perform their basic functions in a browser.

You can use the original Magic Mouse. I'm using and have been using it for awhile. With the update you still have to turn on Assistive Touch. Then go to Pointer Devices -> Devices -> Mouse . Then Customize Buttons. You can add Button1 and Button 2. I'm not exactly sure how scrolling is suppose to work with the Magic Mouse 2 or generic bluetooth mice, but with the original Magic Mouse I have to click and pull down or up.

 

[HenryAH]

View attachment 901255

That's the way to become a US$ 1 trillion company!

Charge insane high prices, then make not-so-old devices obsolete for no good reason!

I agree, not being able to scroll in Safari makes my Apple Magic Mouse (1st generation) useless for my iPad Pro

 

[sintra1]

I agree, not being able to scroll in Safari makes my Apple Magic Mouse (1st generation) useless for my iPad Pro

If you use a Magic Mouse mark 1 you might want to become familiar with the accessibility features combined with this device in particular. A few tweeks such as these and add the screen blob (also customisable)and it becomes surprisingly functional. Also adjust inertia and i think the scrolling issue can be lived with imho.

 

[Feyl]

What’s the point of supporting Magic Mouse 1 and Magic Trackpad 1 if scrolling doesn’t work? Especially if the devices are exactly the same as the "newer” generation. At least I don’t see any difference between them beyond the charging method.

 

[brucewayne]

What’s the point of supporting Magic Mouse 1 and Magic Trackpad 1 if scrolling doesn’t work? Especially if the devices are exactly the same as the "newer” generation. At least I don’t see any difference between them beyond the charging method.

To pretend that there is some technical reason why those features are somehow incompatible with iPadOS, while trying to create the appearance that they really really did try superhard to make it work.