How To Use a Mouse With Your iPad

A new feature of iPadOS is the ability to control your iPad using a Bluetooth mouse. You can add a mouse as an assistive touch device in the accessibility settings and then you get a round cursor on the screen that you can mose with the mouse. You can click to simulate a tap at that location. You also get a menu that you can bring up to access things like Home and volume. There are a variety of ways to customize this feature.

Comments: 19 Responses to “How To Use a Mouse With Your iPad”

    Marc Chamberland
    5 years ago

    First thanks a lot for your videos. Always instructive ! Is it possible that my iPad 2nd generation is not compatible with a mouse. It doesn't recognize my Magic Mouse that I use with my iMac 27 !

    5 years ago

    Marc: This is an iPadOS (iOS 13) feature. A second generation iPad from 2011 can't update past iOS 9, if I remember correctly.

    Marc Chamberland
    5 years ago

    Sorry Gary, i have an iPad Pro 12,9 2nd generation.

    5 years ago

    Marc: It should definitely work with that. Bluetooth pairing can be tricky however. Your mouse may not want to give up its connection to your iMac.

    Chamberland Marc
    5 years ago

    Ok then. I will keep trying. Thank you

    Marc Chamberland
    5 years ago

    After few try, I finally succeeded ! For those who are asking what is the "PIN" number for the Magic Mouse it's 0000

    Liz
    5 years ago

    Thanks as always you have the most useful videos. Is there a way to change scroll direction of the mouse?

    5 years ago

    Liz: Not that I can see, no.

    Dave
    5 years ago

    I’ve heard there may be security issues with third party keyboards and possibly other devices in the ipadOS. Is this true or has it already been dealt with in the recent update?
    Thanks Gary.

    5 years ago

    Dave: The third-party keyboard issue was just a vulnerability. There was no reported exploit. It was patched with the most recent iOS update.

    Linda Taylor
    5 years ago

    Thank you so much Gary! I was talking with a long time Mac user today and he was going to investigate this as he'd not heard of a mouse being used with an iPad. I'm thankful you explained to Mark Chamberland why the mouse couldn't be used with a 2nd generation iPad as that's what my friend has. Now I can keep him from getting too excited as he'll not have success. We an always rely on you for excellent advise!! 👍😀👍🏻

    Bonnie Sweeney
    5 years ago

    I was talking with the Apple Rep at Best Buy yesterday and i was inquiring about the mouse and if it would work with my iPad 6th generation and he said no its only for the iPad pros. I will be going back today to mention this wonderful news in a nice way..He also did not know anything about any iPad that supports photoshop cc yet. Have you heard anything about that?
    Bonnie :-)

    5 years ago

    Bonnie: Last year they showed a version of Photoshop that would be close to "full Photoshop" for iPad at an Apple event. Since then, rumor sites have mentioned it appearing as a beta test in the wild. So we should see that soon.

    DONALD KEYS
    5 years ago

    Is it possible to use a TRACKPAD instead of a mouse?

    5 years ago

    Donald: From what I've read, the Magic TrackPad 2 will work, but not the original model. Of course there isn't as much of an advantage to using a TrackPad over just touching the screen.

    Perry
    5 years ago

    Gary, there is an advantage as both mouse and trackpad allows you to work on iPad remotely something beneficial to people with mobility issues among other things. I can rest my bad back lying on my bed and use my iPad setup on a table/dresser nearby

    Gudy
    5 years ago

    Hi there, I have got a brand new ipad 2019 and it doesn't see any blue tooth devices - I have got a logitech MX Master and a logitech K810 keyboard. My old ipad (it is 6 years old) is showing under "Bluetooth" the mouse and the keyboard. Any tips how I can make them visible at the new one?
    Oh, the mouse has appeared but now its gone again :-((((

    5 years ago

    Gudy: Try turning Bluetooth completely off and then on again. Also, make sure you have disconnected those from the other iPad.

    Gudy Terenzio
    5 years ago

    Thanks Gary, it worked itself out - all of a sudden they "clicked" :-).

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