How to set up a mouse or trackpad on iPad

Configure a wireless or wired mouse or trackpad on your iPad. Learn to pair devices, adjust cursor speed, and customize pointer behavior for iPadOS.

1. Establish the hardware connection. For Bluetooth devices, open Settings and tap Bluetooth to ensure the toggle is enabled. Put your mouse or trackpad into pairing mode and select it from the Other Devices list on your iPad. For wired devices, connect the USB cable directly to your iPad via a USB-C hub or adapter.
2. Adjust pointer tracking speed. Navigate to Settings > General > Trackpad & Mouse. Adjust the Tracking Speed slider to increase or decrease the responsiveness of the cursor. Higher speeds allow for faster traversal across large displays.
3. Modify scrolling behavior. Within the Trackpad & Mouse menu, locate the Natural Scrolling toggle. Disable this if you prefer the content to move in the opposite direction of your finger swipe or scroll wheel movement.
4. Assign secondary click actions. If you are using a mouse with multiple buttons, select Secondary Click to choose which side triggers the context menu. For trackpads, you can choose to enable Tap to Click for faster, vibration-free interaction.
5. Customize cursor appearance. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. Use the toggles to enable or disable Pointer Animations and Increase Contrast to make the cursor more visible against complex backgrounds.