Mouse actions and gestures for iPad
- June 7, 2024
- Apple
Table of Contents
You can use a mouse to open apps, go to the Home Screen, open Slide Over, and more (mouse devices sold separately).
Note: Not all mouse devices are fully compatible with all models of iPad.
Mouse actions
Action
|
Description
---|---
| Click. Press the mouse until you feel a click.
| Click and hold. Press and hold the mouse.
| Drag. Click and hold an item, then move the mouse.
| Wake iPad. Click the mouse.
Or, if you’re using an external keyboard, press any key.
| Open the Dock. Move the mouse to position the pointer at the bottom of
the 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).
| 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).
| 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.
| 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.
| 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
---|---
| Scroll up or down. Slide a finger up or down on the surface of the
mouse.
| Scroll left or right. Slide a finger left or right on the surface 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.
| Open Today View. When the Home Screen or the Lock Screen is visible,
swipe right on the surface of the mouse.
| Open search from the Home Screen. Swipe down on the surface of the
mouse.