Use Your iPhone as a Trackpad for Your Mac
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-11
You can use your iPhone as a trackpad for your Mac when the computer is out of reach but still on: the Trackpad view sends pointer, click, and scroll gestures to the Mac through the same encrypted session as the live screen.
Gesture table
| Gesture on iPhone | Result on Mac |
|---|---|
| Move one finger | Move pointer |
| Tap | Click |
| Double-tap | Double-click |
| Move two fingers | Scroll (pages, lists, timelines) |
| Two-finger tap | Right-click |
The trackpad fills the space below the mode switcher, so you have room for large arcs when the Mac drives a TV or projector. Dragging and zooming live on the Screen view instead: hold, then drag to move a window, and pinch to zoom the picture.
Speed settings
Pointer speed and Scroll speed are sliders in Settings › Control, from 0.5× to 2.0×. Turn pointer speed up when the Mac sits far away and small movements are hard to see; turn it down for fine work on a nearby display. The same section has switches for Natural scrolling and Haptic feedback.
When to use Trackpad instead of Screen
- Mac on a TV or monitor across the room — Control the pointer without holding the phone at arm’s length to read text.
- Quick clicks — Open a menu or hit a small target, then switch back to action tiles for volume or lock.
- With keyboard — The keyboard bar sits under the trackpad: tap Type to send text while you point, without mirroring the whole desktop.
You can still open live screen any time you need to see what is on the display.
Requirements
- Mac with macOS 14 Sonoma or later and the Poket PC helper running.
- iPhone with iOS 18 or later and a completed pairing.
- Accessibility allowed for Poket PC in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility so pointer moves and clicks reach the Mac.
Connection
On your home network the phone reaches the Mac directly. Elsewhere, works anywhere routing uses the relay with end-to-end encryption. No account, port forwarding, or VPN.
Limits
The trackpad sends pointer actions, not key combos, and it has no click-drag or pinch; use the Screen view for those. For Return, Delete, and typed text, use the keyboard bar. For media keys and lock, use tiles. Modifier shortcuts and arrow keys are not available from the keyboard bar yet.
Next steps
Walk through setup in how to use iPhone as trackpad for Mac, install from download, and read control Mac from iPhone for the full app tour. Version 1.0 is free with no ads and no in-app purchases. On an Android phone, trackpad mode adds hold-then-drag to drag; see the Android app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my iPhone as a mouse for my Mac?
Yes. The Trackpad view gives you a large trackpad panel under the mode switcher and moves the Mac pointer over the network or relay after pairing.
How do I control the Mac cursor from my iPhone?
Open Poket PC, connect to your paired Mac, and switch to Trackpad. Move your finger to move the cursor; tap to click.
Does the trackpad work when I am not on the same Wi-Fi?
Yes, after pairing. Away from home the app uses the encrypted relay; pointer events travel inside the same session as the live screen.
Can I adjust pointer and scroll speed?
Yes. Settings › Control has Pointer speed and Scroll speed sliders from 0.5× to 2.0×, plus Natural scrolling and Haptic feedback switches.
Do I need to watch the live screen while using the trackpad?
No. Trackpad works without the live screen, which suits a Mac on a TV or across the room. Open Screen when you need to read something small.