How to Use Your iPhone as a Trackpad for Your Mac
Published 2026-09-26 · Updated 2026-10-05
You can use your iPhone as a trackpad for your Mac when you want the pointer and scroll without staring at a tiny copy of the whole desktop. Poket PC’s Trackpad view puts a large trackpad panel under the mode switcher, sends movement and clicks to the Mac over the same encrypted session as Screen, and lets you tune how fast the cursor moves and how fast pages scroll.
If you have not installed the helper or paired yet, follow How to Control Your Mac From Your iPhone first. Download the helper from /mac/ and get the iPhone app through the public TestFlight beta on /beta/.
When Trackpad beats Screen
- The Mac display is already visible — for example, a Mac mini under the TV or a MacBook on the desk in front of you.
- You only need the pointer — clicking menus, right-clicking, or scrolling a long page without mirroring every pixel.
- You want fewer distractions — Trackpad does not stream the screen; the video stops when you leave Screen.
When you need to tap a specific button on the desktop or read small text, switch to Screen for the live H.264 view (main display only, up to 1600 px on the long edge). You can jump between views anytime with the Ask / Screen / Trackpad / Deck switcher; on Screen, it is in the round floating control.
Open Trackpad
- Make sure the Poket PC helper is running on the Mac (menu-bar icon visible).
- Open Poket PC on your iPhone. It connects to your paired Mac on its own.
- Tap Trackpad in the switcher. The hint at the bottom of the pad reads Drag to move · tap to click · two fingers scroll / right-click.
The Mac must have Accessibility allowed for Poket PC in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility, or the pointer will not move. If clicks do nothing, see Remote cursor not moving.
Gestures
| Gesture on iPhone | What happens on the Mac |
|---|---|
| Move one finger | Moves the pointer |
| Tap with one finger | Left click |
| Tap twice quickly | Double-click |
| Move two fingers | Scroll (vertical and horizontal) |
| Tap with two fingers | Right click |
Trackpad has no click-and-drag or pinch gesture. To drag a window, select text, or move a slider, use Screen: hold your finger on the spot, then drag. On Screen, pinching zooms the picture of the Mac’s display on your phone.
Speed and feel live in the iPhone app’s Settings (the gear icon) under Control: Pointer speed and Scroll speed each run from 0.5× to 2.0×, and there are switches for Haptic feedback and Natural scrolling. Match a large TV or a precise layout app from there.
Trackpad with Keyboard
The keyboard bar sits right under the trackpad: tap Type to type into whichever app is in front on the Mac. Poket PC sends typed characters plus Return and Delete only — no Command, Control, Option, arrow keys, Escape, or function keys yet (planned for a later version). For commands that need modifiers, tap the menu item or button on the live Screen view, or give the task to Ask.
Network and security
On the same Wi-Fi, your iPhone talks to the Mac directly. When you are not on the same network, traffic goes through Poket PC’s relay, still end-to-end encrypted (Noise IK, ChaCha20-Poly1305). You do not configure port forwarding or a VPN. Revoke a device from the Mac menu bar and its session ends immediately.
Limits to know
- Trackpad controls the main display only; multi-monitor support is planned.
- There is no audio over the remote session and no clipboard sync yet.
- Lock-screen access is not available — the Mac must be awake and logged in for control to work.
For the full setup path and Deck tiles, see How to Control Your Mac From Your iPhone. For typing details, see Use Your iPhone as a Keyboard for Your Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my iPhone as a mouse for my MacBook?
Yes. In Poket PC, open Trackpad on a paired Mac. You get a large trackpad panel under the mode switcher, with pointer and scroll speed you set in Settings.
Do I need to see the Mac screen on my phone?
No. Trackpad works on its own. Many people use it when the Mac is on a TV or across the room and they only need the pointer.
Does Trackpad work over cellular?
Yes, after pairing. On the same Wi-Fi the app connects directly; away from home it uses the encrypted relay, same as Screen.
Can I right-click?
Yes. Tap the trackpad with two fingers for a right-click, the same as on a Mac trackpad.
Which iPhones and Macs work?
iOS 18 or later on the phone, macOS 14 Sonoma or later on the Mac, with the Poket PC helper installed and paired.