Users can connect a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad to their iPhone 18 Pro. This ability adds functionality to the iPhone, that for some users, makes a huge difference in how they use their device. Although there are many Bluetooth mice and trackpads that are compatible with iPhone, many people are using Apple’s Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad or Magic Keyboard with a built in trackpad. Also popular are Bluetooth mice and keyboards with built in trackpads by Logitech.
There are a variety of settings available for mice and trackpads, and some users have specifically had trouble with their mouse pointer becoming much too large. This particular problem seems to be related to users who have AssistiveTouch enabled.
In this article, we will go through the basics of setting up your Bluetooth mouse or trackpad, give some general troubleshooting tips, and specifically address the issue of the extra-large pointer size that some users have experienced.
How to Use a Bluetooth Mouse or Trackpad with your iPhone 18 Pro
How to Connect the Mouse or Trackpad
- Turn on the Bluetooth mouse or trackpad and place it next to your iPhone 18 Pro.
- Your Bluetooth mouse/trackpad should be in pairing mode. Apple Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad should already be in pairing mode, but if you are using a third party mouse/trackpad, you may need to refer to the pairing instructions for that device.
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch. Turn on AssistiveTouch. Below Pointer Devices, tap any of the following: Devices: Pair or unpair devices and customize buttons.
- There may be additional steps, depending on the device you are connecting. Follow any onscreen instructions to complete the pairing process. For example, Magic Mouse/Trackpad requires a code; enter 0000.
How to Use the Pointer
When you use a Bluetooth mouse or trackpad with your iPhone 18 Pro, the pointer looks like a grey disk. The pointer moves across the screen as you would expect it to. Just like when you are using a mouse or trackpad with a computer.
The pointer will change shapes, like it does when you are using a computer. For example, when using an app where you can enter text, you will see the I shaped cursor.
The pointer will disappear if you haven’t been using the mouse or trackpad for a few seconds. Just move the mouse or swipe the trackpad to make it reappear.
Pointer Customization
You can change how the pointer looks and some of the pointer features. To customize your pointer, go to Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. You can customize the following features of your pointer:
- The pointer’s contrast to make it darker, more visible on the screen.
- Automatically hide the pointer, or not.
- The pointer color.
- Pointer size.
- You can adjust the scrolling speed to change how quickly pages scroll.
There are more options available in the Accessibility menu. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > Devices. Here you can customize the buttons of your mouse or trackpad.
Troubleshooting Pointer Size and Other Issues
As always, make sure your device is updated to the latest iOS. As a general troubleshooting step, you can try a force restart of your iPhone 18 Pro:
- Press and quickly release the volume up button. Press and quickly release the volume down button. Press and hold the side button. When the Apple logo appears, release the side button.
Compatibility
Note: With Apple Magic Mouse (1st gen) and Magic Trackpad (1st gen), scrolling and other gestures are not supported.
Cursor Size and Other Cursor Issues
Many users of the AssistiveTouch features have found that they have issues with the size of their cursor/pointer when AssistiveTouch is enabled. If you are having this issue, some of the things you can try to solve it are:
- Some users have found that disabling Perform Touch Gestures has solved their cursor issues. When Perform Touch Gestures is enabled, the pointing device acts like a finger. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch. Scroll down to Perform Touch Gestures and toggle it to Off.
Wireless Interference
If you are connecting Bluetooth devices to your iPhone, you may experience connectivity issues. This problem is most likely to occur if you have more than one Bluetooth device connected. You may see an alert when viewing your Bluetooth device list, warning you that one of the devices you are connecting may affect Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. If you experience connectivity issues, try disconnecting Bluetooth devices you are not using: Go to Settings > Bluetooth, then tap on the info button next to the device. Tap Disconnect.
