How to Customize the Mouse Pointer on iPadOS

To customize a mouse or trackpad pointer on iPad, connect the pointing device, then open Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control. There you can adjust the pointer’s color, size, contrast, visibility, and animations. To change how quickly it moves across the screen, use the separate tracking speed control under General.

1. Connect a mouse or trackpad

For a Bluetooth mouse, turn it on and put it in pairing mode. On the iPad, open Settings > Bluetooth, turn Bluetooth on, and tap the mouse when it appears under Other Devices. Once paired, it should appear in My Devices. Follow the accessory maker’s pairing instructions if the mouse does not show up.

You can also connect many USB mice or USB receiver dongles with a compatible cable or adapter. Compatibility varies by device and iPad model. If the mouse is already paired with another iPad or Mac, disconnect or unpair it there first. A compatible Bluetooth trackpad can be paired in Bluetooth settings as well.

2. Open Pointer Control

After connecting the mouse or trackpad, open Settings and tap Accessibility, then Pointer Control. This is the system page for pointer appearance and several related behaviors. The wording and available controls can vary slightly with the connected accessory and iPadOS version.

3. Choose the pointer’s appearance

Use the options on the Pointer Control screen to make the cursor easier to follow or less distracting:

• Increase Contrast: Make the pointer darker and less transparent so it stands out against light or busy backgrounds.
• Color: Select a different pointer color from the choices available on your iPad. If a color is hard to distinguish in one app, try another and check it on both light and dark screens.
• Pointer Size: Drag the slider to make the pointer larger or smaller. A larger size can help you locate it quickly, though a smaller pointer may cover less content.
• Automatically Hide Pointer: Choose how long the pointer stays visible when it is not moving. If it seems to disappear too soon, lengthen the delay or turn automatic hiding off.
• Pointer Animations: Turn pointer animations on or off to suit your preference. You can disable them if you want less movement on screen.

Change one option at a time and move the pointer over a few screens before settling on a combination. The circular pointer can adapt as you move over different on-screen controls, but the way an app responds to a pointer depends on that app.

4. Adjust pointer movement and scrolling

Two speed controls do different jobs. In Pointer Control, the Scrolling Speed slider changes how quickly a page moves when you scroll with a mouse or trackpad. It does not set how quickly the pointer travels across the display.

For pointer movement, go to Settings > General, then tap Trackpad or Trackpad & Mouse, depending on your accessory. Drag Tracking Speed to change how far or quickly the pointer moves as you move the mouse or trackpad. On this page, you can also turn Natural Scrolling on or off; when it is on, content moves in the same direction as your fingers on the trackpad. Trackpad-specific options such as Tap to Click may also appear when a compatible trackpad is connected.

If the pointer is missing or hard to use

• Check the connection: Open Bluetooth and confirm the mouse or trackpad is connected. Turn the accessory off and on, then move it or click to reconnect. For a USB device, check the adapter or receiver connection.
• Check auto-hide: If the pointer disappears after you stop moving it, return to Pointer Control and change Automatically Hide Pointer.
• Change the correct speed: Use Tracking Speed when the cursor moves too slowly or quickly. Use Scrolling Speed when pages move too slowly or quickly.
• Improve visibility: Increase the pointer size or contrast, then try a different color against the apps you use most.

Apple’s current instructions cover connecting a mouse to iPad, adjusting pointer settings, and changing trackpad settings.