Use your iPhone as a trackpad or mouse for Mac

You need an iPhone running iOS 17 or newer, a Mac running macOS 15.6 or newer, the Maccess iPhone app, and free Maccess Helper on the Mac. Put both devices on the same Wi-Fi network for local control. The core touchpad and keyboard controls are included in the Free plan.

1. Download Maccess from the App Store. 2. Install Maccess Helper on your Mac and keep it open in the menu bar. 3. Add your Mac in the iPhone app, then scan the QR code or enter the passcode shown by Helper. 4. Open the paired Mac and choose the touchpad control. For the complete pairing walkthrough, see How Maccess works.

• Move and click: slide one finger to move the pointer, then tap to click. • Right-click: tap with two fingers. • Scroll: drag two fingers in any direction; flick and it keeps gliding. • Back and forward: swipe two fingers firmly sideways. • Mission Control: swipe three fingers up; swipe down for Esc. • Switch desktops: swipe three fingers left or right to move between Spaces. • App Exposé: double-tap with three fingers to fan out the current app's windows. • Precision: hold one finger still to reveal scroll wheels and a trackball. Pointer behavior can be tuned in Maccess so it feels comfortable for your screen and grip.

Yes. The same touchpad works like a wireless mouse: the pointer follows your finger, a tap clicks, a two-finger tap right-clicks, and dragging two fingers scrolls like a mouse wheel. Hold one finger still to bring up scroll wheels and a trackball for precise movement.

Open the keyboard to type into whichever Mac app is active, shortcuts included. Fill in a search field, rename a file, or reply to a message without walking back to the desk.

Use it to control a Mac connected to a television, advance a presentation, pause media from the couch, operate a Mac mini without a nearby mouse, or make a quick change while standing away from the desk. The touchpad view is faster and lighter than opening a full remote desktop when you only need pointer or keyboard input.

The Free touchpad is best when you can already see the Mac display and want quick pointer or keyboard control. Maccess Pro's Mirror & Control shows the Mac screen on your iPhone when you also need a live visual view. Both start from the same paired Mac, so you can choose the lighter control for each situation.

Yes. Touchpad, keyboard, volume, and media controls are part of the Maccess Free plan with one paired Mac on your local Wi-Fi. Pro adds Online Access from anywhere, screen mirroring, files, and multiple Macs.

No. Apple does not include a way to use an iPhone as a Mac trackpad. Universal Control lets a Mac share its keyboard and pointer with nearby Macs and iPads, not iPhones, and iPhone Mirroring works in the other direction, letting a Mac control an iPhone. To control a Mac from an iPhone you need an app such as Maccess.

Yes. After pairing, local touchpad and keyboard sessions work when both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and do not need session traffic routed through the cloud. Internet access is needed when you use Pro Online Access to reach the Mac from outside your local network.

Confirm that the iPhone and Mac are on the same main Wi-Fi network, Maccess Helper is running, and the macOS permissions requested by Helper are enabled. Guest networks often block one device from seeing another. If pairing still fails, follow the Support steps before reinstalling either app.

Get Maccess and Helper, compare Free, Pro, and Max, or explore everything on the Maccess features page. For remote control away from home, read Control your Mac from iPhone.