Microsoft Begins Beta Testing Trackpad Support in Word and Excel Apps for iPad

Microsoft this week began testing mouse and trackpad support in the latest beta versions of its Word and Excel apps for iPad. The functionality was introduced in version 2.42 of each app, available through Apple's beta testing service TestFlight.

ipadpromagickeyboardtrackpad
Mouse and trackpad support provides rich visual feedback when editing documents or spreadsheets. When using a trackpad, the cursor displays as a circle on the screen, popping up only when you have a finger on the trackpad. The circle then morphs into various other shapes when hovering over app icons, text fields, or other on-screen elements.

iPadOS 13.4 introduced trackpad and mouse support on all iPad Pro models, the iPad Air 2 and later, the fifth-generation iPad and later, and the iPad mini 4 and later. Keyboards with built-in trackpads include Apple's Magic Keyboard, Brydge's Pro+ for the iPad Pro, Logitech's Combo for the 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air, and more.

Microsoft previously said that mouse and trackpad support in the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps will be made available to all users at some point this fall.

Popular Stories

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday January 16, 2025 6:45 am PST by
Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website. Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50. We have outlined some examples below: Device New Value Old Value iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $630 U ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Wednesday January 15, 2025 7:16 am PST by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the "ultra-thin" device. Overall, the "iPhone 17 Air" is shaping up to be a mixed bag. Due to its thinness, the device is expected to have some limited specifications compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, only a single speaker, no SIM...
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Three Companies Are Now in the Running to Take Over the Apple Card

Thursday January 16, 2025 8:18 am PST by
Apple is in talks with Barclays and Synchrony about becoming its new financial partner for the Apple Card, according to Reuters sources. The report today added that Apple has also been holding discussions with Chase Bank owner JPMorgan since last year, so there are at least three potential companies in the running to take over the Apple Card from current partner Goldman Sachs. Goldman...
MacBook Air 15 Inch Feature Blue

MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect

Wednesday January 15, 2025 8:49 am PST by
There is a good chance that Apple's first product announcement of 2025 will be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip. Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year (unsurprisingly). Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 8 New Features

Thursday January 9, 2025 5:45 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal Single Feature

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Major Thermal Design Upgrade

Friday January 17, 2025 4:33 am PST by
The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a vapor chamber heatsink to improve thermal performance, according to a new report. The news comes from Chinese tech news site MyDrivers, which claims that the entire iPhone 17 lineup, consisting of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, will adopt the improved thermal heat spreader. Vapor chamber technology is already used...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

Apple Expected to Launch 20+ Products This Year: Here's the Full List

Friday January 17, 2025 5:30 am PST by
2025 promises to be quite a big year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements this year. Apple's rumored smart home hub will be its second all-new product to launch in as many years, following the Apple Vision Pro headset last year. And of course, we will get several new iPhone and Apple Watch models, like every year. Beyond that, Apple could...

Top Rated Comments

Powermax Avatar
56 months ago
I am still waiting for Pause/Play with the Spacebar in the YouTube App.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GeoStructural Avatar
56 months ago

Better late than never?
What? Trackpad for iOS/iPad OS was released just recently.


I'm still waiting for the day when I can advance slides in Powerpoint on iOS with a keyboard like on a Mac or PC.
This is already possible with the current app and it has been possible for a long time.

I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
56 months ago
Please take your time Microsoft, I know you’re a small company with limited resources. Don’t stress yourself too much
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justiny Avatar
56 months ago
I am actually waiting for full-fledged versions of the Apps, iPad Pro is particularly powerful enough to run the entire suite smoothly, Excel for iPad is pretty much a file viewer, no where near the desktop app I use daily and rely so much on. PowerPoint is better featured but it is still missing so much. Word can get the job done, but still not ideal.
This x1000

I travel for work and carry both my iPad Pro and MBP with me. I would love to leave my MBP at home but the fact is, I need it because the iPadOS Office apps only get me 80% to completing my work. Even on Word, I can't get the job done without needing 3 other apps and switching back and forth, it's just not worth it.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Spock Avatar
56 months ago

Can we just make a touch screen MacBook already. All of this just seems to be beating around the bush.
Adding touchpad support to the iPad somehow equals beating around the bush for a touchscreen MacBook? If anything it shows that Apple shouldn’t use a touchscreen in the MacBook..
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
56 months ago

Adding touchpad support to the iPad somehow equals beating around the bush for a touchscreen MacBook? If anything it shows that Apple shouldn’t use a touchscreen in the MacBook..
Why? I don't follow your logic here. Why does an iPad with touchpad support have anything to do with whether a MacBook would or would not benefit from a touch screen? Serious question. I get that iOS has been designed from ground up to be a touch screen, and a MacBook would not be as good of one, but that doesn't mean it would be bad with one.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)