MacBooks Running Windows Gain Improved Trackpad Support With Boot Camp Update

Apple this week released Boot Camp version 6.1.15 for users running Windows on a Mac, as noted in a Reddit post spotted by The Verge.

macbook trackpad
The update adds support for more precise trackpad gestures on MacBooks running Windows, including a single tap to click, tapping the lower-right corner to right-click, swiping down to scroll up, and various multi-touch gestures using three or four fingers.

Support for these precise trackpad gestures while running Windows is available on Macs with Apple's T2 chip, according to an Apple user guide.

Boot Camp allows Windows to boot natively on Intel-based Macs. The utility is not available on Macs with the M1 chip.

Top Rated Comments

Xenomorph Avatar
38 months ago

I love these types of posts. Just because you don't see a reason doesn't mean there isn't one technically. The T2 is a SoC and gives Apple more flexibility on how they can run the system.
There are multiple ('https://github.com/imbushuo/mac-precision-touchpad') fancy 3rd-party trackpad drivers ('http://trackpad.forbootcamp.org/') for older MacBook Pro models, and even my Chromebook running Windows has fancy precision touchpad drivers ('https://github.com/coolstar/crostouchpad4-elan') developed by the community.

Apple choosing to make their new drivers only for Macs with T2 is 100% planned obsolescence. They have direct access to the hardware and original source code, yet can't accomplish what some kid in their mom's basement is capable of?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tom.humphrey Avatar
38 months ago

Why is it a screenshot of Parallels when the article is about Boot Camp? ?
Well that disappeared quick!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kylo83 Avatar
38 months ago
This is why I don’t wanna give up my 16” MacBook Pro; I do light windows gaming in bootcamp and unless windows comes to arm I’m staying away from the m1
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ignatius345 Avatar
38 months ago
I guess they're throwing Intel Mac users a bone after announcing a ton of Apple Silicon-only features this week...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AmazeSE Avatar
38 months ago

I love these types of posts. Just because you don't see a reason doesn't mean there isn't one technically. The T2 is a SoC and gives Apple more flexibility on how they can run the system.
So you really need a T2 chip for better Trackpad support?

Even older Macs which do not have the T2 chip have the same and better Trackpad gestures present in the latest Macs.

The T2 chip is a security chip and does not play any role in Trackpad gestures.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AmazeSE Avatar
38 months ago

I am not an Apple engineer, but I'd deduce that what is going on here is they are using spare processing capacity on the T2 chip to handle this. It could be doing the same on macOS, but we wouldn't know since we're not privy to the details. It is also possible they pass built in trackpad and keyboard input data through the T2 chip on T2 equipped Macs for extra security.

There is a reason for it. Even if that reason isn't immediately apparent to us.
If the T2 chips plays a part in trackpad support. What about the older Macbooks which do not have the T2 chip but offers the same trackpad support and gestures as the newer ones with the T2 chip and M1.

Apple could have added the better trackpad support to older Macbooks without the T2 chip if they put their mind to it. They simply chose not to. This is just like how they did not ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/several-macos-monterey-features-unavailable-on-intel-based-macs.2300086/') make some features available on the Intel Macs. Even simple features like 3D map, an interactive globe and etc.

What other reason is there? They are simply lazy and do not care.

Some users even made third party drivers which mimic the normal macOS gestures for their Windows Mac. If they can do it why can't Apple?

This update is actually a long overdue one.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Silicon AI Optimized Feature Siri

Apple Releases Open Source AI Models That Run On-Device

Wednesday April 24, 2024 3:39 pm PDT by
Apple today released several open source large language models (LLMs) that are designed to run on-device rather than through cloud servers. Called OpenELM (Open-source Efficient Language Models), the LLMs are available on the Hugging Face Hub, a community for sharing AI code. As outlined in a white paper [PDF], there are eight total OpenELM models, four of which were pre-trained using the...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Rumored to Add These 10 New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday April 24, 2024 2:05 pm PDT by
Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on June 10, so the software update is a little over six weeks away from being announced. Below, we recap rumored features and changes planned for the iPhone with iOS 18. iOS 18 will reportedly be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history, with new ChatGPT-inspired generative AI features, a more customizable Home Screen, and much more....
maxresdefault

Apple Announces 'Let Loose' Event on May 7 Amid Rumors of New iPads

Tuesday April 23, 2024 7:11 am PDT by
Apple has announced it will be holding a special event on Tuesday, May 7 at 7 a.m. Pacific Time (10 a.m. Eastern Time), with a live stream to be available on Apple.com and on YouTube as usual. The event invitation has a tagline of "Let Loose" and shows an artistic render of an Apple Pencil, suggesting that iPads will be a focus of the event. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more ...
Apple Vision Pro Dual Loop Band Orange Feature 2

Apple Cuts Vision Pro Shipments as Demand Falls 'Sharply Beyond Expectations'

Tuesday April 23, 2024 9:44 am PDT by
Apple has dropped the number of Vision Pro units that it plans to ship in 2024, going from an expected 700 to 800k units to just 400k to 450k units, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Orders have been scaled back before the Vision Pro has launched in markets outside of the United States, which Kuo says is a sign that demand in the U.S. has "fallen sharply beyond expectations." As a...
iPad And Calculator App Feature 1

Apple Finally Plans to Release a Calculator App for iPad Later This Year

Tuesday April 23, 2024 9:08 am PDT by
Apple is finally planning a Calculator app for the iPad, over 14 years after launching the device, according to a source familiar with the matter. iPadOS 18 will include a built-in Calculator app for all iPad models that are compatible with the software update, which is expected to be unveiled during the opening keynote of Apple's annual developers conference WWDC on June 10. AppleInsider...
macbook pro purple february

Best Buy Introduces Record Low Prices on Apple's M3 MacBook Pro for Members

Thursday April 25, 2024 7:41 am PDT by
Best Buy is discounting a collection of M3 MacBook Pro computers today, this time focusing on the 14-inch version of the laptop. Every deal in this sale requires you to have a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership, although non-members can still get solid second-best prices on these MacBook Pro models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a...