Connect a bluetooth mouse or trackpad to your iPad

Learn how to pair your iPad with a wireless mouse or trackpad.

Before you begin

Connecting a bluetooth accessory to your iPad requires iPadOS 13.4 or later. These iPad models support iPadOS 13 and later:

Learn how to identify your iPad and update your software.

How to connect a bluetooth mouse or trackpad to your iPad

1. Turn on your bluetooth accessory and place it near your iPad.

2. Make sure that your accessory is in pairing or discovery mode.

   • Apple Magic Mouse and Magic Trackpad should be ready to pair at this point.

   • If you're pairing a third-party accessory that you've used with another device, follow the pairing-mode steps from its manufacturer.

3. Open the Settings app on your iPad.

4. Tap Bluetooth.

5. Look under Other Devices for your bluetooth accessory, then tap its name to pair it with your iPad.

   

Depending on the accessory you're connecting, you may need to take some extra steps. Follow any on-screen instructions that appear. If you're pairing with Apple Magic Mouse or Magic Trackpad and you're asked to provide a code, use 0000 (four zeros).

Find out what to do if you're having trouble connecting your accessory.

If you see a connectivity alert

When using a bluetooth mouse or trackpad with your iPad, you might see an alert that says "Using this accessory may affect Wi-Fi and bluetooth connectivity".

Wireless interference can happen when you use a bluetooth accessory with some iPad models. The more bluetooth accessories that are connected to your iPad and active, the more likely you are to experience wireless performance issues.

If you're experiencing connectivity issues, try disconnecting any Bluetooth accessories you're not using. In Settings > Bluetooth, tap the information button next to the accessory’s name, then tap Disconnect.

Reconnect, disconnect or forget the Bluetooth accessory

After it pairs with your iPad for the first time, your accessory will appear under My Devices in Settings > Bluetooth. Tap your accessory's name to reconnect it to your iPad when it's not connected.

To disconnect the accessory or have your iPad forget the accessory, tap the information button next to its name.

Learn more

• Using a wireless accessory with your iPad is similar to using one with a desktop or laptop computer. However, there are some features that make the experience unique to iPad. Learn how to use a bluetooth mouse or trackpad with your iPad.

• You can see the battery percentage of your connected Bluetooth mouse or trackpad in the Batteries widget. Find out how to add widgets in the Today View on your iPad.

• Can’t see the onscreen keyboard when you have a trackpad or mouse connected? Tap the keyboard button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. In the menu that appears, tap the show keyboard button. To hide the software keyboard, tap the dismiss button.