Call our helpline
0300 180 0028The Virtual Trackpad is part of the Assistive Touch accessibility features. Assistive Touch needs to be turned on to use the Virtual Trackpad. To learn more about using Assistive Touch, see our guide How to control your device using AssistiveTouch in iOS 18 on your iPhone or iPad.
Short guide:
- Open the Settings app
and tap Accessibility. - Tap the Touch option.
- Tap AssistiveTouch.
- On the next screen, tap Customise Top Level Menu.
- Tap the + (plus) button, then tap the + (plus) icon that appears and choose Virtual Trackpad.
- To use the virtual trackpad, open the AssistiveTouch menu and tap Virtual Trackpad.
Before and after
This section gives you step by step instructions on how to control your device using a virtual trackpad in iOS 18, with pictures of the screens to help.
Find the Accessibility settings
1. Tap the Settings icon on your Home screen to open the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
Open the Touch settings screen
2. On the Accessibility screen, tap the Touch option.
Open the AssistiveTouch settings
3. On the Touch settings screen, tap AssistiveTouch.
Add the Virtual Trackpad AssistiveTouch
The Virtual Trackpad can be added to the Assistive Touch menu and/or as a custom action (such as double-tapping the Assistive Touch button).
Add the Virtual Trackpad to the AssistiveTouch menu
4. Tap Customise Top Level Menu.
5. Tap the + (plus) button.
6. Tap the + (plus) icon that appears and choose Virtual Trackpad.
Set a custom action to open the Virtual Trackpad
7. A custom action is performed when you tap, double-tap, or long-press the AssistiveTouch button. To create a custom action, tap one of the actions in the Custom Actions section.
8. Choose Virtual Trackpad from the list.
Open the Virtual Trackpad
9. Turn on Assistive Touch - go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch (steps 1 - 3 above) and turn on the toggle switch for AssistiveTouch.
10. Opening the Virtual Trackpad depends on how you set it up earlier (see steps 4 - 7 above):
Either open the AssistiveTouch menu and tap Virtual Trackpad or use the custom action you set (see steps 7-8 above) - tap, double-tap, or long-press on the AssistiveTouch menu button.
Using the Virtual Trackpad
11. The table below describes how to use the Virtual Trackpad:
| Action | Gesture |
| Move the pointer | Move one finger on the trackpad. |
| Perform a single-click | Tap the trackpad. |
| Perform a double-click | Long-press on the trackpad. |
| Scroll | Move two fingers on the trackpad in the direction you want to scroll the page. |
| Resize the Virtual Trackpad | Drag the arrows in the top-right corner of the Virtual Trackpad to resize it. |
| Move the Virtual Trackpad | Tap and hold on the border of the Virtual Trackpad, then drag to reposition it. |
| Close the Virtual Trackpad | Repeat the action you used to open the Virtual Trackpad (see step 11 above). |
Customise the Virtual Trackpad settings
12. If not already open, open the AssistiveTouch settings page - go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch (steps 1 - 3 above).
13. Scroll down and tap Virtual Trackpad.
14. You can now adjust the following settings (descriptions shown after the image below):
| Setting | Description |
| Tracking Speed | How fast the pointer moves across the screen. |
| Natural Scrolling | When Natural Scrolling is on, the contents of the page move in the same direction as your fingers. |
| Scroll Speed | How fast a page scrolls when using a trackpad scroll gesture (moving two fingers up or down or left or right). |
| Border | You can change the colour, width, and opacity of the Pointer border. Tap Border to customise. |
| Trackpad | You can change the colour and opacity of the trackpad. Tap Trackpad to customise. |
| Pointer Control | You can customise the pointer to make it easier to see. You can also set the trackpad to be visible even when it is not in use. Tap Pointer Control to customise. |
Need some more help?
Call our helpline 0300 180 0028 or email enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
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