Windows has a bunch of trackpads you can use that get the job done nicely. If you have an Apple Magic Trackpad or use both Mac and Windows, it is possible to use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC.
It takes a little configuration to get the trackpad working, but where there is a will, there is a way.
In fact, there are three ways that I know of because a graphic designer friend of mine has gotten the Apple Magic Trackpad to work on her PC and tried out different methods.
I checked how she got her Apple Magic Trackpad working on her Windows 10 desktop and she walked me through it. She used Boot Camp but said the other two methods work too.
Use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC
You will need an Apple Magic Trackpad or Apple Magic Trackpad 2, a Bluetooth dongle or enabled PC and a piece of software.
Exactly what software depends on how you want to do this so I’ll include links to all of them. The first method uses an app that’s available through GitHub, the second method uses Boot Camp and the third uses a third-party utility called Magic Utilities.
The Mac Precision Touchpad method
You can use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC using software that’s up on GitHub called Mac Precision Touchpad.
The process of getting your Trackpad working on your PC is very straightforward. Here are the instructions for installing Mac Precision Touchpad on your PC:
- Navigate to this page and download the latest version of the file.
- Extract the file somewhere on your PC.
- Right-click AmtPtpDevice.cer and select Install.
- Open the AmtPtpDevice folder in the download.
- Right-click AmtPtpDevice.inf and select Install.
Once you have installed the software, follow the instructions here in the README for Precision Touchpad. Following this process should get your Touchpad working on your PC.
The Apple Boot Camp method for getting an Apple Magic TouchPad to work on a Windows PC
Apple Boot Camp is a software package that allows you to use Windows 10 within the macOS.
Apparently, you can also use it to enable some Apple hardware to work on your Windows PC. This is how my friend got her Apple Magic Trackpad working on her Windows 10 desktop.
You will need a copy of the Apple Boot Camp software from Apple. If you use 32-bit Windows, use this file. If you use 64-bit Windows, use this one. Support for Boot Camp is here and includes a section on getting Mac hardware to run within Windows.
Here’s are the instructions for implementing the Apple Bootcamp method:
- Download the correct version of Boot Camp for your PC.
- Download the Apple Magic Trackpad Control Panel from here.
- Install both onto your PC and connect the Trackpad if you haven’t already.
- Your Apple Magic Trackpad should now work.
Apparently, without the control panel, the trackpad doesn’t include all gestures which many Mac users are so used to. Adding this last piece of software increases compatibility and allows you to use many more gestures and have more control over how the Apple Magic Trackpad works.
It is a little backward though. As mentioned, Boot Camp is predominantly for using Windows 10 within Mac OS but it does work this way.
The Magic Utilities method
Magic Utilities is a third party software vendor that develops apps that help Windows and Mac play nicely together. It includes Bluetooth support for Apple devices and Boot Camp compatibility so works fine with the Apple Magic Trackpad. It does cost money, currently $5.99 a year for a single user but has a free trial.
Here’s the process of using the Magic Utilities application to get your Apple Trackpad working on your Windows PC:
- Download the Magic Utilities app from here.
- Install it onto your PC and allow it access to devices and anything else it requires.
- Use your Apple Magic Trackpad.
While this is a premium product, the software does make it easy to use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC. Install the software, allow it access to Bluetooth and anything else it asks for and it finds the trackpad and works right away. I only got to see this in action already installed but the configuration options are generous alone and I was assured installation and configuration was as easy as described.
There are apparently compromises if you use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC. Not all gestures are supported, sometimes the driver freezes or hesitates and sometimes the driver stops altogether. While my friend loves her Apple Magic Trackpad, she also has a different touchpad that is native to Windows and works just as well as her Apple version. It was less than half the price too!
If you found this article useful you might want to check out these TechJunkie how-to articles: Windows PC Keeps Lagging – What To Do and How To Encrypt a USB Drive on a Windows PC or Mac.
So while you can use the Apple Magic Trackpad on your PC if you want to, there are other options as well. Do you know of any other ways to use the Apple Magic Trackpad on a WindowsPC? Do you know of any Windows trackpads equal to or even better than the Apple Magic Trackpad? If you do, please leave us a comment below!
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