{"id":14291,"date":"2010-07-28T00:50:11","date_gmt":"2010-07-27T19:20:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/?p=14291"},"modified":"2026-10-15T14:12:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T08:42:49","slug":"apple-magic-trackpad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple Magic Trackpad: The 2010 Original and Today&#8217;s Models"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>Apple Magic Trackpad<\/strong> brought the Multi-Touch trackpad from the MacBook to the Mac desktop when it launched in July 2010. This article covers the original model, how the Magic Trackpad has changed since, and how to set one up and use its gestures today.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-67240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026-1024x538.webp\" alt=\"Apple Magic Trackpad guide card\" width=\"1024\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026-1024x538.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026-300x158.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026-150x79.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026-768x403.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/apple-magic-trackpad-2026.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Quick answer:<\/strong> The first Magic Trackpad (2010) used two AA batteries and Bluetooth. Magic Trackpad 2 (2015) added Force Touch, a built-in rechargeable battery and Lightning charging. Since October 2024 Apple sells it with a USB-C port, in white or black, for Mac, iPad and Apple Vision Pro.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aecf8b367439\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #1a202c;color:#1a202c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6aecf8b367439\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#The_original_Apple_Magic_Trackpad_2010\" >The original Apple Magic Trackpad (2010)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#Apple_Magic_Trackpad_models_since_2010\" >Apple Magic Trackpad models since 2010<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#How_to_set_up_a_Magic_Trackpad\" >How to set up a Magic Trackpad<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#Useful_trackpad_gestures_on_a_Mac\" >Useful trackpad gestures on a Mac<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#Trackpad_or_mouse\" >Trackpad or mouse?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#FAQ\" >FAQ<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#When_did_the_Apple_Magic_Trackpad_come_out\" >When did the Apple Magic Trackpad come out?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#Does_the_original_Magic_Trackpad_have_Force_Touch\" >Does the original Magic Trackpad have Force Touch?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#How_do_I_charge_a_Magic_Trackpad\" >How do I charge a Magic Trackpad?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2010\/07\/apple-magic-trackpad\/#Does_the_Magic_Trackpad_work_with_an_iPad\" >Does the Magic Trackpad work with an iPad?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_original_Apple_Magic_Trackpad_2010\"><\/span>The original Apple Magic Trackpad (2010)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple launched the Magic Trackpad on July 27, 2010 as its first Multi-Touch trackpad for desktop Macs. When I wrote about it then, it felt like the hardware grip mouse we all knew had just become obsolete.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14292\" src=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/magic-trackpad.jpg\" alt=\"Original Apple Magic Trackpad from 2010\" width=\"500\" height=\"131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/magic-trackpad.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/magic-trackpad-150x39.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-content\/uploads\/magic-trackpad-300x78.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It used the same <strong>Multi-Touch technology<\/strong> as the MacBook Pro and supported the same gestures: swiping, scrolling, clicking, rotating and pinching, with the entire surface working as a button that clicks. Apple said it had 80 percent more area than the MacBook Pro trackpad, making it the <strong>largest Multi-Touch trackpad Apple had made<\/strong> at the time.<\/p>\n<p>It connected to your Mac via <strong>Bluetooth<\/strong> and ran on two AA batteries. It shared the aluminium design, angle and height of the Apple Wireless Keyboard, so the two sat perfectly side by side. It detected periods of inactivity and had an on\/off switch to save battery life.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Apple_Magic_Trackpad_models_since_2010\"><\/span>Apple Magic Trackpad models since 2010<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Magic Trackpad (2010):<\/strong> Bluetooth, two AA batteries, physical click.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Magic Trackpad 2 (October 2015):<\/strong> added Force Touch (pressure sensing) with haptic feedback, a built-in rechargeable battery, a Lightning port for charging and pairing, and a larger surface.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Magic Trackpad with USB-C (October 2024):<\/strong> the same design with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, sold in white and black.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The current model is on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a> store and you can also find it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/go\/apple-magic-trackpad\" rel=\"sponsored nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">on Amazon<\/a>. Apple lists it as working with Macs on macOS 15.1 or later, iPads on iPadOS 18.1 or later, and Apple Vision Pro.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_set_up_a_Magic_Trackpad\"><\/span>How to set up a Magic Trackpad<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>For the current model, connect it to your Mac with the included USB-C cable. It pairs automatically and charges at the same time.<\/li>\n<li>Unplug the cable to use it wirelessly over Bluetooth.<\/li>\n<li>Open <strong>System Settings &gt; Trackpad<\/strong> on your Mac to set tracking speed, tap to click and the gestures you want.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Useful_trackpad_gestures_on_a_Mac\"><\/span>Useful trackpad gestures on a Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Scroll:<\/strong> slide two fingers up or down.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Zoom:<\/strong> pinch with two fingers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary click:<\/strong> click or tap with two fingers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mission Control:<\/strong> swipe up with three fingers (or four, depending on settings).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Look up and data detectors:<\/strong> Force click a word on Force Touch models.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Trackpad_or_mouse\"><\/span>Trackpad or mouse?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The old mouse didn&#8217;t disappear after all. Many people use both: a trackpad for gestures and scrolling, a mouse for precise work. If you prefer a mouse, see how to use an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2009\/05\/apple-mighty-mouse-on-windows-pc\/\">Apple Magic Mouse on a Windows PC<\/a>. And if you like Apple design history, read about the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/2008\/01\/apple-macbook-air-is-worlds-thinnest-notebook\/\">first MacBook Air<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQ\"><\/span>FAQ<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_did_the_Apple_Magic_Trackpad_come_out\"><\/span>When did the Apple Magic Trackpad come out?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The original model was released on July 27, 2010. Magic Trackpad 2 followed in October 2015, and the USB-C version in October 2024.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_original_Magic_Trackpad_have_Force_Touch\"><\/span>Does the original Magic Trackpad have Force Touch?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>No. Force Touch arrived with Magic Trackpad 2 in 2015. The original model has a physical click.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_charge_a_Magic_Trackpad\"><\/span>How do I charge a Magic Trackpad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The current model charges with a USB-C cable and Magic Trackpad 2 with Lightning. The original 2010 model uses two AA batteries.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_Magic_Trackpad_work_with_an_iPad\"><\/span>Does the Magic Trackpad work with an iPad?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Yes. Apple lists the current Magic Trackpad as compatible with iPads running iPadOS 18.1 or later.<\/p>\n<p>Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, QuickOnlineTips earns from qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Apple Magic Trackpad brought the Multi-Touch trackpad from the MacBook to the Mac desktop when it launched in July&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":67240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,23,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","category-computers","category-gadgets"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14291"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67243,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14291\/revisions\/67243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quickonlinetips.com\/archives\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}