Apple has expanded Sidecar in macOS 27 Golden Gate and iPadOS 27 by adding direct touch input support. For the first time, users can interact with macOS apps and interface elements using their fingers on an iPad connected through Sidecar.
Until now, Sidecar has offered limited touch functionality. Users could scroll with two fingers, pinch to zoom, and use gesture-based editing controls, but they could not tap buttons, open apps, click links, or interact directly with macOS windows using touch. Those actions required a mouse, trackpad, or Apple Pencil.
With the new Direct Touch feature, Apple has removed one of Sidecar’s biggest limitations. Users can now tap, swipe, and navigate macOS apps directly from the iPad screen while using Sidecar.
The update makes Sidecar feel more natural, especially for users who prefer touch-based navigation. Apple Pencil support remains available, allowing users to continue drawing, annotating, and performing precision tasks alongside finger-based controls.
This change also brings Sidecar closer to third-party solutions that have offered touch interaction between Macs and tablets for years.
Requirements for Direct Touch in Sidecar
The feature requires:
- An Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 27 Golden Gate
- A compatible iPad running iPadOS 27
- Both devices signed in to the same Apple ID
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled on both devices
- Devices located within 10 meters of each other
Users who already rely on Sidecar for productivity, creative work, or multitasking can enable the feature without additional hardware.
A Hint at Apple’s Touchscreen Mac Plans?
The addition of Direct Touch is likely part of Apple’s broader effort to make macOS more touch-friendly. Recent software changes, including touch-oriented interface refinements, suggest Apple is preparing the platform for future hardware.
Industry reports have also pointed to a high-end touchscreen MacBook expected in 2027. While Apple has not confirmed those plans, Sidecar’s new touch controls show that macOS is gradually becoming more comfortable with direct touch interaction.
For now, macOS 27 and iPadOS 27 give users a simpler and more intuitive way to control their Mac directly from an iPad screen.
