macOS Golden Gate’s new touch controls are not limited to Apple’s touchscreen MacBook Pro. The same interface changes also work with third-party touchscreen displays and an iPad connected to a Mac through Sidecar.
AppleInsider tested the feature on two third-party touchscreen displays and found that one worked out of the box, while the other did not because it still needs driver support. The touch enhancements also work with Sidecar in the iOS 27.3 and macOS 27.3 developer betas.
macOS Golden Gate touch controls enlarge window buttons and menus
macOS Golden Gate retains its familiar desktop interface when used with a keyboard and trackpad or mouse. Its touch-specific changes appear when someone interacts with a touchscreen.
The red, yellow and green window buttons enlarge when touched, making them easier to select with a finger. The menu bar can also expand dynamically to accommodate touch input.
Long-pressing a Dock icon or certain other interface elements brings up touch-friendly menus and animations. These adjustments make the existing macOS interface easier to use without requiring a separate touchscreen mode.
The changes are not exclusive to Apple’s own hardware. AppleInsider’s testing found that one of two third-party touchscreen displays worked with the new controls immediately, while the other needed driver support. The report confirmed that the difference came down to drivers rather than the display hardware.
Sidecar brings the same touch experience to an iPad
The same touch enhancements also extend to an iPad connected to a Mac through Sidecar. The feature has allowed users to extend their Mac desktop to an iPad for years, with Apple Pencil support providing a way to interact with macOS using a stylus.
inger input was previously more limited. The iPad supported multi-touch gestures and effectively worked like a Magic Trackpad, but users could not directly interact with individual macOS interface elements by tapping them.
That changes with macOS 27. Tapping the iPad screen can now act like a mouse click in the corresponding position on the Mac, while dragging also works. AppleInsider confirmed that the expanded touch experience works in the iOS 27.3 and macOS 27.3 developer betas.
Sidecar touch input first appeared in the June developer betas of macOS 27. Tapping anywhere on the iPad screen acted as a mouse click in the corresponding position on the Mac, with dragging also supported.
The macOS 27.2 betas subsequently expanded the experience with touch gesture support for Safari, Notes, Photos and Quick Look. Apple also introduced touch-friendly Safari tabs and a Dock icon long-press animation.
Developers can extend touch support in Mac apps
Apple also provides gesture APIs that developers can use to add touch interactions beyond simulated mouse clicks. This allows existing Mac apps to respond to basic touch input, while developers can build more complete experiences for touchscreen users.
macOS 27 also adds swipe-down refresh to Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts and Calendar. Fourteen third-party apps, including Microsoft Word, DaVinci Resolve and Blender, are adding touch support for the MacBook Pro later this year.
Developers can also check for touch support on individual displays. With a touch-capable Sidecar display connected, macOS 27 reports every display as touch-capable, including the Mac’s built-in screen. An iPad needs iPadOS 27 to send finger input to the Mac.
(via AppleInsider)
