Smartphones in recent times have become incredibly powerful. They can do almost anything a PC can do. Whether you want to play games, access the web, or edit documents and spreadsheets on the go, smartphone in your pocket and do it all.
However, while performing intense tasks like editing videos or creating spreadsheets and presentations, the touch screen can become quite limited. It’s hard to make precise selections with your finger, and you cover the already small screen. This is where a pointing device like a mouse can come into play.
Here’s how to connect a mouse to your iPhone and use it to improve your productivity.
Advantages of using a mouse with your iPhone
Your iPhone comes with the built-in iMovie app, a powerful video editor. You can use it to edit videos right on your iPhone, thus eliminating the need to use a separate computer. Other applications like Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint are also available on iPhone to help with office work.
While these apps work fine by default, connecting a mouse will help you focus on the small details. It’s easier to delete the iMovie timeline with your mouse than with your finger. Similarly, it’s easier to edit specific cells in a spreadsheet with the mouse.
What’s even better is that the iPhone supports gestures via an external mouse. You can copy gestures to go back, go home, etc. This makes the experience of using iPhone with the mouse even better.
What kind of mouse can you use with iPhone
The iPhone supports all types of computer mice for input. The best one to use is a Bluetooth mouse because it’s the easiest to connect. However, you can also use a wired mouse or a wireless mouse with a USB dongle. However, to use this mouse with iPhone, you will have to purchase an external adapter.
The Lightning to USB Camera Adapter is essentially a Lightning to USB-A dongle that allows you to connect USB-A devices to your iPhone. This will allow you to connect a wired mouse or wireless receiver.
How to connect a mouse to your iPhone
Step 1: If you are using a wired mouse or a mouse that uses a USB receiver, plug it into your iPhone and the iPhone will detect it. If you’re using a Bluetooth mouse, put the mouse in pairing mode and open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone. Then select the ‘Bluetooth’ option. Click on your mouse’s name listed under ‘Other devices’ to connect to it.
Step 2: Go to the ‘Accessibility’ option in the ‘Settings’ app.
Step 3: Tap on ‘Touch’ under ‘Physics and Engines’.
Step 4: Select ‘AssistiveTouch’ and turn on the switch next to it.
You can then use the mouse with a circular pointer appearing on the screen. However, if you want to get the most out of your mouse, you can customize the button functions and other parameters like tracking speed.
To tailor the mouse buttons and its tracking speed to your taste, you will need to make some adjustments.
Step 1: Navigate to the ‘Accessibility’ option in the ‘Settings’ app.
Step 2: Tap on ‘Touch’ under ‘Physics and Engines.’
Step 3: Select ‘AssistiveTouch.’
Step 4: Then, scroll down to find the option named ‘Tracking Sensitivity’. Adjust the slider based on your preferences.
Step 5: Scroll up to the ‘Pointing Devices’ section and tap on ‘Devices’.
Step 6: Here you will find the mouse connected to your iPhone. Touch it.
Step 7: Tap the ‘Customize additional buttons…’ option.
Step 8: Click a button on your mouse and you will be given the option to choose what you want the button to do.
Step 9: Repeat this process until you assign functions to all the buttons on the mouse.
You can now use a mouse with iPhone the same way you would use a mouse on a computer. You can click the bottom bar on your iPhone to go back to the home screen, or if you have multiple buttons on your mouse, you can assign one button for the back gesture and one for the home screen.
This way, you can speed up your workflow on your iPhone and control exactly what you’re doing.
Use your mouse for better productivity
As mentioned earlier, the mouse can be a useful tool if you are working on the go. Connect it to a dedicated keyboard and you have a proper mobile work setup on the go! Let us know in the comments below if you start using your mouse with your iPhone for better control.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/