A quick article to get an Apple Trackpad working with an MS Windows 11 Pro (Intel 64) workstation.
Why?
I forgot my work Macbook at home and rather than drive the commute back and forth again, I took my previous biscuit box out (a Dell MFF Optiplex 7070) and spent 30 minutes connecting monitors and the logitech receiver for my keyboard (which was a Logitech keyboard for Windows - keys switched for the Mac but reverted for the biscuit box). Running MS Windows 11 pro already. Wifi was ok to connect and my Microsoft Office apps, well it's a Windows box so no issues there either... Webcam and headset previously connected to my docking station weren't too much of an issue either as MS Windows detected these without needing software.
Long rant to justify why I didn't want to drive home (~20 to 40 minutes commute) and pick up my laptop.
How?
The work and research for this was all in one YouTube video by LinxHype (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_z9-rE_6zI) so I don't want to take credit for it. There were other videos using the GitHub repo: GitHub / imbushuo / mac-precision-touchpad but those instructions seemed only for those on an AMD or ARM processor. The process demo'd by LinxHype is the one that worked for me.
Windows Intel
These are the instructions that worked for me so I'm just storing these in case I need to do it again:
- In Windows > Settings > Bluetooth and Devices > Add Device > Switch trackpad off/on again and wait for it to appear > Connect to it by clicking on it... you will be able to move the cursor but no scrolling/swiping.
- Install 7-Zip (I'm aware there's a built-in compressor for Windows - but we need the "extract to..." option). > Install it
- Go and download the AppleBcUpdate.exe file from https://swcdn.apple.com/content/downloads/03/60/041-96205/61hhcnj7qq5dxosc171ytixty20vuqg0r0n/AppleBcUpdate.exe | Mirror 1
- Right-click on the AppleBcUpdate.exe file and select "Show more options" > Hover over 7-Zip > Select Extract to AppleBcUpdate > Browse to this folder > Browse to "ApplePrecisionTrackpadBluetooth"
- Right-click on "ApplePrecisionTrackpadBluetooth.inf" and select "Install"
- Right-click on your Windows icon in the taskbar and select "Device Manager"
- Expand "Human Interface Devices" and right-click on either "Bluetooth HID Device" or "Apple Bluetooth Precision Trackpad" (the latter is what appeared for me) > then select "Update Driver" > Select "Let me pick from a list of available drivers" > Select "Bluetooth HID Device" and/or "Apple Bluetooth Precision Trackpad" (I did both as the former broke my cursor move but the latter restored it along with gestures). > Browse... > Select the downloaded file in the "AppleBcUpdate" folder.
- Return to "Settings" > "Bluetooth" > and you should see a Magic Trackpad - but not connected.
- Try switching the trackpad on and off and pair it up again but bear in mind to give it a few seconds to reconnect.
- If it still doesn't work, I had to repeat the preivous step of installing the driver and wait a few seconds for the settings page to show the green light / connected status.
- Done
Category: Windows OS :: Article: 916
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