How to disable or customise the touchscreen on the new MacBook Pro

Touch arrives on the MacBook Pro

Apple's latest MacBook Pro with the ProLED XDR display includes a touchscreen, which 9to5 Mac describes as a headlining feature of the new machine. Touch input on a Mac has been a long-awaited addition, and it is now part of the standard experience on the new model.

Not everyone has welcomed the change, however. Some users would rather keep the traditional, touch-free way of using a Mac, and 9to5 Mac's guide shows that Apple has built in options for exactly this situation.

How to turn touch off completely

According to 9to5 Mac, there is a simple toggle that disables the touchscreen entirely. The path starts in the accessibility settings, in the Physical and Motor section, where users select Touch.

From there, switching on the Ignore Touch Gestures option makes the Mac disregard all touch input. The only exception is the toggle itself, so the setting can always be reversed later.

There is one detail worth noting before turning touch off. The same switch also affects Sidecar, Apple's feature that lets an iPad act as a second display for the Mac, so touch input in that setup is disabled too.

Fine-tuning gestures instead of switching touch off

For people who want to keep touch but adjust how it works, there is a middle path. The Touch Display option at the end of System Settings can be used to disable or customise most individual gestures.

This lets users remove only the touch actions they find unhelpful while keeping the rest. The guide describes this as the route for anyone who would rather tailor the experience than abandon it altogether.

Accessibility options for touch input

Users who struggle with touch gestures have further support built into macOS. Within the Touch Gestures accessibility settings panel, it is possible to set up Touch Accommodations, which adjust how the system recognises touch input.

AssistiveTouch, Apple's accessibility feature for adapting touch controls, can also be enabled from the same panel. These options sit alongside the broader customisation settings, giving a range of ways to shape the touchscreen experience.

Why it matters

A touchscreen on a MacBook Pro is a significant change to how the laptop has traditionally worked, and preferences vary widely. Some users will embrace touch, while others will want the familiar behaviour preserved.

The presence of a complete disable switch, plus per-gesture controls and accessibility tools, means almost every preference can be met. Readers who want the glowing Apple logo disabled as well can find a separate guide from 9to5 Mac, which also has a review of the new MacBook Pro and its ProLED XDR display.