Windows precision trackpad drivers after Ventura update

I needed a clean install of Windows on my 16" MacBook pro 2019, and I decided to upgrade to Ventura before doing that.


With the new install, Windows doesn't recognize the trackpad as a precision trackpad, despite the Apple multi-touch driver seems to be installed and working.


I don't have any idea if this has been mentioned before, sorry if this is a duplicate.

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 13.1

Posted on Dec 17, 2022 7:47 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 19, 2022 2:25 PM

Hello eluadyl,


Per the article Set trackpad options in Windows with Boot Camp on Mac - Apple Support:


Check if your Mac supports precision touchpad settings

  1. In Windows on your Mac, click the Start menu, then choose Settings.
  2. In the Settings window, click Devices, then click Touchpad.
  3. If “Your PC has a precision touchpad” appears at the top of the Touchpad pane, you can set precision touchpad options using Windows.
  4. If “Your PC has a precision touchpad” doesn’t appear at the top of the Touchpad pane, your Mac either doesn’t support the Microsoft precision touchpad drivers, or you don’t have the latest Boot Camp support software installed. Use Boot Camp Control Panel to set the trackpad options instead.

To learn how to install the latest Boot Camp support software, see Update Apple software in Windows using Boot Camp on Mac.


The article goes on how to set those options if available, once you confirm that your MacBook Pro is compatible with the precision trackpad options.


Thanks!

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 19, 2022 2:25 PM in response to eluadyl

Hello eluadyl,


Per the article Set trackpad options in Windows with Boot Camp on Mac - Apple Support:


Check if your Mac supports precision touchpad settings

  1. In Windows on your Mac, click the Start menu, then choose Settings.
  2. In the Settings window, click Devices, then click Touchpad.
  3. If “Your PC has a precision touchpad” appears at the top of the Touchpad pane, you can set precision touchpad options using Windows.
  4. If “Your PC has a precision touchpad” doesn’t appear at the top of the Touchpad pane, your Mac either doesn’t support the Microsoft precision touchpad drivers, or you don’t have the latest Boot Camp support software installed. Use Boot Camp Control Panel to set the trackpad options instead.

To learn how to install the latest Boot Camp support software, see Update Apple software in Windows using Boot Camp on Mac.


The article goes on how to set those options if available, once you confirm that your MacBook Pro is compatible with the precision trackpad options.


Thanks!

Dec 19, 2022 2:53 PM in response to ShannonM1

Thanks, I guess.


Now, let me emphasize my problem a little bit more since my original post didn't seem to make the cut through mere insinuation. I'll type it out clearly and in detail.


I've been using this computer for a couple of years now. I started dual booting it (which means installing windows next to MacOs and using one or the other selectively, which you can do by holding down the "option" key while the computer boots) pretty early in its life, when the operating system installed in it was MacOs Big Sur. Then I continued doing this through Monterey.


During both of these periods, Windows 10 recognized the trackpad as a "precision trackpad" and let me make the necessary adjustments including two and three finger gestures. Not only that, the touchpad response, acceleration curve, the momentum effect during scrolling (which makes the scroll gesture feel like scrolling up and down like a smartphone screen rather than a mouse wheel) worked perfectly.


Now that I installed Ventura and reinstalled Windows on bootcamp, not only Windows doesn't recognize the touchpad as a "Precision Trackpad", the movement it gives me feels like it's trying to emulate a mouse with zero acceleration curve and the scrolling feels exactly like it's emulating a mouse wheel. This is completely unacceptable. The trackpad as it behaves now feels like sitting at a Steinway&Sons piano only to find out that all the internal mechanism and the strings were removed only to be replaced with a circuit board under the keys which works as a boolean which blasts the recorded piano sound corresponding to the key you press at full volume for exactly as long as you keep it pressed.


In summary, I'm quite sure my laptop is compatible with Windows' "Precision Touchpad" requirements. It also does have the T2 security chip which that page you linked mentioned. In addition to the documented proof through searching for the model number on that page, I have my anecdotal experience of using Windows on this machine for almost two years with a delightful trackpad which did all a late model Mac trackpad is expected to do, on Windows. Until the latest Ventura update that is.


I know you mean well, so thanks for the response.


One thing which could help me now would be to escalate this problem with this whole second explanation I wrote to the team responsible for bootcamp drivers and Windows integration in Intel based MacBook pro models.


Thanks!

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Windows precision trackpad drivers after Ventura update

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