I need to use a mouse with my ipad pro. What gives?

Hadn’t thought of gaming aspect. Had to stop using ipad with a keyboard because of shoulder strain. Glad i didn’t splash out on pro although i would do if they ever introduced a mouse or trackpad for it.

I don't know where to begin with MichelPM's comment, above. You are clearly on a mission to stifle any and all interest in mouse support in iOS, if your numerous, repetitive comments in this thread are any indication. Perhaps a serious repetitive stress injury explains your zeal in the matter, your abject hatred of pointing devices, and naysayers are wasting their time but I'll respond to a few of your more vapid assertions:

1. Do you actually speak for Apple in an official capacity when you state, "The mouse is never coming to any iPad"? Apple continues to hope people will "make do" with the iOS touch interface and new pencil but, far as I know, they've never said "never" where mouse support is concerned.
2. You're clearly not a gamer as the notion that any current WoW-like or, especially, first-person shooter offering could be ported to or improved with the current iOS touch interface is silly.
3. "The future ... is NOT old school, 50 year old mice and trackpad technology!" Unlike, say, the Apple Pencil, which is 4,000-year-old technology? iOS supports external keyboards, which are far older than the mouse. There are hundreds or millions if not billions of people using mice and trackpads every_single_day across a veritable sea of devices and platforms. One or both will likely be in use by millions more long after iOS is vague memory. I'm not claiming either is perfect but for a whole raft of applications they are superior to any current touch interface and may remain so indefinitely.
4. In marketing the new iPad Pro Apple wants us to think of it as a computer replacement that is unlike any computer, never mind the seeming paradox. But there is a whole host of recent reviews from publications like Business Insider, Washington Post, Mac Observer, Apple World, Apple Insider, Macworld, The Verge, ZDNet and others which level the same basic complaint: the iPad will never be a computer replacement or be the near-ideal productivity tool it could be absent mouse support. All manner of business and photo, music and video editing applications and tools are given in these reviews as examples where mouse support is needed, and the latter are clearly marketed by Apple as being in the iPad's wheelhouse.
5. I don't believe for a second that adding mouse support to iOS would be difficult for a company with Apple's resources, while the few claims I've seen in this thread and elsewhere about mouse support being "incompatible with the touch paradigm" are farcical, at best. In truth, the feature could remain completely invisible to those like MichelPM who feel it somehow sullies their otherwise "very modern and high tech devices."
6. Apple, perhaps wisely, keeps two distinct walled gardens in order to avoid cannibalization in its product line: iOS and touch versus Mac and mouse/trackpad. If you believe they doggedly hang on to this distinction to "keep pushing forward and NOT stay clinging on to old technologies and kludges to be able to adapt old technologies to new," you're simply naive.

Mark D.

Here are a couple of tips that might make editing text in Pages simpler on an iPad.

Even though you can’t use a mouse with an iPad you can use your iPad like a trackpad. Don’t use the Apple Pencil to move insert marker (i-beam) in the text, the pencil will assume you want to draw or annotate the document. Press and hold with a single finger and then a magnifying glass will pop up above your finger, use this to find a place to put the insert marker then lift your finger. Editing options should appear above the insert marker such as select or select all, choose select. This will start the highlighting, to activate the trackpad mode press down with two fingers and hold anywhere on the iPad screen and drag left and right and you’ll see the highlighted region expand. When you let go you will see options to cut copy or delete, use cut. Then use the one finger press and hold and drag to get the magnifying glass again, then you can move the insert marker to where you want to paste, lift your finger. There should be options that appear that allow you to paste, select and let go.

Another good tool is to use the on screen software keyboard, press and hold the image of the keyboard and it will have two options undock or split select split. Then you’ll have two little keyboards the right and left side of the keyboard that you can access with your thumbs. To move the placement of the split keyboard up and down on the screen press lightly on the keypad I turn and slide up and down, don’t Click it. I found the easiest way to enter text is to use the dictation I can which is to the left of the spacebar. You can even say commands like period to enter a period instead of the word period and to enter a space say the word spacebar instead. Then use the split keyboard for fixing a possible errors that the dictation made placing the insert marker with a single finger press and hold. I agree using an external keyboard with a touchscreen is hopeless, but using the split keyboard and dictation and just holding the iPad and controlling it with your thumbs works pretty well.

Hope this helps. I even used this method to type this reply.

I wish more readers would have read your reply, as in Oct 2018 Apple really started pushing iPad Pro as a full-blown laptop replacement. And once again, they’ve failed to address the need for mouse support.

You mentioned some excellent points regarding iPad Pro sales. As of Jan 2019, iPad sales have tanked. Apple places the blame firmly on sales figures out of China, although I can’t help but wonder about how many buyers may have been turned off by Apple’s recent issues regarding how “bendy” the new iPad Pro’s seem to be? Apple’s response that a visibly bent, brand new, right-out-of-the-box iPad Pro “meets or exceeds all of Apple’s high quality standards of design and precision manufacturing” left quite a few iPad Pro shoppers scratching their heads.

Or, perhaps some simply require mouse support?

Given Apple’s recent challenges Asia, hefty price hikes on iPhone and iPad, etc, shouldn’t Apple try to aggressively compete with Android & Windows devices? It’s unclear to me why anyone would defend the lack of a such useful feature, especially when Apple competes with products that already offer robust mouse support.

I own plenty of Apple products. I’m typing this reply on an iPad Mini. That said, I usually whip out my MacBook Pro 13” for any lengthy typing sessions. Even a dedicated, backlit hardware keyboard is still painful to use when editing large documents because navigating text with Apple’s magnifying glass is difficult with even moderately sized fonts. Yet, Apple still manages to confuse users with their claims that the iPad Pro is a feasible notebook replacement, even though Apple is the only tablet of the three major players in mobile that still doesn’t offer mouse support on its touch products.

Even those $50 Android tablets seen on eBay support the use of a mouse. I realize this is a weak comparison, as those considering an iPad Pro would likely pass on such a low-end product. But it does underscore the relatively low cost associated with adding this feature to a tablet.

How does Apple intend to compete with Android & Windows when it seems as if mouse support could be a determining factor as both Android & Windows are used a wider variety of mobile devices?

I think you are mistaken about iPads tanking.

I believe it was iPhone sales that were tanking in China due some legal issues in China.

Did not read anything about iPads tanking in China/Asia.

The bendgate issue is with the 2018, 3rd gen Cellular, iPad Pro models as this slight bend CAN happen at the cellular antenna areas.

Not sure how widespread the bendgate issues are with these new 2018 iPad Pro models.

That stated,

Been using iPads for over 8 years!

Never needed mice or external keyboards, although I own two external Bluetooth keyboards that I can use with either my iPad Pro or my iMac.

By learning to actually use the iPad’s built-in software keyboard/s ( I use one other thrid party software keyboard ) I have access to iOS’s keyboard trackpad feature/ function that works just great for navigating and editing any text-based notes and documents.

I use that built-in iOS keyboard trackpad feature all the time, in additon to a thrid party software keyboard that includes text/document navigation arrows.

Apple is competing just fine.

Their strategy for iPads/iPad Pro is doing fine.

The iPad/iPad Pro is exactly how they envisioned these devices from nearly 20 years, ago.

Apple isn’t changing course on not adding any more support for additional, bulky, external input device’s.

Apple isn’t going out of business any time soon, either!

I will admit, that their higher pricing structures for all of their more premium iDevices, is a whole lot steeper than it has been in the past.

I think the higher price ranges/increases are the real reasons behind why Apple products are struggling.

Although, Mr Cook has yet to admit any of this in any interviews about Apple’s financial state of affairs.

Apple needs to bring back a more affordable iPhone and bring back both the lower cost iPad Mini and iPod Touch.

Even if they did read these posts for "issues" (which they don't as Lawrence posted), performing as designed is not actually an issue. You may want mouse support on iPad, but that's a want, not an issue. iPad has never and may never include mouse support. If you think a couple hundred posts about this is significant, you'd be really really wrong when there are millions upon millions upon millions of iPad owners since the first iPad was released. The number of posters here is in fact statistically insignificant.

The bottom line is, if anyone requires mouse support to enjoy and use their iPad, perhaps iPad is not the right device for them.

Except for those products - which are apps and mice and work together like any laptop app and mouse would.

This is the perfect combination for me; I’ll use the iPad as an iOS device when I need that and I’ll log on to a VM when I need Windows functionality with a mouse - and I won’t be bogged down by lazy developers ignoring or poorly implementing the excellent touch interface provided by iOS devices because they don’t have to.

And I think OP might find this an agreeable solution, too - if not, what’s he doing with an iPad in the first place?

I watch technology shows on YouTube on my TV through a media streaming box.

I am 50 years old.

These “technology experts” are mostly older than I am complainng of iPads having no trackpad and mice support.

Old school technology. Old school thinking. Old school techniques.

Fingers and stylii CAN do the job of a mouse or trackpad.

Mice and trackpads are disconnect devices. Hand/eye coordination is much harder with using mice/trackpads and even graphics tablets that have no bulit-in screens. Mice and trackpads/trackballs are nearly 50 and 60 year old technology, now.

BTW,

If iPad users weren't so quick to just purchase and use an external keyboard amd actually learn to use the iPad's very convenient and nifty onscreen, virtual keyboard, since iOS 9, you can easily move around the text "I" beam insertion point cursor by bringing up the iPad's software keyboard, do a two finger single tap to turn the entire keyboard area gray colored and into a gigantic trackpad area where you can easily control the position of the text insertion point "I" beam cursor with your fingers.

You can highlight text and lines/body of text by doing a two finger double tap on the iOS software keyboard.

Then, do a single two finger tap on the keyboard area to fine tune the text selection.

That is as close to a mouse or regular trackpad that iOS is, currently, going to get.

iPads will not be getting mice or trackpad support any time soon.

Just more small hardware devices that you would have to constantly schlep around with your iPad Pro, in additon to any other accessories iPad users already have to constantly schlep around.

The reason I love iPads versus my Mac is simplicity, but power in a single, lightweight very portable computing device that has minimal stuff that I have the option to carry around, or not.

I don't want to be carrying an external Bluetooth keyboard, mouse or trackpad,

i use a Lightning to USB based portable, compact lightweight 76 key MIDI musical keyboard with my iPad Pro, but I only bring that with my iPad when I need it as it is too large and bulky to have with me every time I take my iPad/iPad Pro somewhere.

I like the idea of having everything I need, mostly, in a single lightweight computing device.

I can easily sketch/draw/paint with my iPad Pro.

I can easily both type AND write and edit notes and documents/PDFs on my iPad Pro.

I can easily read on my iPad Pro.

I can easily write, play and record music on just my iPad Pro ( if I need to ).

I can easily surf the Web, do email, messaging, stream music, movies, TV Shows and other videos on my iPad Pro.

I shoot both images and video on my iPad Pro and edit both of these on my iPad Pro.

All of this without the need of a mouse or trackpad.

This thread is a total waste of time.

Perhaps not, but I understand your frustration.

No one's mind is going to be changed by anything posted here, least of all the decision-makers at Apple.

I've been told that that Apple decision-makers do track feature requests from these forums.

Also, don't mistake the replies you received from a few of "regulars" here who's only goal is to comment on topics for which there is no resolution to, like feature requests. We ask for features, they tell us why we don't need the requested features.

It's actually the evolution of the iPad to the new iPad Pro line of products from Apple. Because Apple has begun to target professionals directly, I'm holding out hope that they will eventually concede the need for mouse support in iOS.

Apple has left a few hints for us that seem to reinforce how easy it would be to add mouse support. Perhaps the most recent one was the release of their touchpad-like keyboard feature that allows for fine cursor movement by turning the entire on-screen keyboard into a touchpad, allowing users to move the cursor very accurately. Just press and hold the spacebar on the on-screen keyboard to see for yourself.

How easy would it be to add the software necessary for the iPad to receive the trackpad input from a bluetooth device? It seems as if much of the input part for this already exists. As I mentioned in another post in this very thread, it wouldn't be nearly as difficult as adding Apple Pencil support for iPads?

It's my hope that Apple is finally beginning to realize that features like stylus and mouse support are necessary for folks to move from a notebook to iPad. We'll see once iOS 13 is formally announced.

Lastly, the folks we want to hear rarely reply on a thread. If there's interest within Apple re: anything you post here, it's far more likely they'll PM you to discuss your interesting ideas.

Stay strong, friend!

Wow, I can't imagine how much time you took composing that!

Yes Apple said it's as fast if not faster than many laptops. My iPad is without question faster than my state of art HP Spectre 360 laptop. Yet, my iPad is not a replacement for my laptop, nor even after watching the keynote, did I ever think it would be. And yes, I watched the keynote from start to finish. Apple NEVER said however, it's a full featured laptop replacement. That said, for many it can be all they need, even without a mouse. People applied selective listening to assume if they bought a new iPad Pro 2018, it replaces a laptop. That's not my selective listening. That's on them.

The rest of your post are just comments or thinking outloud (via written words) and still won't get Apple's attention.

What no one has ever asked me is if I personally would mind if I could use a mouse with my iPad? It might surprise many that I would gladly use my mouse with my iPad. I even have a Logitech MX Master, which permits connecting with up to three laptops, so I wouldn't even have to buy another mouse. But it doesn't matter if I would use a mouse or not. Apple just doesn't or perhaps hasn't give mouse support to iPad. So we don't get it and it's just not worth debating on a user to user only forum.

This thread was a what gives question. The answer has been provided over and over and over. Apple doesn't provide mouse support to iPad. Any iPad. Time for all to move on. There's really nothing else to see here.

Ps: You've been told wrong that Apple pays attention to feature requests via these threads and posts. They don't. The only way to get Apple's attention is to provide feedback via the link that has been posted over and over in this thread.

I can’t seem to resist lurking on this thread, kind of lile someone who stands around watching a house burn.

Apple doesn’t add mouse support not because it’s difficult—I’m sure it’s easy—but because they don’t want to. It is a matter of principle for them. I almost think that the more people clamor for it, the more they will dig their feet in.

Fine with me. The current iPad Pro with Apple Pencil 2 perfectly meets my needs when I am out and about on business trips. I keep a very light laptop in my hotel room in case I need to mouse. More often than not, the only thing I use it fir is to fiddle around with and listen to my massive MediaMonkey music library that I keep on a small 4TB external drive while I work using the iPad.

I agree that without mouse support Apple is loosing share to laptops and surfaces, I do waveform debug and touch or pen just does not work. So I have to use an old laptop when I travel or do work from home.

I guess Apple has enough iPads out there that they are willing to give the market to Microsoft Surface as Microsoft surface supports a mouse today. At present a surface will be my next personal device due to this issue.

"Most agree? I see no evidence at all that of the 350 million or ipads sold, that a majority of users want, or don’t want native mouse support in iOS."

I wasn't speaking for every owner of an iOS device, which should have been glaringly obvious, but rather for people commenting in this thread. All you need do to understand my statement is weigh the 8-10 noisy naysayers herein against the 800+ people who have bothered to click the "I have this question too" button at the top of the page. You might also avail yourself of the links to the recent iPad Pro reviews I've shared twice in this thread, every one of which mentions the need or want for mouse/trackpad support.

Astounding to me, truly, that anyone believes Apple refuses to offer this support for any reason other than it will cannibalize their own laptop sales.

Because I can and people should have the same opportunity to contribute their thoughts that a mouse isn't important. Are you suggesting that only those who want mouse support are allowed to comment here? Also, if you're following along, in an earlier post, I said I wouldn't object to having mouse support on iPad. But it doesn't exist, so this thread is actually pointless. No matter how many people say they want it or how many people say it doesn't matter here, it simply won't change anything on the Apple side.

Asking here is pointless - Apple is not here in the user community forums. The Apple feedback site is the only place Apple Engneers and iOS design staff will see your request for mouse support - https://www.apple.com/feedback/

This thread persists because people, for a decade now, continue to ask for something that does not exist in iOS, and which no one here in the user forums can do a thing about, even if they wanted it too. People keep asking for it, and people keep explaining it is not available. These are global forums - anyone can post anything they wish to whatever thread they wish to. If it violates the TOU, the moderators will intervene.