{
  "id": 19359038,
  "title": "Disable Touch on MacBook Pro PROLED XDR and When Using Sidecar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/disable-touch-on-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-and-when-using-sidecar",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-10T16:05:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MacRumors",
    "slug": "macrumors",
    "url": "https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/disable-touch-macbook-pro-proled-xdr-sidecar/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple's decision to introduce a touchscreen to the MacBook Pro PROLED XDR marks a significant shift in the company's approach to hardware design. In the past, Apple had firmly rejected the concept of touchscreens, with Steve Jobs famously stating that \"touch surfaces don't want to be vertical\" due to the strain on users' arms. In 2021, then-hardware engineering chief John Ternus reiterated this stance, explaining that the Mac was designed for indirect input and that Apple saw no reason to change its approach. However, in 2026, Apple made a surprising about-face, incorporating touchscreen technology into its latest MacBook Pro models. This change was driven by the expectations of younger users who are accustomed to interacting with devices like smartphones and tablets, leading Apple to adapt its strategy in response. Despite the new touchscreen capability, users have the option to disable the function if desired. To turn off the MacBook Pro's touchscreen, users can navigate to System Settings > Accessibility > Physical and Motor > Touch, then toggle the \"Ignore Touch Gestures\" switch. This adjustment also applies to Sidecar, meaning that an iPad used as a second display will ignore touch input as well. If the decision to disable touch input is temporary, users can simply toggle the \"Ignore Touch Gestures\" switch back on to restore the functionality. Apple has provided further customization options within the Accessibility settings, allowing users to adjust individual gestures or explore additional accessibility features like Touch Accommodations and AssistiveTouch. Developers, in particular, benefit from the new touchscreen capability, as the MacBook Pro's iOS Simulator can directly respond to touch gestures, enabling them to test app interactions on the screen.",
  "summary": "Apple has long rejected the idea of a touchscreen Mac, so moving ahead with one was always going to be a major shift in the company's thinking. In 2010, Steve Jobs argued that \"touch surfaces don't want to be vertical,\" citing the arm fatigue that comes from repeatedly reaching up to a screen. Some would call this sacrilege... More than a decade later, in 2021, Apple's then-hardware engineering…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}