Apple adds Windows Precision Touchpad to Boot Camp, eight years late

An unexpected update to Boot Camp in macOS sees Apple let users improve how their Mac trackpads work under Windows.

MacBook Pro does famously get named as the best option for a Windows laptop, but Apple's Boot Camp has consistently mimicked one of the PC operating system's failings. PCs have tended to have poorer trackpads, poor enough that Microsoft introduced a Windows feature called Precision Touchpad to improve it.

However, Microsoft first introduced Precision Touchpad to Windows in 2013 and Boot Camp did not provide access to that option — until now.

As Boot Camp looks to disappear under the move to Apple Silicon, it has nonetheless received a new update. Version 6.1.15 was released this week and its main update is to support Windows Precision Touchpad.

Follow all the details of WWDC 2021 with the comprehensive AppleInsider coverage of the whole week-long event from June 7 through June 11, including details of all the new launches and updates.

Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider," and you'll get latest AppleInsider Podcast. Or ask your HomePod mini for "AppleInsider Daily" instead and you'll hear a fast update direct from our news team. And, if you're interested in Apple-centric home automation, say "Hey, Siri, play HomeKit Insider," and you'll be listening to our newest specialized podcast in moments.

35 Comments

luisfrocha 43 comments · 9 Years

About 3 years ago

Any chance this could be a signal that they’re continuing work on BootCamp and that it MIGHT be enabled on M1 Macs somehow? :| I don’t know; I’m just reaching on this one. Perhaps they (Apple) found a way to run a HAL or something on top of M1/M2 hardware where (Intel) Windows can run on top of? *shrug* Just wishful thinking here lol

Eric_WVGG 969 comments · 8 Years

I was just thinking about Microsoft during the WWDC keynote earlier this week… every single year we get this Suez Canal ship worth of new technology, features, tools, etc. Meanwhile Microsoft just stagnates, takes five years to get something like Windows 10 out the door, and then years of postponed releases and cancelled features. More happens in a single WWDC than five years worth of Microsoft. What an awful platform.

Xed 2875 comments · 4 Years

luisfrocha said:

Any chance this could be a signal that they’re continuing work on BootCamp and that it MIGHT be enabled on M1 Macs somehow? :| I don’t know; I’m just reaching on this one. Perhaps they (Apple) found a way to run a HAL or something on top of M1/M2 hardware where (Intel) Windows can run on top of? *shrug* Just wishful thinking here lol

While Apple could choose not to offer Bootcamp for M1 Macs, I don't see that as something they'd shy away from as the cost of development is likely minuscule compared to the overall benefit. The core issue is Microsoft not offering a license for Windows ARM. MS will offer this when PC makers are wanting to push more ARM-based PCs to the market to better compete with Apple on performance per watt. There's too much at stake for MS not to make this happen for their vendors.

snookie 148 comments · 15 Years

Another dumb link bait headline from apple insider.

exsangus 29 comments · 12 Years

Xed said:

luisfrocha said:

Any chance this could be a signal that they’re continuing work on BootCamp and that it MIGHT be enabled on M1 Macs somehow? :| I don’t know; I’m just reaching on this one. Perhaps they (Apple) found a way to run a HAL or something on top of M1/M2 hardware where (Intel) Windows can run on top of? *shrug* Just wishful thinking here lol

While Apple could choose not to offer Bootcamp for M1 Macs, I don't see that as something they'd shy away from as the cost of development is likely minuscule compared to the overall benefit. The core issue is Microsoft not offering a license for Windows ARM. MS will offer this when PC makers are wanting to push more ARM-based PCs to the market to better compete with Apple on performance per watt. There's too much at stake for MS not to make this happen for their vendors.

Agree 100%. It may take a few years, but I would be shocked if we never saw Windows on ARM.