Other PDF Issues

Fix Mouse or Trackpad Cursor Not Working in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPad Pro

Muhammad Talha Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The external mouse or trackpad cursor stops responding when interacting with PDFs in Adobe Acrobat Reader on the iPad Pro.

Fix Mouse or Trackpad Cursor Not Working in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPad Pro

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Attempting to click, add, or edit text in a PDF document using a trackpad, Magic Keyboard, or an external Bluetooth mouse.
Observed behavior: The cursor becomes completely unresponsive to mouse or trackpad movements and clicks within the app, though direct touch screen input continues to work normally.

Before you start

Verify that your external mouse or trackpad is fully charged, correctly paired via Bluetooth, and functioning properly in other native iPadOS apps like Notes or Safari.

Solution 1Recommended

Update iPadOS, App, and Reconnect Accessory

Software bugs and compatibility issues are often patched in recent updates. Updating your system and reconnecting your peripheral can refresh the connection.

Update iPadOS

Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPad Pro and install any available updates.

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader

Open the App Store, tap your profile icon, scroll down to see pending updates, and tap 'Update' next to Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Reconnect Mouse or Trackpad

Navigate to Settings > Bluetooth. Tap the 'i' icon next to your pointing device, select 'Forget This Device', and then pair it again.

Verify Trackpad Settings

Go to Settings > General > Trackpad & Mouse to confirm that the accessory is recognized and tracking speed is configured correctly.

Restart Your iPad

Hold the power button and volume button, slide to power off, and turn the iPad back on before reopening the app.

Update iPadOS, App, and Reconnect Accessory

App Compatibility: If the issue persists across all files within Acrobat Reader, it may be an app-specific bug that Adobe needs to address in a future patch.

Solution 2

Reinstall Adobe Acrobat Reader

If updating does not resolve the cursor freezing, reinstalling the app can clear corrupted cache data that might be causing input conflicts.

Seamless PDF Editing on iPad

Use WPS Office for Reliable PDF Editing on iPad Pro

Avoid cursor freezing and app compatibility bugs by switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly optimized PDF reader and editor for iPadOS, featuring full, flawless support for the Magic Keyboard, trackpads, and external Bluetooth mice.

1. Install WPS Office: Download WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPad Pro.
2. Open Your PDF Document: Launch the app, tap on the 'Files' tab, and select the PDF you need to read or edit.
3. Edit with Your Trackpad: Use your trackpad or external mouse to click, highlight text, fill out forms, and add annotations smoothly.

Flawless compatibility with iPad Pro trackpads and external mice with no cursor freezing.Fully supports viewing, editing, and annotating standard Adobe PDF formats.All-in-one productivity suite for handling PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint files.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my trackpad work in other iPad apps but not in Acrobat Reader?

This is typically caused by an application-specific bug. The developers may not have fully integrated or updated the app to support the latest iPadOS pointer API, causing external inputs to fail even when touch works.

Does this issue happen with the official Apple Magic Keyboard?

Yes, users have reported that both the built-in trackpad on the Apple Magic Keyboard and third-party Bluetooth mice can suddenly become unresponsive within Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPadOS.

Can I edit a PDF on my iPad without using touch controls?

Absolutely. You can use alternative apps like WPS Office, which natively and smoothly supports iPadOS trackpad and mouse inputs for precision tasks like selecting text or filling out PDF forms.

PDF Troubleshooting