Apple has introduced Direct Touch capability to Sidecar with macOS 27 Golden Gate and iPadOS 27, letting users interact with macOS interface elements directly using a finger on their iPad for the first time. This long-requested feature eliminates previous limitations where direct tapping required a mouse, trackpad, or Apple Pencil, making the iPad a true second screen.

The expanded functionality requires an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 27 and a compatible iPad with iPadOS 27. Both devices must share the same Apple ID, Wi-Fi network, and Bluetooth connection while remaining within 10 meters. Apple Pencil support continues alongside the new touch capabilities for more precise interactions.

This development signals Apple's increasing focus on touch interfaces for Macs, coinciding with rumors of a "MacBook Ultra" featuring a touchscreen OLED display set for early 2027. The move brings Sidecar closer to third-party solutions like Luna Display and potentially previews the future direction of Mac interaction beyond traditional pointer-based input.