Apple's new OLED MacBook Pro is the first Mac with a touch screen, but it appears that owners who prefer to keep their fingers off the display can disable touch input altogether.
MacRumors reports that the new models include an accessibility setting that turns off touch input entirely. The outlet attributes the finding to Federico Viticci, editor-in-chief of MacStories, who described it in a post on X. MacRumors' article does not say where in macOS the setting lives, and it does not include any statement from Apple about the option.
According to the same report, Viticci also pointed to a separate option that enables pinch-to-zoom across the macOS Golden Gate interface. That detail, too, comes from his post rather than from Apple documentation, so the exact behavior of the control is not yet clear.
Why it matters
Apple has framed the touch display as an addition to the trackpad and keyboard rather than a replacement for them, and the company's executives have discussed the decision in recent interviews. An off switch would fit that positioning: people who work primarily with a keyboard and trackpad, or who share a desk with children, could keep the Mac behaving as it did before.
Placing the option in accessibility settings also suggests it is meant partly for people who may trigger touch input unintentionally, for example because of tremors or limited motor control. Apple has not described its intent, so that reading remains an inference.
What is still unknown
Several practical questions remain open. It is not confirmed whether the setting can be toggled quickly, for instance from Control Center or with a keyboard shortcut, or whether it applies system-wide or per app. It is also unclear whether the switch disables only finger input or affects other touch-related features as well.
Some readers commenting on the MacRumors article complained about paying for a touch display they may not use and suggested it should have been a build-to-order option. Those are reader opinions, not reported facts, and Apple sells the touchscreen models in a single display configuration.
Availability
Apple announced the touchscreen MacBook Pro on October 28 in 14- and 16-inch sizes, starting at $2,899 for the 14-inch model according to our earlier coverage, with pre-orders open and the first deliveries scheduled for November 6. Hands-on impressions and reviews are expected to describe how the touch features and their settings work in everyday use once units reach customers.
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