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How to Use an iMac Computer Without a Mouse or Trackpad

Using an iMac without a mouse or trackpad may seem challenging, but with the built-in accessibility features in macOS, it is very doable. Here is a guide on how to navigate and use your iMac completely without a mouse or trackpad.

Turn On Voice Control

The key to using an iMac without a mouse or trackpad is the Voice Control feature. To enable it:

  1. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility
  2. Scroll down and click on Voice Control
  3. Toggle on Enable Voice Control

Once enabled, you will see a microphone icon on your screen. You can now control the entire computer with voice commands.

Navigate the Desktop

Here are some voice commands to navigate the desktop:

  • “Show numbers” – Puts a number overlay on each clickable item
  • “Click 5” – Clicks on the item labeled number 5
  • “Scroll right” – Scrolls the screen to the right
  • “Scroll down 100 pixels” – Scrolls down precisely 100 pixels

You can navigate precisely using the number overlays and pixel amounts. Use commands like “Go to top”, “Go to bottom”, “Go to beginning”, and “Go to end” to jump to sections quickly.

Open and Close Apps

To open apps just say “Open” followed by the app name. For example:

  • “Open Safari”
  • “Open Mail”

To close an app, say “Quit” followed by the app name like “Quit Safari”. You can have multiple apps open and switch between them using voice commands.

Type and Edit Text

Voice Control has robust text dictation with commands like:

  • “Type Hello world”
  • “New line”
  • “New paragraph”
  • “Select previous/next word”
  • “Delete that” to delete the last dictated word

You can format text as well with commands like “Bold that”, “Underline that”, “Italicize previous sentence”. Dictate punctuation by saying “period”, “question mark” etc.

Click Buttons and Checkboxes

When buttons or checkboxes are labeled, you can click them by saying “Click” followed by the name. If they are not labeled, use the number overlay described earlier.

Some examples:

  • “Click Save”
  • “Click Submit button”
  • “Check Enable Notifications”

Adjust Volume and Screen Brightness

You can change system volume by saying “Set volume to 50%” or “Turn volume up/down”. To adjust screen brightness say “Make screen brighter” or “Dim screen”.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Many keyboard shortcuts work through Voice Control. Some useful ones are:

  • “Command C” – Copy
  • “Command V” – Paste
  • “Command S” – Save
  • “Command Q” – Quit app

Refer to a list of Mac keyboard shortcuts for more options.

Customize Commands

You can add custom voice commands to open apps, click interface elements, run Automator workflows, and more tailored to your frequently used actions. See documentation on custom commands.

With Voice Control enabled, you can use your iMac without ever needing a mouse, trackpad, or keyboard. It does have a learning curve, but with some practice you can productively operate the entire computer through voice. Reference the Voice Control guide in System Preferences to learn more commands.

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