HilloPad Help

Installation

The current HilloPad beta is not yet notarized by Apple. The first time you open it, macOS may block the app. Try to open HilloPad once, then go to System Settings, open Privacy & Security and use Open Anyway to allow HilloPad. You can keep the normal App Store and identified developers security setting enabled.

Download HilloPad, open the disk image and move the app to your Applications folder. Connect the touch display to your Mac for video, and make sure the USB cable for touch input is connected as well. HilloPad reads touch data over USB, so the display can be visible as a monitor even when touch input is not yet available.

HilloPad is built around Microsoft HID touch descriptor conventions. If your display is designed to work as a HID-compatible touch display, there is a good chance it can be supported, even if it is not listed by name yet.

macOS must allow HilloPad in Privacy & Security. Enable HilloPad under Accessibility and Input Monitoring, then restart HilloPad. If HilloPad does not appear automatically in the permission list, use the plus button in System Settings, browse to Applications and choose HilloPad manually.

Remove or fully quit other touch display utilities before using HilloPad. Other touch software, such as UPDD, can reserve the USB touch device and prevent HilloPad from reading it.

Installation video

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First setup and compatibility check

On first launch, HilloPad asks you to complete a compatibility check. The check confirms which inputs work with your display, such as one finger, two fingers, three fingers, pen and eraser. Select your display model, try the inputs shown on screen and send the report when the test is complete.

Use the Display menu to choose whether the touch display is your main display or a secondary display, for example when using a laptop with an external touch screen. This is important so touch input is registered in the correct window. If the displays are mirrored, both displays should use the same resolution and the aspect ratio should match the touch display.

The compatibility report is anonymous. It only includes technical information that helps improve HilloPad quality and display support, such as display model selection, USB touch device details and which input types were detected. After the report is sent, setup is complete and all available functions are enabled.

Keyboard

The HilloPad touch keyboard can be opened from the app menu or mapped to an input action. You can open and close, move, minimize and maximize the keyboard. Use the hold key to repeat keypresses while a key is held down.

The keyboard has buttons for common actions such as Symbols, Emoji, Cut, Copy, Paste, Undo, Redo, volume, Mission Control and keyboard placement. The placement button cycles the keyboard between screen positions, while the minimize and maximize button switches between the compact action row and the full keyboard.

Settings

Settings let you choose the touch device, manage profiles and map each input type to mouse and keyboard actions. If several compatible USB touch devices are available, choose the correct device from the Device menu. Otherwise Auto is usually the right choice.

The Display menu is also available in Settings. Use it to change which screen HilloPad maps touch input to if you move between a built-in display, an external touch display or a mirrored setup.

Profiles can be used for app-specific workflows. Name a profile after the app you use it with, and HilloPad can automatically switch to that profile when the named app is activated. Matching is partial and case-insensitive, so a profile named Illustrator can activate for Adobe Illustrator 2026.

Mouse and keyboard actions can be combined. Selected special keys, such as Shift, Control, Option or Command, are held down during the input event. Key combos are different: they are sent once before the mouse button, so they can switch tools and then immediately draw or click with that tool.

About menu

The About window shows the app version, registration status and account information when registered. It also includes Compatibility Check, which can be run again later if you change displays, move to another Mac or want to send a fresh compatibility report.

Registration

Registration is only needed if you want to upgrade to HilloPad Pro. The basic version is free and does not require an account.

A HilloPad license can be purchased from the website after signing in to your account. After purchase, the license is added to your user account immediately. Register the app from the About window by entering your account email address and license serial number.

A standard license is valid for one device at a time. You can release the current device from your account settings if you need to move the license to another computer. Registration unlocks all Pro functions and gives perpetual access to the purchased version and its updates.

Troubleshooting

If nothing happens when you touch the display, first confirm that HilloPad is allowed in Accessibility and Input Monitoring, then restart HilloPad. Also make sure the USB touch cable is connected. In some setups, reports suggest that the USB cable may need to be connected already during Mac startup.

If touch stops working after sleep mode, use Stop Touch and then Start Touch from the HilloPad menu. If the touch device is still not detected, restart HilloPad and check that no other touch display software is running or installed.

After updating HilloPad to a newer version, macOS may sometimes require old permissions to be removed and created again, especially during the beta period. If input does not work after an update, remove HilloPad from Accessibility and Input Monitoring, add it again and restart HilloPad.