Air Mouse is a feature of ClapSnap that moves, clicks, drags, right-clicks and scrolls your Mac's cursor from hand gestures seen by your webcam. It uses Apple's Vision framework on-device, so no video is recorded or sent anywhere, and it works on macOS 13 or later.
Air Mouse is a hand-tracking cursor built into ClapSnap. Your Mac's webcam watches your hand, and a handful of simple gestures stand in for a mouse or trackpad.
The gestures
| Gesture | What it does |
|---|---|
| Point with your index finger | Moves the cursor anywhere on screen |
| Tap index finger and thumb together | Clicks; hold the pinch to drag |
| Tap index and ring finger together | Right-clicks |
| Extend index, middle and ring fingers | Scrolls up |
| Extend just your pinky | Scrolls down |
Each gesture can be switched on or off in Settings, and sensitivity and smoothing are adjustable, so small hand movements can cover the whole screen or move the cursor precisely.
Who uses a hand-gesture mouse
- People who find a mouse or trackpad uncomfortable. If gripping a mouse aggravates wrist strain, pointing in the air spreads the work differently. For the full set of options, see the best hands-free tools for Mac.
- Presenters and streamers. Advance slides, click through a demo or scroll a chat from a step back from the desk. The streamer workspace shows a full setup.
- Anyone across the room from their Mac. Scroll a recipe, pause a video or move between windows when the Mac is driving a TV or sits on a stand.
Private by design
Air Mouse runs on Apple's Vision framework on your Mac. Video frames are analysed in memory to find your hand and then discarded: nothing is saved, nothing is uploaded, and there is no account. The same goes for ClapSnap's clap and snap detection, which listens to audio locally and keeps none of it.
Air Mouse and the clap trigger
ClapSnap's main job is opening your workspace: a double clap or double snap launches the set of apps you choose, with a full-screen welcome overlay. Air Mouse picks up from there. Together they make a Mac you can start and steer without touching it, which is the idea behind hands-free Mac automation.
How to turn on Air Mouse
- Install ClapSnap. Download ClapSnap, drag it into Applications and open it from the menu bar.
- Allow camera access. When macOS asks, allow ClapSnap to use the camera. Air Mouse needs it to see your hand; nothing is recorded.
- Enable Air Mouse in Settings. Open ClapSnap Settings from the menu bar icon and switch Air Mouse on.
- Tune it to your desk. Adjust sensitivity and smoothing, and switch right-click, drag and scroll gestures on or off to suit how you work.
Questions
Does Air Mouse record or upload video?
No. Air Mouse tracks your hand with Apple's Vision framework on your Mac. Frames are analysed in memory and never stored or sent anywhere.
Which camera does Air Mouse need?
The built-in FaceTime camera on a MacBook or iMac works, and so does an external webcam macOS can use. Air Mouse needs to see your hand clearly, so even light on your hand helps.
Can I use Air Mouse and the clap trigger together?
Yes. Both are part of ClapSnap. Clap or snap to open your workspace, then steer the cursor with your hand.
Is Air Mouse a separate purchase?
No. Air Mouse is included in the one-time ClapSnap licence, which is pay what you want from €8.
Try ClapSnap. Double clap or snap to open your whole Mac workspace, and steer the cursor with your hand. Pay what you want, minimum €8, one-time purchase, with a 14-day refund. Get ClapSnap