Light your hand, not your back
Face a window or lamp. Strong light behind you turns your hand into a silhouette and makes tracking jumpy.
MotionInput Games / PRODUCTS / Air
Pinch
the air.
Play anything.
MotionInput Air is touchless control for games: your webcam follows your hand, a thumb-and-finger pinch becomes a tap, and a held pinch becomes a drag. No controller to hold. MotionInput Air features mouse, touchpoint and touchscreen AI accelerated features, in the air.
Download now for Windows 11 from the Microsoft Store.
Three moves.
That is the whole controller.
MotionInput Air watches your hand through the camera and translates gestures into touch input that Windows and your games already understand.
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Hover to aim
Raise an open hand. A pointer follows your fingertips across the screen so you can line up your target before touching anything.
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Pinch to tap
Bring thumb and index finger together and release. That is a tap, the same as a finger on a touchscreen.
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Hold to drag
Keep the pinch closed and move. Swipe menus, slice, aim or scroll. Open your fingers to let go.
02
Feel the rhythm before you open the app.
This pad is a stand-in for your air space. Press and release for a tap, press and move for a drag. On a touch device, use several fingers at once to preview multitouch. It does not use your camera.
- Gesture
- Waiting
- Active points
- 0
- Taps
- 0
Pinch here
See it in motion.
The official demo shows hands-free pinch control in real games. Captions may be available from the YouTube player settings.
Setup, start to first pinch.
Use this checklist to prepare your camera and play space. Your progress stays on this device.
Air control reference.
Each gesture maps to a familiar touch action, so menus, browsers and touch-ready games respond without special setup.
| Your hand | Screen sees | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Open hand, move | Pointer hover | Aiming, highlighting buttons |
| Quick pinch and release | Tap | Select, jump, fire, open |
| Two quick pinches | Double tap | Open files, zoom in some apps |
| Pinch, hold, move | Touch drag | Swipe, slice, scroll, pull back |
| Pinch and hold still | Press and hold | Charge actions, context menus |
| Both hands pinching | Two touch points | Zoom, rotate, two-thumb games |
Exact gestures and options can vary between app versions. If something on this page differs from what you see, follow the in-app guidance.
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Two hands.
Two hands.
Two touches.
Zero contact.
MotionInput Air tracks more than one pinch at a time. Each hand becomes its own touch point, so gestures built for real touchscreens work in the air.
- Pinch-zoom maps, photos and pages by pulling two pinches apart.
- Rotate objects by turning two pinch points around each other.
- Dual-stick play in touch games: steer with one hand, act with the other.
Effects that fit the game.
Different genres want different feedback. Pick a game type to see how pinch play and visual effects come together.
Precision taps, satisfying feedback
Match tiles, pop bubbles or slide blocks with single pinches. A tap ripple confirms every touch so you always know the game heard you.
- Tap ripple on each pinch
- Steady hover pointer for careful aiming
- Relaxed pace suits first-time players
Fast swipes and trails
Slice, dodge and fire with quick pinch-drags. Motion trails help you read your own speed and direction in the middle of the action.
- Swipe trails on drag
- Two-hand play for move plus action
- Short, snappy pinches register best
Hold and steer
Pinch and hold to grab the virtual wheel or stick, then lean your hand to steer. Release to let go.
- Press-and-hold acts as a continuous touch
- Keep movements smooth and inside the frame
- Rest your elbow to cut fatigue on long sessions
Draw in thin air
In paint and sketch apps, pinch to put the brush down and open your fingers to lift it. Use two hands to zoom the canvas.
- Pinch-drag becomes a brush stroke
- Two-point zoom on supported canvases
- Slow movements give cleaner lines
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Built for more players, not more hardware.
MotionInput comes from a belief in equitable computing: if you have a Windows PC and a webcam, you should be able to play. Touchless control helps when a mouse, controller or touchscreen is hard to use, when hands need to stay clean, or when you simply want to play standing up.
1everyday webcam
0extra controllers
2hands, two touch points
Practical tips from the play space.
Plain backdrop helps
A busy pattern or another person moving in frame can confuse tracking.
Pinch with intent
Close fully, then open fully. Half-pinches read as indecision.
Stay in the frame
Keep your whole hand visible, including when you reach for screen edges.
Pace yourself
Arm-in-the-air play is a workout. Rest your elbow on the desk, take breaks, and stop if anything aches.
Troubleshooting & FAQ.
Type a symptom to filter the answers.
The camera feed is black or the app cannot find my webcam
Close other apps that may be using the camera, such as video calls. Check Windows Settings, Privacy and security, Camera, and make sure camera access is allowed for apps. Unplug and reconnect a USB webcam, then restart the app.
Can I switch from right hand to left hand?
Yes, click the R and L toggle on the MotionInput window.
Can I switch from touchpoints to regular mouse clicks?
Yes, click the icon toggle for touchpoints to mouse on the MotionInput window.
Can I choose other sparkle effects?
Yes, click the FX button.
Can I turn off sparkle effects?
Yes, click the no FX button.
The pointer jitters or jumps around
Improve front lighting, reduce clutter behind you and keep your hand fully in frame. Moving a little further from the camera often steadies tracking.
My pinch is not registering as a tap
Turn your palm slightly toward the camera so the thumb and index finger are both visible. Close them fully and then open fully. Very fast or partial pinches can be missed.
Taps happen when I did not mean to pinch
Relax your hand between moves with fingers apart. Lower your hand out of frame when you want to pause control.
Multitouch only sees one hand
Both hands need to be clearly in frame and not overlapping. Sit back a little so the camera can see both at once, and check the game supports multitouch input.
A game does not respond to pinches
Pinches arrive as touch input. Some games only listen for a mouse, keyboard or controller. Try a touch-friendly game, or check the game settings for touch support.
Can I download MotionInput Air now?
Yes! available now from the Microsoft Store. You can also sign up for product updates.
Does MotionInput need a special camera?
MotionInput is designed around everyday webcams. Results vary with camera quality, lighting and your PC, so start with what you have and use the tips above.
No matches. Try a shorter word, or watch the demo video.
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Ready to move your world?
MotionInput Air is available now.
Available nowMicrosoft StoreMotionInput Air (opens in a new tab)