Touch Mouse Mode, as it’s known in the Outlook world, allows you to scroll through your Outlook messages with your finger.
Touch Mouse Mode is found on the far right of the Touch Bar, and lets you scroll through your messages in a linear fashion, without having to swipe.
Touch Mouse Mode can be enabled or disabled on the Touch Bar and can also be turned off entirely in the touch settings menu.
Touch screen Laptops, desktops, and tablets are introduced, and Office is also required to add additional functionality to operate all office applications with touch mode.
Touch mode is designed for fingers, which are much wider than the average cursor.
What is Touch/Mouse Mode in Outlook?
Touch/Mouse Mode switches the pattern of visibility and increases the spacing between commands in the ribbon, Outlook Touch Mode allows the user to operate without a mouse, Touch screen Operating system works with the finger, the additional spacing helps them out. Mouse Mode lets us use the program with our mouse.
Basically, Touch Mode increases the spacing which helps the user to operate Outlook with the finger easily.
How to Switch between Touch Mode and Mouse Mode in Outlook
Switching Touch Mode to Mouse Mode and vice versa is just a click away:
- Open Microsoft Outlook
- Click on the launcher key on the quick access toolbar, it expands the drop-down list.
- Select Touch/Mouse Mode
- The touch/Mouse Mode icon appears in the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).
- Click on the Touch/Mouse Mode icon, and choose a mode as required, by default mouse mood is selected.
- Once you click on Touch Mode the complete visibility changes, the image below gives you a comparison.
Touch Mode
Mouse Mode
In addition to the reading pane, a new menu bar, and functionality visibility also changes.
You can also change or reset to mouse mode by reversing the action.
Outlook “Touch mode” adds a useful feature. When Touch mode is turned on, there is a Delete button on the right side of the screen where you can hit it with your thumb, refer to the image above.
Touch mode also allows you to operate just like mouse mode—the desktop version of Outlook on a laptop with a touchscreen.
Touch Mode Features
Touch Mode optimizes Outlook’s interface and functionality to make it easier and more intuitive to navigate and interact with using touch gestures.
Here are some key Touch Mode features in Outlook:
- Larger Interface Elements: When Touch Mode is enabled, Outlook adjusts the size of buttons, icons, and text to make them more touch-friendly. This ensures that the elements on the screen are easier to tap and interact with using your fingers or a stylus.
- Spacing and Padding: Outlook’s Touch Mode increases the spacing and padding between various interface elements, such as emails, folders, and buttons. This helps prevent accidental taps and provides more room for precise touch interactions.
- Touch-Friendly Menus: The menus in Outlook are optimized for touch input in Touch Mode. They offer larger touch targets, making it easier to access common functions like composing new emails, replying, forwarding, and managing folders.
- Gestures and Swiping: Touch Mode in Outlook allows you to use gestures and swiping motions to perform actions. For example, you can swipe left or right to delete or archive emails, swipe down to refresh your inbox, or use pinch-to-zoom gestures to adjust the email’s zoom level.
- Scroll and Panning: In Touch Mode, scrolling through emails, calendars, or other Outlook elements becomes smoother and more responsive. You can swipe up or down with your finger to scroll through your messages or appointments effortlessly.
- Touch Keyboard Integration: Outlook integrates well with the touch keyboard on your device, ensuring a seamless typing experience when composing emails or entering text in other areas of the application.
Enabling Touch Mode in Outlook is straightforward. Simply go to the “File” menu, click on “Options,” and then select “General.”
In the General settings, check the box that says “Enable Touch Mode.”
By leveraging Touch Mode in Outlook, users with touch-enabled devices can enjoy a more intuitive and efficient email management experience.
The optimized interface and touch-friendly features make it easier to navigate, interact with messages, and stay productive while on the go.
Note: The availability and specific features of Touch Mode may vary depending on the version of Outlook and the device you are using.
Difference between Touch and Mouse mode
The functionality and features of both the Touch and Mouse mode are similar, but there are a few minor differences, you can use Touch and Mouse mode both by mouse, but it might often face problems due to the spacing between the two options, that’s why spacing in touch mode helps a lot.
The biggest difference is icon font size, which helps the user to click with the finger without the chance of hitting a neighbor key.
The second major difference is Touch mode includes a new menu bar on the right side of the screen, which includes standard keys, like (Reply, reply all, forward, move, and Follow-up) but in addition to Touch, the mode adds a Delete option which is not included in Mouse Mode.
Here’s a tabular comparison highlighting the differences between Touch Mode and Mouse Mode in Outlook:
| Feature | Touch Mode | Mouse Mode |
|---|
| Interface Elements | Larger buttons, icons, and text for touch interaction. | Standard-sized buttons, icons, and text suitable for mouse and cursor control. |
|---|
| Spacing and Padding | Increased spacing and padding between elements for easier touch interaction and to prevent accidental taps. | Standard spacing and padding suitable for mouse cursor control. |
|---|
| Menus | Touch-friendly menus with larger touch targets for easy access to functions using touch gestures. | Traditional menus optimized for cursor control and mouse clicks. |
|---|
| Gestures and Swiping | Supports gestures and swiping motions, such as swiping left or right to delete or archive emails, and pinch-to-zoom gestures. | Relies primarily on mouse clicks and scroll wheel for actions. |
|---|
| Scroll and Panning | Smooth and responsive scrolling using touch gestures, such as swiping up or down with a finger. | Scrolling using mouse wheel or scroll bars. |
|---|
| Touch Keyboard Integration | No specific integration with the touch keyboard, as it is designed for cursor control and traditional typing. | No specific integration with touch keyboard, as it is designed for cursor control and traditional typing. |
|---|
It’s important to note that the availability and specific features of Touch Mode and Mouse Mode may vary depending on the version of Outlook and the device you are using.
The table above provides a general comparison of the key differences between the two modes in Outlook.
Final Words
In conclusion, the touch mouse feature offers the best of both mouse and keyboard. Use the Touch Mouse Mode to Move the mouse cursor around on the screen just like using a mouse.
Touch Mouse Mode lets you move the cursor, copy, and paste, and navigate menus and dialog boxes using gestures.
Touch Mouse Mode is a feature that lets you right-click with your thumb instead of your mouse. This lets you open links and zoom in on images with just two clicks.
Touch Mouse Mode is enabled in Outlook 2016 and Outlook 2019, and it’s disabled by default.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I switch between Touch and Mouse modes on a Mac?
On a Mac, Microsoft Outlook does not have a specific Touch Mode or Mouse Mode setting as it does on touch-enabled Windows devices.
However, Outlook on Mac is designed to adapt to different input methods automatically.
It adjusts its interface and functionality based on whether you’re using a touchpad, mouse, or touchscreen.
How do I access the Quick Access Toolbar in Touch Mouse Mode?
In Touch Mouse Mode, accessing the Quick Access Toolbar in Microsoft Outlook is straightforward. To begin, open Outlook on your device.
Once launched, the Ribbon interface will be optimized for touch gestures. Simply tap anywhere on the Ribbon to activate it.
Next, look for a small downward-pointing arrow or ellipsis (…) icon typically positioned at the top right corner of the Ribbon.
This icon indicates the “More Options” menu. Tap on it to open the menu. Within the “More Options” menu, you should find options to customize the Quick Access Toolbar.
Look for an option such as “Customize Quick Access Toolbar” to access the customization settings. From there, you can choose the commands you want to add or remove from the Quick Access Toolbar.
After customizing the toolbar according to your preferences, save or apply the changes, and you’re all set.
By exploring the Ribbon interface and locating the “More Options” menu, you can easily access and customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Touch Mouse Mode.
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