How to Select and Highlight Text by Touch in Microsoft Word
Question details
The user wants to easily select and highlight text on a touch-screen device using Microsoft Word without relying on a physical mouse or trackpad.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing a document in Microsoft Word on a touch-enabled device where standard interface elements are too small for accurate finger selection.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs a way to restore or enable text selection and highlighting controls that are specifically designed for touch interaction.
Ensure your device's touch screen is clean and functioning correctly in other applications, and verify that you are running the latest version of Microsoft Office.
Enable Touch Mode in the Quick Access Toolbar
Activating Touch Mode enlarges the ribbon controls and adds spacing, making it much easier to select and highlight text with your fingers.
By default, Microsoft Word is optimized for precise mouse clicks. Switching to Touch Mode adapts the interface for touch input, which prevents accidental taps and makes highlighting text significantly smoother.
In Microsoft Word, tap the small down-facing arrow located at the very top-left of the window (above the ribbon) to open the Customize Quick Access Toolbar drop-down menu.
Scroll through the drop-down menu and select 'Touch/Mouse Mode'. A new icon resembling a hand pointing will appear on your Quick Access Toolbar.
Tap the newly added Touch/Mouse Mode icon and select 'Touch' from the options. The ribbon commands will instantly expand to provide more space between buttons.
Use your finger to tap, hold, and drag over the text you want to select. Once the text is selected, tap the Highlight icon located on the Home tab or the floating mini-toolbar to apply color.
Verify Application and Device Touch Compatibility
If Touch Mode does not resolve the text selection issues, performing basic checks can help identify if the problem is specific to Word or the device itself.
Easily Edit and Highlight Text with Touch in WPS Office
WPS Office offers seamless touch-screen support for Windows tablets and 2-in-1 laptops, allowing you to easily select, highlight, and edit documents without relying on a mouse.
- 1. Open your document in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office desktop app and open your existing .docx or .doc file.
- 2. Enable Touch Mode: Click the Touch Mode icon on the Quick Access Toolbar to instantly optimize the UI for finger taps.
- 3. Select your text: Double-tap a word or drag the selection handles with your finger to highlight the desired block of text.
- 4. Apply highlight color: Tap the Text Highlight Color icon in the Home tab to quickly mark up your selection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it difficult to select text with my finger in Microsoft Word?
By default, the Microsoft Word interface is designed for precise mouse and trackpad clicks. When using a touch screen, standard buttons and text selection cursors can be too small for finger taps. Enabling Touch Mode increases the spacing between commands for much easier use.
How do I turn off Touch Mode in Microsoft Word?
To disable Touch Mode, tap the Touch/Mouse Mode icon located on the Quick Access Toolbar at the top left of the screen, and select 'Mouse' from the drop-down menu. This will shrink the ribbon controls back to their standard compact size.
Why is the Touch/Mouse Mode icon missing from my Quick Access Toolbar?
The icon is hidden by default. You can reveal it by clicking the Customize Quick Access Toolbar arrow at the top-left of the application window and selecting 'Touch/Mouse Mode' from the list of available commands.
Can I use Touch Mode on all Windows devices?
Touch Mode is available on all touch-enabled Windows devices running Microsoft Office, such as Microsoft Surface tablets, 2-in-1 laptops, and standalone touch-screen monitors.
