How to use touch gestures on windows 11

Touch gestures in Windows 11 are an integral part of how users can interact with their devices, particularly on touchscreens and devices with precision touchpads. Windows 11 is designed to provide a more fluid and intuitive user experience, especially for those using tablets, 2-in-1 laptops, and touch-enabled PCs. Understanding and mastering these gestures will allow you to navigate and interact with your device more efficiently, whether you're switching between apps, navigating the Start menu, or managing multiple windows. This guide will explore how to use and customize touch gestures in Windows 11.

1. Getting Started with Touch Gestures in Windows 11

Windows 11 touch gestures are similar to those found in mobile devices, making it easier for users transitioning from smartphones or tablets to a Windows PC. These gestures involve using one or more fingers on a touchscreen or precision touchpad to perform various actions.

2. Basic Touch Gestures for Navigation

Windows 11 offers several basic touch gestures for everyday navigation. These gestures are intuitive and allow users to interact with the operating system without the need for a mouse or keyboard.

2.1. Tap Gesture

 

• How to Perform: Simply tap on the screen with one finger.
• Function: Tapping is equivalent to a left-click with a mouse. You can use this gesture to select items, open apps, or execute commands.

2.2. Double-Tap Gesture

 

• How to Perform: Quickly tap the screen twice with one finger.
• Function: This gesture is the equivalent of a double-click with a mouse. You can use it to open files, folders, or applications directly.

2.3. Press and Hold

• How to Perform: Touch the screen with one finger and hold it there for a moment.
• Function: Pressing and holding is equivalent to a right-click with a mouse. This gesture brings up context menus or additional options for an item.

2.4. Drag Gesture

• How to Perform: Place your finger on an item and move it across the screen without lifting your finger.
• Function: This gesture allows you to move files, icons, and windows around the screen. It’s similar to click-and-drag with a mouse.

2.5. Pinch-to-Zoom Gesture

• How to Perform: Place two fingers on the screen and either pinch them together or spread them apart.
• Function: Pinching zooms out, while spreading your fingers apart zooms in. This gesture works in applications like Photos, Maps, and web browsers to zoom in or out of content.

3. Multitasking Gestures in Windows 11

Windows 11 includes several touch gestures specifically designed for multitasking, making it easier to manage multiple windows and apps.

3.1. Three-Finger Swipe Up

• How to Perform: Place three fingers on the touchpad or screen and swipe upward.
• Function: This gesture opens the Task View, displaying all open apps and virtual desktops. You can use this to quickly switch between apps or create new virtual desktops.

3.2. Three-Finger Swipe Down

• How to Perform: Swipe downward with three fingers.
• Function: This minimizes all open windows and shows the desktop. Swiping up again restores the windows.

3.3. Three-Finger Left or Right Swipe

• How to Perform: Swipe left or right with three fingers.
• Function: This gesture allows you to switch between recently used apps. Swiping left takes you to the last used app, while swiping right cycles back to the app you were just using.

3.4. Four-Finger Tap

• How to Perform: Tap the screen or touchpad with four fingers.
• Function: This gesture opens the Notification Center or Action Center, where you can quickly access notifications and settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and display brightness.

4. Gestures for Managing Windows

Managing open windows efficiently is key to multitasking, and Windows 11’s touch gestures make it easy to resize, snap, and organize windows.

4.1. Snap Windows Using Touch

Windows 11 enhances the Snap feature, allowing you to effortlessly arrange multiple windows side by side. The touch gestures for snapping windows make the process faster.

• How to Snap a Window: Drag a window to the left or right edge of the screen with your finger. The window will "snap" to fill that half of the screen.
• Snap Layouts: In addition to the traditional snapping, Windows 11 introduces Snap Layouts. You can drag a window to the top of the screen and hover there to choose from various layout options (two, three, or four windows on the screen). Simply select a layout, and the window will snap into the desired position.

4.2. Resizing Windows

• How to Perform: Drag the edge or corner of a window with one finger to resize it.
• Function: This gesture allows you to adjust the size of windows for better viewing and multitasking.

4.3. Closing Apps with a Swipe

• How to Perform: Place your finger at the top of an open window and swipe downward.
• Function: This gesture closes the current window or app, similar to dragging a window to the bottom of the screen on mobile devices.

5. Touchpad Gestures in Windows 11

If you're using a laptop with a precision touchpad, Windows 11 supports a variety of touchpad gestures that mirror touchscreen gestures. These allow for smooth navigation and multitasking without an external mouse.

5.1. Two-Finger Scroll

• How to Perform: Place two fingers on the touchpad and move them up or down.
• Function: This scrolls through pages or documents vertically. You can also scroll horizontally by moving your fingers left or right.

5.2. Two-Finger Tap

• How to Perform: Tap the touchpad with two fingers.
• Function: This is equivalent to right-clicking and brings up the context menu for files, folders, or apps.

5.3. Four-Finger Swipe Up or Down

• How to Perform: Swipe up or down with four fingers on the touchpad.
• Function: Swiping up opens Task View (similar to three-finger swipe up on the screen), while swiping down shows the desktop.

5.4. Three-Finger Tap

 

• How to Perform: Tap the touchpad with three fingers.
• Function: This gesture opens Search, allowing you to quickly search for apps, files, or settings.

6. Customizing Touch Gestures in Windows 11

Windows 11 allows you to customize certain touch gestures, particularly on devices with precision touchpads. This is useful if you want to tailor your gestures to specific actions.

Steps to Customize Touchpad Gestures:

1. Open the Settings app by pressing Windows key + I.

2. Go to Bluetooth & devices, and then select Touchpad.

3. Under Gestures & interaction, you’ll find several options to customize gestures, such as Taps, Scroll & Zoom, and Three- and Four-finger gestures.

You can modify gestures to perform specific functions like switching desktops, launching apps, or controlling media playback. This flexibility enhances your productivity and personalizes your user experience.

7. Tablet Mode Gestures in Windows 11

For users with 2-in-1 devices or tablets, Windows 11 automatically adjusts its interface for tablet mode, where touch gestures are emphasized for a more mobile-like experience. In tablet mode, the interface becomes more touch-friendly with larger icons and a more spaced-out layout.

Tablet-Specific Gestures:

• Task View Gesture: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Task View and switch between open apps.
• Open Start Menu: Swipe up from the bottom-middle of the screen to bring up the Start menu.
• Close Apps in Tablet Mode: Swipe down from the top of the screen to close the current app, similar to how it’s done on smartphones and tablets.

 8. Using Gestures for Accessibility

Windows 11 also includes touch gestures that enhance accessibility, making the system easier to use for individuals with disabilities or those who prefer touch input over other methods.

Magnifier Gesture:

• -How to Perform: Use Ctrl and scroll with two fingers on the touchpad or pinch-to-zoom on the touchscreen to zoom in on the screen. This gesture is particularly useful for users with vision impairments.

Narrator and Ease of Access:

• You can enable Narrator and other accessibility tools in Settings > Accessibility to make navigating the system with touch easier for individuals with disabilities.

9. Troubleshooting Touch Gestures

If your touch gestures aren’t working properly, here are some basic troubleshooting steps you can take:

 

• Ensure Your Device Supports Touch Gestures: Some older devices or non-precision touchpads may not support all gestures.
• Update Your Drivers: Outdated drivers can cause touch or touchpad gestures to malfunction. Ensure your device drivers are up-to-date.
• Enable Gestures in Settings: Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad or Touch to make sure gestures are enabled.
• Restart Your Device: Sometimes a simple restart can resolve gesture issues.

Conclusion

Windows 11 offers a wide array of touch gestures that enhance the user experience, making it easier to navigate.