Microsoft Edge’s latest update has led to an unexpected display of touch-friendly interface elements on desktop PCs, causing confusion among users who do not have touchscreen capabilities.
Reports indicate that after updating Edge, users have encountered a modified browser interface with larger spaces between elements, including tabs, and wider buttons. This configuration is typically designed to enhance the touch experience, providing more space for tapping on various elements. However, the issue appears to be affecting Windows 10 and Windows 11 desktop PCs that do not possess touchscreen functionality.
According to observations by Windows Latest, Microsoft inadvertently activated the tablet-friendly mode on certain desktop PCs, misidentifying them as tablets. This situation even extended to the tech site’s writer’s system.
The solution to this problem is relatively simple, as noted by Windows Latest. Users can navigate to the Edge Settings panel, access the ‘Appearances’ section, and disable the ‘touch mode’ feature, which has been unintentionally triggered.
For users unfamiliar with touch mode or unaware of its existence, the updated Edge’s unexpected behavior could be perplexing. Some might assume that Microsoft has introduced a new browser design, leading to confusion regarding the rationale behind this change.
While touch mode is a valuable feature when used appropriately on touchscreen devices, its erroneous activation on non-touchscreen PCs represents a significant oversight by Microsoft. Such incidents do not contribute positively to Edge’s reputation as a top web browser.
The bug seems to be associated with Microsoft Edge version 117 with default settings, and there are user complaints about this issue on Reddit. Users express surprise that Microsoft did not identify and rectify this problem before deploying the latest update.
Although there are reports of a fix being deployed, some affected individuals continue to experience the issue. Fortunately, users can rectify the situation themselves by accessing the toggle for touch mode in the Settings menu.
