Windows 10 comes with a feature called Tablet mode. The Tablet mode, when turned on, makes several minor changes to the user interface to make Windows easier to use on a touch device. For example, when using your device with the tablet mode turned on, all apps and the File Explorer always open maximized.
Does Tablet mode exist in Windows 11?
Microsoft has removed the Tablet mode from Windows 11. The feature is no longer available in Windows 11. Does this mean that Windows 11 does not support tablets? No. Windows 11 fully supports touch devices or tablets.
The thing is that Windows 11 will automatically adjust its UI for the tablet as soon as you detach the keyboard from your tablet. All the features of the original Tablet mode will be turned on automatically.
It’s just that you cannot manually turn on the feature. Instead, Windows 11 will automatically optimize the UI for touch when you detach the keyboard from your device. In other words, in Windows 10, we could experience the Tablet mode even on desktop computers. However, that is no longer possible in Windows 11.
How to turn on the Tablet mode in Windows 11?
As mentioned earlier, the Tablet mode feature has been dropped from Windows 11. So, there is no option to turn it on or off.
Windows 11 will automatically make several changes to the UI when it detects that the operating system is installed on a touch-enabled device or when you detach the keyboard from your tablet computer.
Annex-8 says
There is a major problem with how Windows 11 configures table mode, in that if you detach and reverse the screen of a Surface Book device, it will not recognize certain USB peripheral devices–specifically, external mics or keyboards.
What the hell? Why would they suddenly do this? In Windows 10 it didn’t matter, you could always use these peripherals, whether in regular or tablet mode.
Now some idiot at Microsoft has decided that if you are in table mode, you shouldn’t be able to have an external microphone or external keyboard connected through the USB port.
Chaven Yenketswamy says
I have a Wacom Bamboo Tablet that worked in Windows 10 but not in Windows 11.
Freddy says
This is not cool. Im using Surface Laptop Go! How can i suppose to detach my keyboard (!?) Anybody help ?!?!
Timothy says
I use a surface pro 7 and the tablet mode was a useful feature in windows 10. I upgraded to windows 11 and now it no longer exist. I think I’m going back to windows 10. Hope that Microsoft would return this feature to windows 11, if only for tablets.
WK says
I have a S7 Pro that I updated to Win11. Tablet mode no longer works – no screen rotation and no on-screen keyboard. The screen rotate lock button is grayed out, so I can’t turn that back on. No matter what I try a touch screen keyboard will not come up, even when I click or touch the the keyboard icon on the task bar! I like to use my surface w/o the Type cover when it’s on my desk because I use a blue tooth keyboard and the tablet is connected to a large monitor via the USB-C / PD port. It’s a nice clean desk – like a Mac. Sometimes I like to put on the Type cover and use the Surface in a triangle configuration on my lap in tablet mode. For that mode I need the tablet mode with the keyboard attached! Silly MS thinks they know how users use computers – sigh. I went back to W10 and everything works fine again! Apparently we’re back to the good-crap-good-crap cycles of Windows updates!
Dr says
this is crap! how do i activate a keyboard in tablet mode then??
Jen says
I am not a fan. It doesn’t readily rotate to portrait view and back. I have a dell insperion 2 in one. When I try and use the pen to write in one note, the system doesn’t seem to know that I am in tablet mode and want to draw.
David Selby says
If your laptop auto went to tablet mode when flipping it back id assume that it would work just fine the same way on windows 11 too :)
Robert Adams says
Same question. My keyboard does not detach. So When I flip my laptop the UI will pick it up and automatically go into tablet mode like the removable keyboard?
Stephanie says
My keyboard does not detach. So When I flip my laptop the UI will pick it up and automatically go into tablet mode like the removable keyboard?