Microsoft Adds Mouse and Trackpad Support to Word for iPad, Multi-Window Mode for Excel

Microsoft on Tuesday updated its Office apps for iOS devices, adding new features for iPad users. Microsoft Word now offers mouse and trackpad support, while the Excel app gained multi-window mode.

While Microsoft announced these features back in May 2020, it has been slow to roll them out to its suite of Office apps on the iOS platform.

Microsoft Word’s support for mouse and trackpad allows users to connect any compatible mouse or trackpad to their iPad, and use it to select text and click on the buttons of the app interface just like they would on their Mac or Windows machine. “Connect a trackpad or mouse to your iPad for another way to interact with Word. Use the trackpad from the all-new magic keyboard to interact with your document,” says Microsoft’s release notes.

Excel’s new multi-window mode support lets users open multiple documents at the same time, and even view and interact with two spreadsheets side-by-side.

While PowerPoint hasn’t received either of the above features, the app did gain a new Presenter Coach that provides feedback to helps users improve their presentations.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are available as free downloads from the App Store. An Office 365 subscription is required to access all app features.

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