Windows could get haptic trackpad feedback for more interactions

Only a small number of Windows laptops have haptic trackpads, primarily new Surface devices. But they're quite convenient if you have the chance to try them out, enhancing the experience in the same way that haptic feedback does on phones. Judging by some of the features found in the preview version of Windows, there will be more interactions in the operating system.

Ghost of the EarthA tireless and attentive Windows build researcher has discovered that it is hidden in the latest beta version of the Windows 11 developer build, 26220.7070. While it's hidden by default, they were able to explore the Haptic Cues setting in the main mouse settings menu. “Feel a slight vibration as you snap windows, align objects, etc,” the setting says, along with an intensity slider.

Presumably this will mean a little feedback noise when you use the Windows Snap feature, a way to quickly configure a specific window to take up half the screen, a quadrant, and so on. (By the way, if you use this often, you just need download PowerToys and use FancyZones to customize layouts.) Similar UI techniques can be found on phones and tablets – something like this is what I get when I open side-by-side apps on an Android phone or tablet, for example.

Currently, haptic feedback for Windows elements is quite limited, although it has been expanding since Apple added it by default on MacBooks, commonly referred to as “Force Touch”. But Logitech recently added haptic feedback to the system. Brand new MX Master Mouse 4.so it looks like this is definitely a trend. It's unclear when or if this new option will arrive for regular users, given that its priority should be quite low.