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Microsoft Office and the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar

Be more productive in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Skype

By Cindy Grigg Cindy Grigg Writer Cindy Grigg is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a productivity writer who teaches Microsoft Office software to students and pros. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 12, 2021 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

In This Article

Expand Jump to a Section What Is the Apple Touch Bar Feature? How the Touch Bar Operates With Office Programs Touch Bar Customization Options Apple MacBook Pro laptops produced in 2016 and later include a Touch Bar that can improve the way you work. Depending on the app, the Touch Bar changes to provide you with shortcuts for specific actions. In Safari, use the Touch Bar to open a new tab, switch between open tabs, or open a search field. In Apple Mail, use the Touch Bar to reply to, archive, delete, or move an email to another folder. The Touch Bar is just as effective with Microsoft Word apps. Microsoft Office software developers provided real-time, relevant tool shortcuts based on what you're likely to need when using Office apps.

What Is the Apple Touch Bar

This Retina touch display strip is located above the keyboard keys, near where the display screen meets the keyboard. According to the product's press release: The Touch Bar places controls right at the user's fingertips and adapts when using the system or apps like Mail, Finder, Calendar, Numbers, GarageBand, Final Cut Pro X and many more, including third-party apps. For example, the Touch Bar can show tabs and Favorites in Safari, enable easy access to emoji in Messages, provide a simple way to edit images or scrub through videos in Photos, and so much more.

Using the Touchbar With Microsoft Programs

Microsoft is among the developers who provide customized Touch Bar controls. The Tool Bar is active with Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, One Note, Skype, and Edge. The Touch Bar changes with each app. Microsoft Outlook: The Touch Bar makes it a breeze to attach your most recent documents to an email in Outlook or create calendar appointments from an email. It features your latest tools and commands, as well as your upcoming events. The Touch Bar also features the Outlook Today view on the Touch Bar, from which you can participate in Skype for Business meetings. Microsoft Excel: Use the Touch Bar to access your recent Excel spreadsheet actions. By entering an equal sign in a cell, the Touch Bar activates with these contextual tools. The Touch Bar also helps you format data or apply recommended charts.Microsoft Word: When working in word-processed documents, you can opt for a distraction-free mode that removes toolbars and the ribbon. Plus, you can access recent tools and commands through the Touch Bar's contextual shortcuts. This Focus Mode works alongside real-time shortcuts to apply style changes to the text you are working with.Microsoft PowerPoint: In presentations, the Touch Bar shortcuts offer quick tools for editing PowerPoint slides, which helps when working with image-rich files. The Touch Bar features slide gestures that reorient an object to a better angle and a Reorder Objects button that works with graphic layers on a slide, making it easier to move things around. It can also produce a graphical map of the layers on a slide, making it easy to find the right object and move it where you want it.

Touch Bar Customization Options

Most Touch Bar arrangements contain a control bar that doesn't change with each app, usually containing brightness, sound, and Siri icons. The rest of the Touch Bar varies by app or task. You can customize the Touch Bar, meaning you aren't locked in with the contextual defaults. From the desktop, select View > Customize Tool Bar to open a screen containing options you can select. Drag your preferred shortcuts to the bar in a similar way to other favorites and toolbars you have customized in the past.

All Productivity and No Play

The Apple development guidelines restrict any funny business when it comes to the Touch Bar display. Apple insists that developers use the Touch Bar as an extension of the keyboard and trackpad (not as a display), avoid message or alert functionalities that reduce productivity, and minimize bright colors. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Customize the MacBook Touch Bar How to Use the F Keys on a Mac Microsoft Office Online Review How to Turn Your MacBook on or Off The 8 Best Microsoft Office Alternatives of 2022 How to Fix It When a MacBook Pro Keyboard Isn't Working How to Control F On a Mac What is Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise? How to Run Microsoft Office on a Chromebook Apple MacBook Pro 13-Inch (2019) Review: Apple's Best Laptop Gets Even Better How to Uninstall Skype 9 Best Free Microsoft Office Alternatives The Best Mac Desktop Publishing Software of 2022 How to Add a Degree Symbol in Word MacBook Pro Won't Turn On? 6 Ways to Fix It Microsoft Office vs. iWork Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies