Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for switching touch screen operation. The apparatus can include a hand held electronic device housing (110). The hand held electronic device housing can have a housing face (112) and a housing side (114) substantially orthogonal to the housing face. The apparatus can include a touch screen display (120) located on the housing face. The touch screen display can be configured to display information and can be configured to receive user actuation. The apparatus can include a side user actuatable switch (130) located on the housing side. The side user actuatable switch can be configured to switch an input function of the touch screen display from a first touch screen input function having a first set of functions corresponding to a first set of inputs to a second touch screen input function having a second set of functions corresponding to a second set of inputs, where the first set of functions is different than the second set of functions.