Various technologies described herein pertain to utilizing sensed pre-touch interaction to control a mobile computing device. A pre-touch interaction of a user with the mobile computing device is detected. The pre-touch interaction includes a grip of the user on the mobile computing device and/or a hover of one or more fingers of the user with respect to a touchscreen of the mobile computing device. The finger(s) of the user can be within proximity but not touching the touchscreen as part of the hover. Parameter(s) of the pre-touch interaction of the user with the mobile computing device are identified, and a touch of the user on the touchscreen of the mobile computing device is detected. A computing operation is executed responsive to the touch, where the computing operation is based on the touch and the parameter(s) of the pre-touch interaction of the user with the mobile computing device.