diff --git a/doc/lua_api.md b/doc/lua_api.md
index c1cf1ea40..4b03db52c 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/lua_api.md
@@ -5350,6 +5350,12 @@ Utilities
       -- HUD Scaling multiplier
       -- Equal to the setting `hud_scaling` multiplied by `dpi / 96`
       real_hud_scaling = 1,
+
+      -- Whether the touchscreen controls are enabled.
+      -- Usually (but not always) `true` on Android.
+      -- Requires at least Minetest 5.9.0 on the client. For older clients, it
+      -- is always set to `false`.
+      touch_controls = false,
   }
   ```
 
diff --git a/doc/menu_lua_api.md b/doc/menu_lua_api.md
index 0fbca092a..6c3777f5f 100644
--- a/doc/menu_lua_api.md
+++ b/doc/menu_lua_api.md
@@ -249,6 +249,10 @@ GUI
       -- HUD Scaling multiplier
       -- Equal to the setting `hud_scaling` multiplied by `dpi / 96`
       real_hud_scaling = 1,
+
+      -- Whether the touchscreen controls are enabled.
+      -- Usually (but not always) `true` on Android.
+      touch_controls = false,
   }
   ```
 
diff --git a/games/devtest/mods/testfullscreenfs/init.lua b/games/devtest/mods/testfullscreenfs/init.lua
index b9d20610b..e1af3ae33 100644
--- a/games/devtest/mods/testfullscreenfs/init.lua
+++ b/games/devtest/mods/testfullscreenfs/init.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ local function show_fullscreen_fs(name)
 	print(dump(window))
 
 	local size = { x = window.max_formspec_size.x * 1.1, y = window.max_formspec_size.y * 1.1 }
+	local touch_text = window.touch_controls and "Touch controls enabled" or
+			"Touch controls disabled"
 	local fs = {
 		"formspec_version[4]",
 		("size[%f,%f]"):format(size.x, size.y),
@@ -16,7 +18,8 @@ local function show_fullscreen_fs(name)
 		("button[%f,%f;1,1;%s;%s]"):format(size.x - 1, size.y - 1, "br", "BR"),
 		("button[%f,%f;1,1;%s;%s]"):format(0, size.y - 1, "bl", "BL"),
 
-		("label[%f,%f;%s]"):format(size.x / 2, size.y / 2, "Fullscreen")
+		("label[%f,%f;%s]"):format(size.x / 2, size.y / 2, "Fullscreen"),
+		("label[%f,%f;%s]"):format(size.x / 2, size.y / 2 + 1, touch_text),
 	}
 
 	minetest.show_formspec(name, "testfullscreenfs:fs", table.concat(fs))
diff --git a/src/client/client.cpp b/src/client/client.cpp
index a49578ae0..8d204931c 100644
--- a/src/client/client.cpp
+++ b/src/client/client.cpp
@@ -1439,6 +1439,7 @@ void Client::sendUpdateClientInfo(const ClientDynamicInfo& info)
 	pkt << info.real_gui_scaling;
 	pkt << info.real_hud_scaling;
 	pkt << (f32)info.max_fs_size.X << (f32)info.max_fs_size.Y;
+	pkt << info.touch_controls;
 
 	Send(&pkt);
 }
diff --git a/src/clientdynamicinfo.h b/src/clientdynamicinfo.h
index c377a64f0..547329b06 100644
--- a/src/clientdynamicinfo.h
+++ b/src/clientdynamicinfo.h
@@ -33,11 +33,13 @@ public:
 	f32 real_gui_scaling;
 	f32 real_hud_scaling;
 	v2f32 max_fs_size;
+	bool touch_controls;
 
 	bool equal(const ClientDynamicInfo &other) const {
 		return render_target_size == other.render_target_size &&
 				abs(real_gui_scaling - other.real_gui_scaling) < 0.001f &&
-				abs(real_hud_scaling - other.real_hud_scaling) < 0.001f;
+				abs(real_hud_scaling - other.real_hud_scaling) < 0.001f &&
+				touch_controls == other.touch_controls;
 	}
 
 #ifndef SERVER
@@ -48,10 +50,16 @@ public:
 		f32 hud_scaling = g_settings->getFloat("hud_scaling", 0.5f, 20.0f);
 		f32 real_gui_scaling = gui_scaling * density;
 		f32 real_hud_scaling = hud_scaling * density;
+#ifdef HAVE_TOUCHSCREENGUI
+		bool touch_controls = true;
+#else
+		bool touch_controls = false;
+#endif
 
 		return {
 			screen_size, real_gui_scaling, real_hud_scaling,
-			ClientDynamicInfo::calculateMaxFSSize(screen_size, gui_scaling)
+			ClientDynamicInfo::calculateMaxFSSize(screen_size, gui_scaling),
+			touch_controls
 		};
 	}
 #endif
diff --git a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
index 9eaf30dc1..bce2b2261 100644
--- a/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
+++ b/src/network/serverpackethandler.cpp
@@ -1873,6 +1873,12 @@ void Server::handleCommand_UpdateClientInfo(NetworkPacket *pkt)
 	*pkt >> info.real_hud_scaling;
 	*pkt >> info.max_fs_size.X;
 	*pkt >> info.max_fs_size.Y;
+	try {
+		// added in 5.9.0
+		*pkt >> info.touch_controls;
+	} catch (PacketError &e) {
+		info.touch_controls = false;
+	}
 
 	session_t peer_id = pkt->getPeerId();
 	RemoteClient *client = getClient(peer_id, CS_Invalid);
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp
index 9d64a76f6..f3aa22ebc 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_mainmenu.cpp
@@ -946,6 +946,10 @@ int ModApiMainMenu::l_get_window_info(lua_State *L)
 	lua_pushnumber(L, info.real_hud_scaling);
 	lua_settable(L, top);
 
+	lua_pushstring(L, "touch_controls");
+	lua_pushboolean(L, info.touch_controls);
+	lua_settable(L, top);
+
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
index 12e5a1a5d..264e88801 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_server.cpp
@@ -317,6 +317,11 @@ int ModApiServer::l_get_player_window_information(lua_State *L)
 	lua_pushstring(L, "real_hud_scaling");
 	lua_pushnumber(L, dynamic->real_hud_scaling);
 	lua_settable(L, dyn_table);
+
+	lua_pushstring(L, "touch_controls");
+	lua_pushboolean(L, dynamic->touch_controls);
+	lua_settable(L, dyn_table);
+
 	return 1;
 }