cursor moves by itself when I try to select a text

Mohga Kamal-Yanni 60 Reputation points
2025-11-17T17:25:05.6966667+00:00

Hello

Recently when I try to select a text, the cursor runs down to all the document and select all. I tried all advice in fixing the mouse but in vein. This happen particularly in Word.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Moved from: Microsoft 365 and Office | Open Specifications

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Other
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Answer accepted by question author
Harold Milan 17,615 Reputation points Independent Advisor
2025-11-17T19:09:27.19+00:00

Hi Mohga,

This issue usually isn’t caused by your mouse hardware it’s often related to Word settings or system behavior. Here are the most common reasons:

ClickLock or accessibility features enabled If ClickLock or similar settings are turned on, Word may interpret a single click as a continuous selection.

Corrupted Word template or add-ins A damaged Normal.dotm template or a problematic add-in can cause erratic cursor behavior.

Outdated Office or input drivers Even if the mouse works fine elsewhere, Word relies on system input drivers and its own rendering engine. Missing updates can trigger glitches.

Document complexity Large files with tracked changes or older formats (.doc) can behave unpredictably during selection.

 

What you can do is:

Restart Word in Safe Mode Press Ctrl while launching Word or run winword /safe from the Run dialog. If the issue disappears, an add-in is likely the culprit.

Disable ClickLock Go to Control Panel → Mouse → Buttons tab and make sure ClickLock is turned off.

Reset Word settings Close Word, rename Normal.dotm (found in %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates) so Word creates a fresh template.

Update Office and drivers In Word, go to File → Account → Update Options → Update Now. Also check Windows Update for input driver updates.

Test with a new document If the issue only occurs in one file, copy content into a new blank document to rule out corruption.

 

Let me know how it goes, Happy to help!

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  1. AI answer

    2025-11-17T17:25:24.17+00:00

    It sounds like you are experiencing an issue with your mouse or touchpad sensitivity while trying to select text in Word. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot the problem:

    1. Check Mouse Settings: Make sure that the mouse settings in your operating system are configured correctly. You may want to adjust the pointer speed or sensitivity settings.
    2. Test with Another Mouse: If possible, try using a different mouse to see if the issue persists. This can help determine if the problem is with the mouse hardware.
    3. Disable Mouse Acceleration: Sometimes, mouse acceleration can cause erratic cursor movements. You can disable it in the mouse settings.
    4. Check for Software Conflicts: Ensure that there are no other applications running that might interfere with mouse input. Close any unnecessary programs and see if the issue continues.
    5. Update Drivers: Make sure that your mouse drivers are up to date. You can check the manufacturer's website for the latest drivers.
    6. Repair Office Installation: If the issue is specific to Word, consider repairing your Office installation. You can do this through the Control Panel in Windows.
    7. Check for Document Corruption: Sometimes, the document itself may be corrupted. Try creating a new document and see if the issue occurs there as well.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be worth looking into potential hardware problems with your mouse or touchpad.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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