In MS Word, when I hit the "end" key, it deletes the first paragraph of the document

Pax Bobrow 25 Reputation points
2025-12-22T20:13:08.0866667+00:00

When I am editing a Word document, if I tap the "end" key on my keyboard, instead of navigating to the end of the line, Word will delete the first paragraph of my document. I've looked to see if there's a weird Macro somewhere, but I cannot find anything. Help?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows
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Charles Kenyon 170K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2025-12-22T20:22:34.52+00:00

I assume that you are using the desktop application in Windows. If not, please let us know.

Try opening Word in safe mode.

https://support.office.com/article/dedf944a-5f4b-4afb-a453-528af4f7ac72

That is a diagnostic step, not a way to use Word. Do you have the same problem?

If it works fine in safe mode, that tells me that the problem resides in one of two spots:

·        Your Normal template, or

·        one or more Add-Ins (that you may not even know are there)

 

The Normal template is easiest to check.

1.     With Word closed, find and rename your Normal.dotm template.

                        Where is the Normal Template / How to Find the Normal Template

2.     Name it something like Normal2023.dotm.

3.     Start Word and see if the problem persists.

4.     If it does persist, then close Word, go back and rename your template back to Normal.dotm. Then you can...

 

Check for Problem Add-Ins (takes a bit more effort). Here is my page on this: Add-Ins in Microsoft Word

1.     There are primarily two kinds of Addins to check. The COM Add-Ins and the Word Add-Ins. Here are the buttons on the Developer Tab.

User's image

2.     You will want to disable them all by using the checkboxes. If some are already unchecked, make a note of that so you do not activate those ones later by mistake. You can do this with the COM Add-Ins first and then the Word Add-Ins.

3.     Do not use the command-line switch because that also uses a fresh Normal template.

4.     Then, one-by-one enable them and check for your error. When it pops back up, you have identified the culprit.

5.     If all of them pass, check the store Add-Ins (the first button). I have not heard of problems with the Store Add-Ins but that may just show my ignorance.

 

Once you have identified a culprit Add-In you have to decide if it helps you enough to be worth this problem. Contact the developer of the Add-In and let them know about the problem. See if that developer can help.

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  1. AI answer

    2025-12-22T20:13:36.34+00:00

    It sounds like there may be an issue with your keyboard settings or a potential conflict with a macro or add-in that is causing the "End" key to delete the first paragraph instead of navigating to the end of the line. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot this issue:

    1. Check for Macros: Even if you have looked for macros, double-check to ensure there are no macros assigned to the "End" key. You can do this by going to the "View" tab, selecting "Macros," and then checking for any assigned actions.
    2. Disable Add-ins: Sometimes, add-ins can interfere with normal keyboard operations. Try disabling any add-ins you have installed to see if that resolves the issue. You can do this by going to "File" > "Options" > "Add-ins" and managing your add-ins from there.
    3. Reset Keyboard Shortcuts: If there are custom keyboard shortcuts set up, resetting them to default might help. You can do this through the "Customize Ribbon" and "Keyboard Shortcuts" options in the Word settings.
    4. Check for Software Updates: Ensure that your version of Word is up to date, as updates can fix bugs and issues. You can check for updates under "File" > "Account" > "Update Options."
    5. Test in Safe Mode: You can start Word in Safe Mode to see if the problem persists. To do this, hold down the Ctrl key while starting Word. If the issue does not occur in Safe Mode, it may indicate that an add-in or customization is causing the problem.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

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

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