Microsoft update disabled the ability to highlight text on document

Question

Microsoft update disabled the ability to highlight text on document

Miriam 20

Yesterday, Microsoft asked to update. After the update, I am no longer able to highlight any text with my mouse. It is my own document I am working on, permissions are not an issue. I can click and 1 word or a sentence will highlight, but I can not select a portion of text and highlight.

Diane Whitworth 0 Reputation points

2026-03-07T15:29:09.4533333+00:00

I have updated my microsoft word version to Version 16.106.3 on my 2024 macbook air. I, too, am unable to highlight text in a word document when holding down my left mouse key. I had this issue in the preceding version as well. I updated to the newer version in the hopes that it would eliminate this issue. Highlighting is an integral part of all my work. Please advise on how to resolve this issue.

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Diane Whitworth 0 Reputation points

2026-03-07T15:29:09.4533333+00:00

I have updated my microsoft word version to Version 16.106.3 on my 2024 macbook air. I, too, am unable to highlight text in a word document when holding down my left mouse key. I had this issue in the preceding version as well. I updated to the newer version in the hopes that it would eliminate this issue. Highlighting is an integral part of all my work. Please advise on how to resolve this issue.

Answer 1

Michelle-N 15,545 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Miriam

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum support.

Based on the information you shared, I understand that after the most recent Microsoft update on your Mac, you're no longer able to highlight specific portions of text with your mouse in Word. You can only click to highlight a single word or sentence, but not a custom selection.

In my test environment, I'm still able to highlight text as usual. Can I ask, are you unable to highlight text even in a new, blank document, or does this only happen with existing files? If possible, please provide a screenshot so I can assist you better.

If it still happens in a new document, I suggest you try rolling back to a previous version of Word to see if the behavior disappears. Here are the steps:

Please uninstall your current version of Microsoft Word.
Go to the "Update history for Office for Mac" page (link below) and download an installer for an older version. Typically, versions 16.99 or 16.100 are known to be stable. Update history for Office for Mac - Microsoft Support

You can try that and please let me know if the issue is resolved with the older version.

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Miriam 20 Reputation points

2025-11-14T14:07:13.05+00:00

Thank you. This information was helpful- it seems there was an issue with the MAC update and the Microsoft update. It has not been corrected and everything is working.

Thank you
Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points

2025-11-14T17:25:28.4+00:00

It's unfortunate that you were inundated with so much prose rather than simply being pointed to this existing Answer: Select Text

Additionally, my reply there contains another link by the same name. Follow it to find information on a variety of other selection techniques which don't involve dragging. They are significantly more accurate & efficacious techniques, especially for those who do a great deal of editing.
Michelle-N 15,545 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-15T11:45:07.3466667+00:00

Hi @Miriam

Thank you for your updates. If you need any additional information, please let me know.

Answer 2

@Diane Whitworth

Your Office software is current but what about macOS? The Cut/Copy/Paste operations are owned by the operating system but some programs may be affected if the OS isn't current. This is especially true of early releases such as Tahoe which now should be at 26.3.1, but if you've installed the 26.4 Beta that could be the problem.Please see the link in my earlier Comment to the original poster. Follow the link within it for additional selection techniques which are far more efficient & accurate than dragging.

For future reference, please don't tack onto an existing thread unless you are offering as suggestion/solution to the OP. It often causes confusion & misunderstanding. If the thread doesn't provide results for you submit a New Question stating all particulars relative to your concern. Include macOS & Office version numbers as well as indicating what measures you've tried & their results. Thanks for your understanding & cooperation.

Answer 3

It sounds like you may be experiencing a display or functionality issue with Microsoft Word after the update. Here are some steps you can try to resolve the problem:

Restart Word: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening the application can resolve temporary glitches.
Check for Additional Updates: Ensure that your Microsoft Office is fully updated. You can check for updates by going to the File tab, selecting Account, and then clicking on Update Options.
Disable Add-ins: Sometimes, third-party add-ins can interfere with functionality. You can disable them by going to File > Options > Add-ins, and then manage COM Add-ins to disable any that might be causing issues.
Repair Office: If the issue persists, consider repairing your Office installation. You can do this through the Control Panel by selecting Programs and Features, finding Microsoft Office, and choosing the repair option.
Check Mouse Settings: Ensure that your mouse settings are correctly configured and that there are no issues with the mouse itself.

If none of these solutions work, it may be worth checking if there are any known issues with the specific update you installed or contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.

References:

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Microsoft update disabled the ability to highlight text on document

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