How to get cross-hair to work in Word 10 using Shapes

Question

I am using Windows 10. When I click on Insert/Shapes, select shape required then try to draw that shape in Word and I don't have the cross-hair to start the shape. No shapes are available to me in current document and or new document. Just cannot draw the shape.

I am an old gal, I believe I know Word quite well, but cannot figure this out. All else seems to be working fine.

Thanks for your help

Answer 1

It sounds like you're experiencing an issue with drawing shapes in Microsoft Word on Windows 10. Here are some steps you can try to resolve this problem:

1. Restart Word

Sometimes, simply restarting Word can resolve temporary glitches.

Close Microsoft Word.

Open it again and try to insert the shape.

2. Ensure You're in the Correct Mode

Make sure you're in a mode that allows you to insert shapes:

Go to the Insert tab.

Click on Shapes.

Select the shape you want to insert.

3. Use the Drawing Canvas

Using the Drawing Canvas can sometimes make it easier to manage shapes:

Go to the Insert tab.

Click on Shapes.

Select New Drawing Canvas at the bottom of the shapes list.

Inside the drawing canvas, try to draw your shape.

4. Check for Updates

Ensure that your Microsoft Office is up-to-date:

Open Word.

Go to File > Account.

Under Product Information, click on Update Options.

Select Update Now.

5. Repair Office

If there are any issues with your Office installation, repairing it might help:

Go to Control Panel.

Click on Programs and Features.

Find Microsoft Office in the list.

Right-click on it and select Change.

Choose Quick Repair and follow the prompts. If the issue persists, try Online Repair.

6. Check for Conflicting Add-ins

Sometimes, add-ins can cause issues. Try disabling them:

Open Word.

Go to File > Options.

Click on Add-ins.

At the bottom, in the Manage box, select COM Add-ins and click Go.

Uncheck all the add-ins and click OK.

Restart Word and see if the issue is resolved.

7. Reset Word Settings

Resetting Word to its default settings can sometimes resolve issues:

Close Word.

Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows + R.

Type regedit and press Enter.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office<version>\Word.

Rename the Word key to something else (e.g., WordBackup).

Restart Word. This will recreate the Word key with default settings.

Note: Be careful when using the Registry Editor, as making incorrect changes can affect your system.

8. Try in Safe Mode

Running Word in Safe Mode can help determine if the issue is caused by add-ins or other settings:

Close Word.

Press Windows + R, type winword /safe, and press Enter.

Try to insert and draw the shape in Safe Mode.

If it works in Safe Mode, the issue is likely due to add-ins or custom settings.

9. Reinstall Office

As a last resort, you can try reinstalling Microsoft Office:

Uninstall Office from the Control Panel > Programs and Features.

Download and install the latest version of Office from the Microsoft Office website.

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue and insert shapes into your Word documents. If the problem persists, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.