I can't click and drag to highlight text.

Question

I'm using Word on my Mac. All of a sudden I can't highlight text with my trackpad any more. I can highlight text by placing the cursor where I want to start and clicking and holding shift, but I can't easily just use the trackpad which is extremely convenient. I can still highlight text in other programs (even in this text field) but not in Word. It's the only one that doesn't work.

Answer 1

If you're unable to click and drag to highlight text in Word on your Mac, it could be due to a few reasons. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Restart Word: Sometimes, simply closing and reopening the application can resolve temporary glitches.
2. Check Trackpad Settings: Ensure that your trackpad settings are correctly configured. Go to System Preferences > Trackpad and verify that the gestures are enabled.
3. Create a New User Account: To determine if the issue is related to your user account, create a new user account on your Mac and see if the problem persists in Word when logged into that account.
4. Reinstall Office: If the issue continues, consider reinstalling Microsoft Office to ensure that all components are functioning correctly. You can follow the steps for uninstalling and reinstalling Office as needed.

If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be helpful to check for updates for both macOS and Microsoft Office, as updates can fix bugs and improve functionality.

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References:

• "Microsoft program cannot be opened because of a problem" error when you start an Office program
• "Microsoft program cannot be opened because of a problem" error when you start an Office program
• Use keyboard, mouse, touch, and pen in Windows App
• Use keyboard, mouse, touch, and pen in Windows App
• macOS

Answer 2

See Bob's reply in the thread at https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5196331/click-and-drag-to-select-specific-text .