Text/Comment box typing.

Question

Here we are. 2026. Same problem. Need to restart Windows Explorer every time to fix the typing in the comment and text boxes. Getting annoying.

Answer 1

Hi Rexford F,

Thank you for reaching out.

I understand how frustrating it can be when typing intermittently stops working in comment fields or text boxes and only returns after restarting Windows Explorer. This behavior can occur when the Windows text input service temporarily stops responding. Restarting Explorer refreshes the desktop, which is why the issue clears for a short time.

Please try these checking steps to reduce the recurrence:

1, Install all available Windows updates.

2, Remove unused keyboards or language inputs under Settings > Time & Language.

3, Run system integrity checks if the issue happens frequently:

• Open Command Prompt (run as Admin)
• Run: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Then run: sfc /scannow

In the meantime, as workarounds, you can usually restore typing with the options below:

Option 1: Restart the text input service

• Press Windows + R
• Enter: C:\Windows\System32\ctfmon.exe
• Press Enter

Option 2: Restart Windows Explorer

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc
• Right‑click Windows Explorer
• Select Restart

Let me know if you need further assistance, feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.

---

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

Answer 2

The described behavior (typing stops working in comment and text boxes until restarting Explorer) matches a known class of issues where text input can fail due to problems in the Text Services Framework (Msctf.dll) and IME handling.

In Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2, Microsoft documented a specific bug where:

• Using an Input Method Editor (IME) such as Japanese or Korean.
• Repeatedly changing focus among text box controls.
• Eventually causes the system to run out of memory and freeze, requiring a restart.

This was traced to a memory leak in Msctf.dll and fixed by a hotfix that updates Msctf.dll to newer versions (for example, 6.2.9200.17194/21311 on Windows 8/Server 2012 and 6.3.9600.17620 on Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2). The fix is distributed as a targeted hotfix and, for 8.1/2012 R2, requires that update 2919355 be installed first.

For systems that match the affected versions (Windows 8, 8.1, Server 2012, Server 2012 R2) and show symptoms such as freezing or loss of input when moving between text boxes while using an IME, the supported remediation is:

1. Ensure the prerequisite update (for example, update 2919355 on Windows 8.1/Server 2012 R2) is installed.
2. Obtain and install the Msctf.dll hotfix package described for the “Computer freezes when the focus repeatedly changes among text boxes in Windows” issue.
3. Restart the computer after applying the hotfix.

The hotfix is intended only for systems that exhibit this specific problem. If additional issues are present, separate troubleshooting or support requests are required.

If the environment is Windows 11, the documented hotfix does not apply directly, but the underlying mechanism (Text Services Framework and IME interaction with text boxes) is similar. For affected earlier versions, applying the hotfix and ensuring the updated Msctf.dll version is present is the supported way to eliminate the need for repeated Explorer restarts when text input fails in text/comment boxes.

---

References:

• Computer freezes when the focus repeatedly changes among text boxes in Windows