Request for fix to implement for Microsoft apps deleting content - request an answer from a human (not AI) Microsoft expert please

Question

I have been having a problem the last few months where my computer takes over and has been randomly deleting content in open Microsoft applications that I am in, such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and PPT. Here are a few recent examples:

• I am working in PPT, and the computer randomly deletes all the slides, which I then have to recover, then it jumps to Outlook and starts to delete Outlook emails, and then jumps to One Note and starts to delete One Note content (again, my cursor moving backwards on its own)
• I am in PPT, and the computer cursor starts moving backwards and deleting the content I just put in, then jumps to Outlook and starts deleting Outlook emails

In each case, I have to rapidly exit all applications and shut down/reboot the computer to prevent it from continuing randomly deleting any and all open content.

We already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the Microsoft applications and it is not working. We are going to try a new computer but I am concerned this won't fix the issue as there is something wrong with my Microsoft profile.

Is this a known issue, and if so is there a fix that we can implement? Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

The symptoms you describe may suggest some type of malware.

At a guess, the cause is a faulty touchpad, keyboard or mouse, though. For example, if you are typing on a laptop, the touchpad may be so sensitive that vibrations from typing are registered as mouse movement.

I would suggest that you try different hardware (mouse, keyboard) first. See also Jeronimo Fuerte's reply.

Answer 2

Hi! Before moving to a new computer, I would suggest testing with a different keyboard, mouse, and Bluetooth input devices disconnected. Also, start Windows in Safe Mode to see whether the behavior stops; this helps isolate the problem away from default Windows settings/basic drivers/services.

Please let me know what happens when you do this.

Answer 3

How do I contact Microsoft support please? Is there a contact phone number or email?

Answer 4

This behavior is not listed as a known Microsoft 365/Office issue in the provided references. However, there are a few supported paths to move forward:

1. Check for known Office issues and fixes
   • Review the current list of “Fixes or workarounds for recent Office issues” to see if any match the behavior being experienced. This page is kept up to date with known problems and their resolutions for Office apps and related services such as Outlook and OneDrive.
   • If a matching issue is found, follow the documented workaround or install the Office build that contains the fix.
2. Verify Office and Windows are fully updated
   • Ensure Office is on the latest channel/build that includes fixes for recent issues. For example, some Word issues (like repeated opening of blank documents) are resolved only in specific later versions.
   • Ensure Windows is fully updated as well. Some Office crashes or abnormal behavior are tied to OS-level issues that are resolved by installing the latest updates.
3. Use official support channels
   • If the issue does not match any documented problem, contact Microsoft Support so that a support engineer can collect logs and reproduce the behavior. The “Fixes or workarounds for recent Office issues” page explicitly directs users to contact support when they cannot find a solution.
   • Alternatively, post details (including Office version, Windows version, and steps to reproduce) in the Office/Outlook/Word Tech Community or Answers forums, where Microsoft engineers and MVPs can help investigate.

These steps ensure the issue is checked against known defects and, if necessary, escalated through official Microsoft support for deeper analysis of the profile or environment.

---

References:

• Fixes or workarounds for recent Office issues
• Microsoft "Office app" stopped working. Windows is verifying a solution for this...
• Microsoft Word might repeatedly open new, blank documents without being prompted
• Outlook closes shortly after it is opened
• Outlook, Word, or OneNote unexpectedly close when typing