How to fix highlighting issue in Word documents

Question

I can't highlight or select text with my touchpad in all of my word documents and it only works if i use shift + click but even then it only selects individual words. I can still edit my documents and i've restarted my laptop which led to it working momentarily but it has gone back to not working anymore. This issue is only prevalent in word and not in any other Microsoft apps.

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

In Word, the default is to select whole words. You can clear the option "When selecting, automatically select entire word" at File > Options > Advanced. See the screen shot below.

Clearing the option will ensure that Shift + clicking selects from the current insertion point to the specific location (text character) where you click.

Answer 2

Dear @Nilakshi,

Based on your description, this sounds like a Word-specific selection issue rather than a touchpad hardware problem, since the touchpad works normally in other applications.

For better understanding your situation. please confirm some more information as:

• Does the issue occur in a brand-new blank document?
• Have you tried to check in Word for the web (https://www.office.com)?
• And have you tried to check with an external mouse if available?

In the meantime, here are some suggestions you can try:
1.Check if "Extend Selection" mode is enabled

Sometimes Word gets stuck in a selection mode.

• Press F8 once.
• Then press Esc a few times.
• Test whether you can click and drag to select text.

2.Disable Word Add-ins

A problematic add-in can interfere with mouse and touchpad behavior.

• Close Word.
• Press Windows + R.
• Type:

    winword /safe
    
    
  

• Press Enter.

Then test text selection in Safe Mode.

• Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
• At the bottom, select COM Add-ins and click Go.
• Disable all add-ins.
• Restart Word normally.
• Re-enable add-ins one at a time to find the culprit.

3.Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration

• Open Word.
• Go to File > Options > Advanced.
• Under Display, check: Disable hardware graphics acceleration
• Restart Word.

4.Check Touchpad Gestures

Open Windows Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Touchpad.

Check:

• Tap to click is enabled.
• Click and drag functionality works.

If your laptop uses Synaptics, ELAN, or Precision drivers, update or reinstall the touchpad driver from the laptop manufacturer's website.

5.Reset Word User Settings

• Close all Office apps.
• Press Windows + R.
• Enter:

    %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates
    
    
  

• Rename: "Normal.dotm" to "Normal.old"
• Reopen Word.

Word will create a fresh template automatically.

6.Repair Microsoft 365

If the issue remains, open Control Panel > Programs and Features > Select Microsoft 365 > Click Change.

Run:

• Quick Repair first.
• If needed, Online Repair.

I hope information above can help you resolve the issue, please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

---

If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes". If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".   

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