mouse won't select text in word on mac
I found this question when my user was having this same problem - only in Outlook, they could not select text or move the mouse in any new message after using the CTRL key once while writing one (although the mouse worked for moving between fields in the new message, like From, to, Subject, and in all other applications). Whenever I want to select text with the mouse (left button, slide the mouse) it won't highlight the text. You may have word, but you probably also have Pages. This is also happening to me in both Word and Excel. For Free. My browser text does not have issues either (Safari and/or Firefox). I have the latest updates for Word and double-clicking to highlight text does not work for me (it does work in all other programs). If none of the above fixes worked, it might be worth heading into an Apple Store and asking an employee for advice. Why xargs does not process the last argument? Your Mac may need a software or firmware update to fix some bugs associated with your mouse or trackpad. Jan 07 2018 Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. The Shift key on a Mac keyboard The Option key on your keyboard offers another way to select. I had the same problem and rebooting did the trick for me. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? I'm re-checking for viruses. To start the conversation again, simply I have the top row of a table frozen). When you do this, the text becomes unselected when you hold CTRL and press the arrow keys to move the insertion point to continue selecting text in a different area of your Word document. Now this does not work. Can't select text with mouse in Word or Outlook, Synergy prevents click and drag actions in some windows applications. (3) once you have highlighted your text, press CTRL + C in order to copy the text. Triple clicking highlights the line. What was the actual cockpit layout and crew of the Mi-24A? Select Apple > System Preferences > Trackpad and uncheck the box next to Force Click and haptic feedback. For some reason, double clicking the trackpad button or with one finger on the trackpad itself (tap-tap, essentially), does not do what it used to. OnePlus Pad Review: First Trys the Charm? To work around this problem, use the mouse to select non-contiguous areas of your Word document. Dont worry, weve got you covered too. How to Use Cron With Your Docker Containers, How to Use Docker to Containerize PHP and Apache, How to Pass Environment Variables to Docker Containers, How to Check If Your Server Is Vulnerable to the log4j Java Exploit (Log4Shell), How to Use State in Functional React Components, How to Restart Kubernetes Pods With Kubectl, How to Find Your Apache Configuration Folder, How to Assign a Static IP to a Docker Container, How to Get Started With Portainer, a Web UI for Docker, How to Configure Cache-Control Headers in NGINX, How to Set Variables In Your GitLab CI Pipelines, How to Use an NVIDIA GPU with Docker Containers, How Does Git Reset Actually Work? Others use both their left and right index fingers. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? The text is highlighted letter by letter, as shown below. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The programs are also very unstable and drain the battery of my 2014 15" Retina MacBook Pro. Choose the account you want to sign in with. Why Cant I Drag and Drop Files on My Mac with Universal Control? Anyone found a fix besides another mouse or pull out the old one with a wire? This issue was never present until I purchased a new iMac with OS X Mavericks. Visit an Apple Store. I do not have this problem with Word 2007. Also they say that activating the "Elevate" check could fix it. I have a completely new computer and mouse and the selecting cell or word process has become frustrating. To do this, follow these steps: Use your mouse and select the first text that you want. It is a more global problem as I cannot select the intended paragraph of text on a webpage using Chrome. He has been covering consumer technology for over a decade and previously worked as Managing Editor at. The cause was unknown until today when I narrowed it down to the Ctrl key. While holding CTRL, select the next text that you want. You are using an out of date browser. If the default mouse settings dont work for you, choose an option that does. Any Mac or iPad that matches or is newer than the models in the above list should support Universal Control drag and drop. As for why/how this fixed the issue or the root cause - I haven't got a clue. Prepare to have your mind blown. Which ability is most related to insanity: Wisdom, Charisma, Constitution, or Intelligence? You must log in or register to reply here. I believe the problem was either a MacOS problem, or, more likely, an incorrect interaction between Word and MacOS. You might not have the cursor in the exact right spot to start or you miss the last letter. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Instead of re-installing Office, you can use the Office diagnostic tools which may repair the problem. Can anyone test? By clicking Post Your Answer, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. Try searching for a tutor. 1-800-MY-APPLE, or, Sales and It's driving me crazy. How a top-ranked engineering school reimagined CS curriculum (Ep. Probably both. Can you still use Commanders Strike if the only attack available to forego is an attack against an ally? Joel Lexchin, User profile for user: Please help!!! Using the USB mouse, in System Preferences click on Mouse and then Set Up Bluetooth Mouse Once the Magic Mouse has paired with your Mac see if if you can select text If you still can't select text try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode to see if you can highlight text and if you can highlight restart as normal and check again Reply Helpful of 1 In my case, I think I've narrowed it down to the hard drive being full and nearly out of space. Once connected, Universal Control can be used to seamlessly move a single mouse cursor from one screen to the other and even drag and drop files between connected devices. a Question It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebooks. Press Shift while selecting multiple files on your Mac located next to each other or Command while clicking files that aren't close together. Has the Melford Hall manuscript poem "Whoso terms love a fire" been attributed to any poetDonne, Roe, or other? Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. Embedded hyperlinks in a thesis or research paper. Has anyone else noticed a bug or issue in Preview that prevents text selection? How do I stop the Flickering on Mode 13h? 1 Answer Sorted by: 1 You can try updating MacOS I had the problem you mention, though under MacOS 12.3 and Word 16.62 Home/Student. Some people find drag and drop easier with this setting disabled. I had a similar problem, not involving Ctrl key, but this was the first thing that came up in Google when I searched for help so thought I'd post my solution here for others. If you have the option, try connecting your mouse to a different USB port to see if this fixes the problem. Exit Activity Monitor. Drag and drop is a feature that allows you to move files from one location to another on a Mac computer. I have that setting enabled and can click and drag to select text. Which was the first Sci-Fi story to predict obnoxious "robo calls"? http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/1/3/913B0797-F3A4-4135-9CF8-E6FD548E3CD8/MicrosoftFixit50123.msi. Going nuts. Release your finger to place the file in its new location. Worked for me, surprisingly. I have had this problem before and realized my mouse needed new batteries. I have Text Selection tool selected and am not able to select or highlight text. Drag-select of words in Microsoft Word was inconsistently not working - the word would highlight, then on releasing the mouse button, the highlight was lost about 50% of the time - highly irritating. Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. How do I drag and drop multiple files on my Mac? Select Apple > System Preferences > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Trackpad Options > Enable dragging and then select three finger drag. Since we launched in 2006, our articles have been read billions of times. This functionality is on by default because it is a standard function of mouse and trackpad usage, so you shouldnt need to enable it. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. It looks like a problem with your mouse. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. ask a new question. What does "up to" mean in "is first up to launch"? Unexpected uint64 behaviour 0xFFFF'FFFF'FFFF'FFFF - 1 = 0? To do this, follow these steps: Use your mouse and select the first text that you want. Whether you want to build your own home theater or just learn more about TVs, displays, projectors, and more, we've got you covered. Apples Universal Control feature is a form of drag and drop where you use a single keyboard and mouse with up to three Apple devices. And shift+left/right to highlight left and right? Then use your mouse or trackpad to select and drag the files to a new location. Oddly, works better highlighting backwards rather than forwards. Changed mouse and the problem disappears. Not sure whether to disparage Apple or MS. Theres actually a much better way of doing this, and youll never go back. Take Screenshot by Tapping Back of iPhone, Pair Two Sets of AirPods With the Same iPhone, Download Files Using Safari on Your iPhone, Turn Your Computer Into a DLNA Media Server, Add a Website to Your Phone's Home Screen, Control All Your Smart Home Devices in One App. RELATED: Why Is a Computer Mouse Called a Mouse? Can Power Companies Remotely Adjust Your Smart Thermostat? answered 07/28/21, Librarian with 8+ years of technology instruction experience. This happens reliably if I have 'freeze panes' activated (e.g. Looks like no ones replied in a while. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Open a Mac app again where copy and paste was not working as expected, and try using the copy and paste commands again and it should . Brad Stephenson is a freelance tech and geek culture writer with 12+ years' experience. You dont have to worry about dragging to the exact right spot. I have tried several registry edits offered by my findings with no luck. All postings and use of the content on this site are subject to the. The same problem is not when I use the trackpad or other mice and I dont have a problem using the Magic Mouse and Excel or Powerpoint. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. Sharing best practices for building any app with .NET. First, click the small arrow at the right of the Quick Access bar. But is very annoying. Triple-tap a word to select the sentence containing that word. If you happen to be using Synergy (or other similar software KVM type program), I would suggest attempting to kill that application, and see if the problem persists. Same here- just got new iMac. Step 2: Double-click on Activity. Hallelujah! Press the calc key and open the calculator twice, Play/Pause key press twice also so doesn't work, Zoom key in Microsoft Keyboard doesn't work. Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations Back up your Mac and then select Finder > Go > Go to Folder, type ~/Library, select Go, and then delete the following six files. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. I have uninstalled and re-installed Office. @Colette KillianIt's your mouse! Jan 07 2018 But I am not sure if was it which fixed the problem. Generic Doubly-Linked-Lists C implementation. I seem to only encounter the issue in MS Word. I switched to a Logitech M525 and it works like how Excel, Outlook, etc. To start the conversation again, simply My trackpad on my laptop worked to highlight just fine and so did a new mouse! With freeze panes activated scrolling with the scroll gesture on my mouse pad (two finger swipe) disconnects the content scroll position from the scroll bar position - I can see this happening; when I scroll with the mouse pad the page scrolls but the scroll bar doesn't move. I have intermittent trouble highlighting text in Microsoft Word 14.2 using the Magic Mouse. If youre having trouble moving the mouse cursor and clicking on files and icons, try changing the speed settings to suit your style. Highlight a Row Using Conditional Formatting, Hide or Password Protect a Folder in Windows, Access Your Router If You Forget the Password, Access Your Linux Partitions From Windows, How to Connect to Localhost Within a Docker Container, How to Run Your Own DNS Server on Your Local Network. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Switch USB ports. This site contains user submitted content, comments and opinions and is for informational purposes Think about the times when youve highlighted text. Jessica Kormos is a writer and editor with 15 years' experience writing articles, copy, and UX content for Tecca.com, Rosenfeld Media, and many others. only. I have tried several `registry edits` offered by my findings with no luck.Any ideas? I'm not having this issue anywhere except for MS Word, and now too with Excel--so it seems the MS Office (I'm running MS Office 2011 for Mac) is the only culprit. 1-800-MY-APPLE, or, Using a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard, or trackpad with your Mac, Sales and I have Win10 and Office10 installed. Just bought a new 21.5 inch iMac and using the most current version of MS Word (2011 for Mac) and I'm having frustrating attempts at highlighting text, and even double-clicking words. There are no sticky keys. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Change your right-click settings on your Mac. any proposed solutions on the community forums. Grahamhinitt. So, open the Control Panel and launch the interface for mouse settings. Unless he's poorly describing what the problem is, which is certainly possible. I cannot select text with my mouse in Word and Outlook. Feb 12, 2015 4:44 AM in response to Joel Lexchin. Thank you, EricJTx, changing the color solved the problem. @BAR What about SHIFT+up/down to highlight multiple lines. Refunds, Move the cursor to Magic Mouse and delete it by clicking on the (X), Using the USB mouse, in System Preferences click on Mouse and then Set Up Bluetooth Mouse, Once the Magic Mouse has paired with your Mac see if if you can select text, If you still can't select text try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode to see if you can highlight text and if you can highlight restart as normal and check again, Left Click and hold to highlight the first word in the line, While still holding move the cursor down to highlight the lines below. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Enabling touch mode requires only a few steps. Hold down Shift and click within the selected text to subtract characters, words, or paragraphs from your selection. On whose turn does the fright from a terror dive end? To learn how, check this link. Followed the instruction in the link and my issue is resolved. captured in an electronic forum and Apple can therefore provide no guarantee as to the efficacy of RELATED: How to Change Mouse Pointer Size and Style in Windows 11. In the Search box of Activity Monitor, type "pboard". Seems I do not have this issue with any of my other apps: Adobe Creative Suite 5 (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, etc.). Why is this method wrong? Try a different surface. I have run into a similar issue if you happen to be running Synergy (http://synergy-project.org/). Couldnt be simpler, right? On what basis are pardoning decisions made by presidents or governors when exercising their pardoning power? A firm, non-reflective surface usually works best for mouse gestures. Join 425,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. This process will refresh the above files by recreating them. It can be annoying. You use the keyboard to select areas of non-contiguous text in Microsoft Word. should now. When I left-click and drag my mouse over text in MS Word or in an e-mail message in Outlook Express, then the text is highlighted and ready to delete, copy, paste etc. If I drag the cursor to the URL bar and double click, the entire thing won't be highlighted as it should and always used to do until recently. To select text letter by letter, place the cursor at the starting point, hold down the Shift key, then press the Left or Right arrow keys. First thing to do is get off the horribly buggy 12.0.1. We select and review products independently. Big up @dragon-drawp! What Is a PEM File and How Do You Use It? Windows 7 and later (downloads a file named tsginfo.exe), Windows XP (downloads a file named SysInfo.exe). By clicking Accept all cookies, you agree Stack Exchange can store cookies on your device and disclose information in accordance with our Cookie Policy. Please advise, Nov 3, 2021 1:59 PM in response to Grahamhinitt, User profile for user: What is the Russian word for the color "teal"? The buttons on a mouse are a lot more versatile than we realize. I just had the same issue and discovered my mouse sensor was not working properly. A boy can regenerate, so demons eat him for years. Why did DOS-based Windows require HIMEM.SYS to boot? A link to the app was sent to your phone. @Michael MarvelliFor those who need a concrete response Office 365 isn't the issue, confirmed with our IT department and others at our company. There are keyboard shortcuts for selecting text both by letter and by word. Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. You can change back if not helpful. How can I click and drag to highlight text, my mouse will only highlight one line at a tie, iMac 24, Well if the problem is recent I always like to resort to System Restore to undo any recent changes. Trouble selecting cells or objects with mouse, Re: Trouble selecting cells or objects with mouse. This guide will walk you through a series of solutions to fix your Macs cursor problems, whether youre experiencing them when using your trackpad or mouse. I've searched everywhere but I can not find a solution to this problem! Looks like no ones replied in a while. rayito11, call Let me explain . I think the fixed the problem. If youre using a multi-button mouse, you may need to adjust its settings to get it to drag and drop properly on your Mac. Refresh the Macs mouse and trackpad files. 2005 - 2023 Wyzant, Inc, a division of IXL Learning - All Rights Reserved. Some users find it easier to use a thumb to select an item and an index finger to drag and drop it. Shavingream, User profile for user: EVs have been around a long time but are quickly gaining speed in the automotive industry. Luis A. There should be a button.In the Word Options window click on the Resources option and then click the Diagnose button next to the 'run Microsoft Office Diagnostics' option. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Apple disclaims any and all liability for the acts, Hope this saves someone the agonizing pain of being unable to flash fill by dragging, trying to grab documents or emails while it disconnects your click, etc. I had the problem you mention, though under MacOS 12.3 and Word 16.62 Home/Student. All Rights Reserved. Soon to go in search of a more funcitonal mouse. Disable Force Click and haptic feedback. Mar 13, 2014 7:51 PM in response to Joel Lexchin. Was shocked to discover that it immediately worked again after right clicking in the message body. Can the game be left in an invalid state if all state-based actions are replaced? It's great to know what was causing the issues but I still need synergy Gee, I put up with this issue for months with no cluehow frustrating! This kind of goes away if you press the Win key once. Quadruple-tap does the same as a double, only it . Mouse and trackpad preferences can also often confuse as there are several options users can select to customize how an item is selected and moved via Macs mouse cursor. Is your mouse wireless? I've noticed this for a while. No packages or subscriptions, pay only for the time you need. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Adjust the cursor and click speed. Just click and drag your mouse to highlight the desired text. This method makes a lot more sense for most situations. To select by word, place the cursor at the starting point or double-click the first word. I am using Office 2010 (Professional 14.0.6112.5000 32-bit on Windows 7 Pro SP1). Instead of a single click and drag, try doing a double-click, but keep holding the mouse button down and drag on the second click. Restarting your computer can fix a variety of problems. Why xargs does not process the last argument? - edited In Mountain Lion (10.8), the Double-Click speed option has disappeared completely from the Mouse & Trackpad settings. Some people find this easier than the single-finger default. So lets make that easier. First, lets look at the way most people typically select text on their Windows, Mac, Chromebook, or Linux PC. Im running OS 10.8.2 on a MacBook Pro (retina display). provided; every potential issue may involve several factors not detailed in the conversations How-To Geek is where you turn when you want experts to explain technology. Mar 14, 2014 1:04 AM in response to Joel Lexchin. The Word Help topic "Select text by using the keyboard" incorrectly states the following: Select text by holding down SHIFT and pressing the key that moves the insertion point. If total energies differ across different software, how do I decide which software to use? It may not display this or other websites correctly. Yes - that's true. If I do Shift+click then I can sometimes select what I want. Some dirt or oils may be interfering with the mouses functionality. Apple may provide or recommend responses as a possible solution based on the information I have updated to the latest version of Word. But for me the problem was not anything with the computer or the Office apps - it was the Logitech Mouse! Refresh the Mac's mouse and trackpad files. Instead of re-installing Office, you can use the Office diagnostic tools which may repair the problem. If you want to change trackpad dragging behavior by turning drag lock on or off, visit System Preferences > Accessibility > Pointer Control > Mouse & Trackpad > Trackpad Options. Double-tap a word to select the whole word/. Thanks Damien, I was hoping that Zoom would be the culprit but unfortunately it is not. Fortunately for me it was as simple as zooming out that fixed this. Try one of our lessons. How to Make a Black glass pass light through it? Could a subterranean river or aquifer generate enough continuous momentum to power a waterwheel for the purpose of producing electricity? I had a Logitech M310 mouse and that was the issue. Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. If youre having trouble getting Apples Universal Control drag and drop feature to work correctly, make sure your devices are running at least either the macOS Monterey or iPadOS 15 operating system and are at least one of the following. 565), Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Can't select text with mouse in Word / Office 2007. My recommendation is to avoid it as much as possible, Microsoft did a very poor job with the Mac version of Office. Go to System Preferences > Accessibility Choose Mouse & Trackpad from the left options list Click Trackpad Options Tick "Enable dragging" and select "three finger drag" from the drop-down menu next to it For macOS 10.15 "Catalina" and later: Go to System Preferences > Accessibility Choose Pointer Control Turn off Select entire word when selecting text. Is this plug ok to install an AC condensor? He has been covering consumer technology for over a decade and previously worked as Managing Editor at XDA-Developers. Select all text with similar formatting in Word 2011 for Mac? Occasionally, if I resave the file, it will let . You can adjust the left-click settings for both your Macs trackpad and your mouse to make it easier to drag and drop content. Hope it helps :). Check it out below. seventy one, User profile for user: Find the driver of your mouse. Enable three-finger drag. A flat battery can affect how well a mouse works with a Mac. Why are players required to record the moves in World Championship Classical games? crbald1 1 yr. ago I also just experimented with Pages which does not have this issue either. Suddenly I can't highlight a block of text. 565), Improving the copy in the close modal and post notices - 2023 edition, New blog post from our CEO Prashanth: Community is the future of AI, Can't use mouse to place an insertion point or drag-select text in Word; cursor moves as commanded by mouse, Synergy prevents click and drag actions in some Windows applications, Double click selecting word in Word / Outlook, Can't select text with mouse in Word / Office 2007, MSWord 2010 shortcut key for TOGGLING styles, When I reduce header size in Word all hell breaks loose, How to fully undo an Insert Page Numbers operation in Word, Microsoft 365 E5 security add-on can't remove autofill email addresses in Outlook 2016. Similar to the above tip, you can also change the right-click settings on your Mac to suit your style and workflow. Apple disclaims any and all liability for the acts, Highlight on Buttons tab and enable ClickLock feature. but only in certain situations! Choose an expert and meet online. Windows 11 Has More Widgets Improvements on the Way, Intel CPUs Might Give up the i After 14 Years, 10 Inexpensive Ways to Breathe New Life Into an Old PC, 2023 LifeSavvy Media. What does "up to" mean in "is first up to launch"? Check your multi-button mouses settings. I have been having the same trouble since I got a Surface Pro tablet with docking station. When done, restart your Mac. The text is selected but does not show a highlighted colour. Synergy is definitely causing this issue in my situation. Exactly. Posted on Oct 28, 2012 1:33 PM. Little tricks like this can make a world of difference. Change or charge your mouses battery. How to Split a Screen With Snap Layout in Windows 11, How to Fix 'macOS Could Not Be Installed on Your Computer' Error, How to Keep Your Mac Keyboard and Mouse Clean, How to Drag and Drop Screenshots in iOS 15, How to Fix It When the Cursor Disappears in Windows 10. iPhone v. Android: Which Is Best For You? For instance, if I go to the URL box/bar on the. (2) keep your finger pressed on the shift button and press the right or left arrow keys. Another option is to use the Command+A keyboard combination to select all files in a folder. User profile for user: If the central button contact is stuck, the selection in Microsoft Word and Excel doesn't work properly (although it works in other apps, including Powerpoint). ask a new question. Check the box beside Enable dragging and choose with drag lock or without drag lock from the drop-down menu. Thanks for the heads up! All postings and use of the content on this site are subject to the. Try zooming in (or other adjustments) and see if that helps? It only takes a minute to sign up. Why do men's bikes have high bars where you can hit your testicles while women's bikes have the bar much lower? Check that all mouse buttons are working properly. Nov 21, 2014 11:07 PM in response to maximillion82.