After the latest Office update PowerPoint get locked in ink mode

Anonymous

after my recent office update, PowerPoint is locked in ink mode and I can't use my pen to do anything but to draw. It's so annoying I can't even select anything with my surface pen in order to re-size the text or change text color. and when I use my finger it only moves the cursor, it won't let me select. what should I do?

[Original Title: power point ink]

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Anonymous

UPDATE 4/8:

We have started to roll out the change that also adds the Select button to the Draw tab (#1 in my original email below), so if you want to continue to use your pen to ink by default you can do that, and now use that button to use the pen for selection temporarily. Of course if you want to use the pen to select by default, the preference we added in the Options dialog and detailed below allows you to do that.

UPDATE 3/15:

I wanted to let everyone know that in the update to Office that started rolling out to Insiders today, you will find a new preference in the Options dialog to allow you to make the pen select instead of ink by default. Enabling this preference will make the pen function exactly like it did before, plus you can use the options on the Draw tab if you do decide you want to ink. If you are an Office Insider (which anyone can join), you should get this update within the next day or so. If you are not an Office Insider, it may take another week or two to reach you.

This is a per-app preference, so you can enable selection by default in Excel for instance while leaving ink as the default in Word and PowerPoint, or you can switch all three. To access this preference select File > Options, and then in the Options dialog select Advanced and check ‘Use pen to select and interact with content by default’ in the new Pen section.

We’ll be releasing the second piece (#1 below), which is the ability to toggle on pen selection via the Draw tab for those that only want to use the pen to select occasionally, with the next monthly update.

Thanks again to all of you for your feedback, and we hope this change addresses your concerns.

ORIGINAL:

I wanted to first thank all of you for your feedback both here, and on our UserVoice site. We’ve heard you loud and clear, and as a result we are actively working on two changes:

For people that want to use the pen as a precise pointer temporarily, we will introduce the ability to do that via a button on the Draw tab. This will keep the new default of having the pen ink on the document canvas, but give the ability to use the pen to do selection when needed.
For people that want or need to use the pen like a mouse by default, we will also add a new preference to the Options dialog that will allow you to restore the previous behavior. If you want to ink, that will be easier than before because you’ll be able to just tap a pen on the Draw tab and start inking, but you will be able to set your default behavior to be that the pen selects, just like it was before the update.

We are actively working on making these changes so that we can get them out to you as soon as possible. Note that you may see #2 (the preference in the Options dialog) appear first, because we are prioritizing getting that change to you based on your feedback.

I will keep this post updated with the latest status, or you can follow along at one (or all) of the three relevant UserVoice topics: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

In addition, if you’d like to get these changes even before they are officially released to everyone, please consider joining our Office Insidersprogram. It’s a great way to preview the upcoming changes and help provide us with feedback early.

Thanks again,

Dan

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196 additional answers

Anonymous

2016-02-26T05:08:01+00:00

Dan, Please inform us if this issue can and will be fixed on the next software updates on 3/1. Also, please invite some of the users on this forum to join the Office Insider program so that such a major disaster like this can be avoided in the future. It sounds like Office totally neglected it's core user (productivity and functionality) to increase it's appeal among the college kids too lazy to take notes with pen and paper. I get the idea behind the feature but it was a massive oversight that turns a touchscreen tablet into a desktop when someone needs to get work done. I'll continue using my IPad or Galaxy Tab when I want to play games or download an app. When I need to get work done, I expect my Surface to follow through on it's promise to run a fully capable version of Excel.

My suggestion: revert back to the previous method and have Microsoft work on the ability to customize the eraser button on the pen to perform different functions. A click to go into inking mode and a second click to return to mouse capabilities? I think we could all get on board with a change like that!
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Anonymous

2016-02-26T04:28:11+00:00

I spent hours today trying to figure out what was wrong with my Surface pen. I had brought my Surface with me on a flight, planning to do work which involved moving a lot of text from different documents. I was really frustrated and confused when I couldn't use my pen as a mouse. I happened to be sitting on the plane next to a Microsoft employee who told me he worked in Office. He saw my struggles and tried for about 30 minutes to help me, but he couldn't work out why the "stop inking" control was not working. He decided it must have been a bug in the update. Finally tonight I found this forum, and discovered that this change was intentional. I can't believe that there is no option to keep the pen with its original functions!

I've had lots of problems with my relatively new Surface Pro 4 - I constantly have to reboot it because it won't wake from sleep even after the latest updates - but really wanted to keep it because I much preferred the pen to a mouse. If this change isn't rolled back, I think I'll return my Surface.

If big changes like this are going to be made, there should at least be notification to users - I've wasted hours today on this problem.
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Anonymous

2016-02-26T03:10:36+00:00

I really don't see why it is not an option to use the pen as a Mouse or as a Pencil. If it is not possible to make it an option, turn the pen back to its mouse function ASAP! At least in Excel. Office is not meant to be a drawing game, IT SHOULD BE A PRODUCTIVE OFFICE TOOL.

The pen, and my 2 weeks old SurfacePro4, are now totally unproductive and useless. I lost my whole day trying to fix this issue and I am totally astounded to discover that Microsoft sabotaged my pricey new tool on purpose. I'm so mad that I almost threw away my Surface. Being able to effectively use Excel on a tablet was the decision maker on getting a Microsoft Product. Over 2000$ for lest than 2 weeks of appropriate functionnality is UNWORTHY.

Be wise Mr. Microsoft, FIX THIS NOW! For now, I regret so much buying a Surface and to have just renewed 11 Office 365 licences on a yearly subscription.
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Anonymous

2016-02-25T22:53:18+00:00

And now I've found this solution to revert - seems to work! Revert to previous version
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