My Cursor Keeps Turning White in Microsoft Word Without Typing

Anonymous
2022-08-15T21:33:58+00:00

My cursor keeps turning white in Microsoft Word 2016 (I bought lifetime access), even without typing. I already tried changing the cursor settings so that it wouldn't disappear when typing, but that didn't do anything. After a few seconds the text selection cursor will turn white, and, if I hover over dark text, I can see the cursor outline. This has been happening in multiple documents, so not an isolated incident.

This started after a Microsoft update which forced me to log back into my Microsoft account to use Word about a week or two ago. I've tried everything I can find on the internet, but no luck yet. It's very hard to get work done if I can't see my cursor in Word, so what do I need to do to fix this issue so I can get back to work?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-08-15T22:09:06+00:00

    Hi,

    Many thanks for your question. My name is Tim and I’ll try my best to resolve your issue.

    From reading your post I can see that you have already carried out the process of changing the cursor settings as in the post below:-

    https://www.techwalla.com/articles/mouse-pointer-disappear-word-document

    Is your operating system up to date and also have you tried repairing office? If that is unsuccessful then uninstalling and reinstalling office?

    Additional to this, what operating system are you using?

    Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    Give back to the community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating of this reply solved your problem. Please click Yes or No below.

    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Many thanks

    Tim

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-15T22:27:10+00:00

    Yes, I've tried all of that, no luck. This only started because my operating system forced me to update it, everything was fine before the update. After it forced the update, it signed me out of my Microsoft account. When I signed back in (to verify that I owned my copy of Word), this started happening.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T09:36:00+00:00

    Hi,

    Thanks for getting back to me. I have been carrying out some research and another user experienced the same issue as you but was solved after they downloaded the latest drivers for their graphics card.

    What graphics card are you using and are you able to do this for me please?

    Look forward to hearing from you.

    Many thanks

    Tim

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T15:25:26+00:00

    Hi, Thanks for getting back to me. I have been carrying out some research and another user experienced the same issue as you but was solved after they downloaded the latest drivers for their graphics card. What graphics card are you using and are you able to do this for me please? Look forward to hearing from you. Many thanks Tim

    No, that didn't help, either. I upgraded the graphics card, repaired Office twice, uninstalled and reinstalled Office twice, reinstalled Windows 11 once, nothing. I spent 9 hours in touch with Microsoft technical support last night trying everything, including changing settings in Word, deleting files, rolling back Windows updates, etc.

    They were able to fix around 80-85% of the problem by doing something with "\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\CONTROL PANEL\MOUSE". Now it will still stay white when I scroll and move the mouse, but a few seconds later it will realize it should be black and reappear. It's not how it was for the past 5 years I've owned it, but it's a step in the right direction.

    How can we get it to 100%?

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T15:44:45+00:00

    Hi,

    I’m sorry to hear that you’re still experiencing problems. Unfortunately it sounds like Microsoft Support will need to be recontacted and additional action to be carried out.

    I am unable to add anything more due to the need of remote access.

    Many thanks

    Tim

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