word cannot select text with the mouse

Hi pp hh

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum and sharing your experience. 

I appreciate you providing details about the issue starting after a recent online software upgrade. To better understand, could you please clarify: 

• What exactly was updated a few days ago? Was it a Windows update or a Microsoft Office (Word-specific) update? 
• Also, do you see any error messages when trying to select text? If so, please reply with a screenshot. 
• Additionally, is this affecting all Word files or just specific ones?  
• And have you tried simply restarting your computer to see if that clears it up? 

In the meantime, based on Microsoft documentation and community experience, here are some recommended steps you may consider trying: 

• First, check your document settings: Open your Word file > head to File > Info > Protect Document, and make sure editing is enabled. In File Explorer, right-click the file, go to Properties, and uncheck "Read-only" if it's selected. Then, test in a new blank document to see if the issue is file-specific. 
• Adjust Word options: In Word, go to File > Options > Advanced. Look under "Editing options" and confirm "Allow text to be dragged and dropped" is checked. Try toggling "Use smart cut and paste" and "Enable click and type" off and on. Hit OK, restart Word, and check again. 
• Run Word in Safe Mode to help disable add-ins. Please refer to this article for detailed steps: Open Office apps in safe mode on a Windows PC - Microsoft Support. If selection works here, go to File > Options > Add-ins, manage COM Add-ins, and disable suspects one by one before restarting normally. 
• Update or Repair Drivers and Office: For mouse issues, open Device Manager (right-click Start), expand "Mice and other pointing devices," right-click your device, and choose Update driver. If that doesn't help, you may follow this article for a deeper fix: Repair an Office application - Microsoft Support. Also, make sure your Word application is fully updated. 

Please note: My troubleshooting steps were written primarily for Windows. If I have misunderstood your situation (for example, if you are using macOS), please don't hesitate to clarify, and I will adjust my recommendations accordingly. 

I'm looking forward to seeing your response soon.

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