Microsoft Word won't select text.

Question

Microsoft Word won't select text.

Carolyn Lieberg 20

It won't select with the MOUSE or with FIND. The "Find" box says 0/0 though the word is directly in front of me.

I've turned off WORD several times over the past days and, of course, rebooted the computer--an iMac M4 with Sequoia 1.5.

Microsoft 365 subscription 16.111.3

I've looked for additional updates. Nothing shows.

I explored "protected status" but the options in the advice I saw are not showing up in this program. It's not something I would knowingly do. I know Word well (have written five books +.), but I'm stumped.

Thank you,

Carolyn Lieberg

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Answer 1

Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K

First, I'm not sure what 1.5 is intended to indicate, but Sequoia should be at 15.7.7 [or 15.7.9 as of 4 August]. If updating the OS doesn't resolve it please see this existing Answer: Select Text as well as this one which describes a number of selection techniques which are more efficient than dragging: Selection Techniques

If you still have a problem pleas provide as much additional detail as possible, such as wheter the issue is with all documents or just a specific one.

Carolyn Lieberg 20 Reputation points

2026-08-08T00:47:57.0433333+00:00

THANK YOU! The machine is set for automatic updates, but apparently they don'y always kick in. Thanks for taking the time -- I appreciate it and will check out the two blue titles.