Document Editing Problems

Fix Small Text Box with Green Arrow Appearing When Typing in a Text Box

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 8, 2026 880 views

Question details

Users are unable to enter text normally into a drawn text box because a smaller secondary text box containing a green arrow intercepts their typing.

How to Fix Small Text Box with Green Arrow Appearing When Typing in a Text Box

Product: Word Processing Software
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing text into a custom drawn text box within a document.
Observed behavior: A small floating text box with a green arrow appears on the screen, capturing the keyboard input and preventing text from appearing inside the intended text box.

Before you start

Save your document to prevent any accidental data loss, and check which keyboard input language or Input Method Editor (IME) is currently active on your system.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Keyboard Input Language to English

Switching your system's keyboard language to English is the most effective way to resolve floating text box issues caused by third-party Input Method Editors (IMEs).

This issue is frequently caused by compatibility glitches between the document editor and certain East Asian or custom Input Method Editors (IMEs), which use floating boxes to suggest characters.

Locate the Language icon

Look at the bottom-right corner of your computer screen (on the taskbar) and click on the current language or IME icon (e.g., ENG).

Switch to English

From the pop-up list of installed keyboards, select an English keyboard layout (such as English (United States) - US keyboard).

Test the text box

Return to your document, click inside the drawn text box, and try typing again to verify that the small box with the green arrow no longer appears.

Change the Keyboard Input Language to English

Quick Toggle: You can also use the keyboard shortcut 'Windows Key + Spacebar' or 'Alt + Shift' to quickly cycle through your installed keyboard languages.

Solution 2

Adjust Text Box Formatting and Properties

If changing the language does not work, the problem might be related to text overflow settings or linked text box formatting.

Solution 3

Restart the Office Application

A simple restart can clear temporary memory glitches that affect text box inputs.

Seamless Document Editing

Create and Edit Text Boxes Seamlessly in WPS Office

WPS Office offers highly compatible and stable text box tools, ensuring you can design and format your documents without unexpected input interruptions or IME conflicts.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing document in WPS Writer.
2. Navigate to the Insert tab: Click on the 'Insert' tab located on the top ribbon menu.
3. Select the Text Box tool: Click on 'Text Box' and choose whether you want to insert a Horizontal or Vertical text box.
4. Draw the text box: Click and drag your mouse across the document page to draw the text box to your desired size.
5. Type your text: Click inside the newly drawn text box and begin typing smoothly without any floating box interruptions.

Smooth text entry without IME or keyboard language conflictsFully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.doc, .docx)Rich text box formatting, styling, and alignment optionsLightweight software that runs smoothly on older devices

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a small box with a green arrow appear when I type?

This usually happens when your system is using an Input Method Editor (IME) designed for East Asian languages or a specific keyboard layout that uses a floating window to suggest characters before committing them to the document.

How do I stop text boxes from linking to each other?

To unlink a text box, select the text box, go to the Shape Format or Text Box Tools tab on the ribbon, and click 'Break Link'. This stops text from flowing into the next box.

Can text boxes expand automatically as I type?

Yes. Right-click the text box, choose 'Format Shape', navigate to the Text Box options, and check the box that says 'Resize shape to fit text'. This allows the box to expand dynamically.

Document & File Issues