How to Fix Microsoft Office Applications Stuck on the Draw Tab
Question details
The user is experiencing an issue where Microsoft Office applications are forcing the ribbon to the Draw tab and preventing text selection.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to type, edit, or select text within Microsoft Office applications.
- Observed behavior
- The applications remain stuck on the Draw tab, fail to select text properly, and standard online repair tools do not resolve the issue.
Before proceeding with a complete uninstallation, ensure you have backed up all your important documents and have your Microsoft Office product key or account login details handy for the reinstallation process.
Completely Uninstall and Reinstall Microsoft Office
Use Microsoft's official Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool to thoroughly remove a corrupted Office installation when a standard online repair fails.
When Office applications behave erratically, such as being permanently locked to the Draw tab, it usually indicates a deeply corrupted installation file or registry key. A standard uninstallation from the Control Panel might leave corrupted temporary files behind.
Using the official Microsoft Office removal tool ensures all background services, cached files, and corrupted registry keys are completely wiped, providing a clean slate for reinstallation.
Navigate to the Microsoft Support website and download the Microsoft Office removal tool directly from https://aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstallFromPC.
Open the downloaded executable file to launch the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. Follow the on-screen prompts, select your version of Office, and confirm that you want to remove it completely.
Once the tool finishes the uninstallation process, reboot your computer to ensure all background processes and temporary files are cleared.
Log into your Microsoft account on the official website, navigate to your subscriptions or purchases, and download the latest Office installer to reinstall the applications normally.
Try WPS Office for a Stable and Bug-Free Experience
If Microsoft Office continues to experience glitches like being stuck on the Draw tab or failing to repair properly, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers a familiar interface without the heavy installation footprint or frustrating registry errors.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the lightweight installer file. The setup takes only a few moments and will not interfere with any existing files on your PC.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Microsoft Office stuck on the Draw tab?
This glitch is typically caused by a corrupted Office installation, a damaged configuration file, or conflicts with touch-screen drivers that trick the software into thinking a stylus is constantly in use.
Will using the Office removal tool delete my personal documents?
No, the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) only removes the application files, registry keys, and software settings. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations will remain safe on your hard drive.
What should I do if the Microsoft Office removal tool gets stuck?
If the SaRA tool freezes, restart your computer and try running the tool again as an Administrator. If it still fails, you may need to follow Microsoft's manual uninstallation guide to delete the Office folders and registry keys manually.
