Office for Mac Issues

Fix Cannot Highlight Text to Cut and Paste in Microsoft Apps on Mac

Kushani Nimanthika Oct 1, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user is unable to highlight, select, cut, or paste text within Microsoft Office applications on a Mac.

Fix Text Selection and Highlighting Issues in Microsoft Apps on Mac

Product: Microsoft Office for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Trying to edit documents by highlighting text for copy/paste or cut/paste operations.
Observed behavior: Mouse dragging to select text stops working in Microsoft apps, preventing normal text editing and formatting tasks.

Before you start

Ensure any unsaved work is safely stored or synced to the cloud, as some troubleshooting steps will require you to restart your applications and your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Perform a System Restart

A simple system restart can clear temporary glitches affecting text selection in macOS.

Contrary to popular belief, Macs still need periodic restarts to clear out background processes and temporary system cache files that can interfere with input devices.

Save your work

Save all open documents in your Microsoft applications to prevent data loss.

Restart Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select Restart.

Test selection

Open the Microsoft application again and try dragging your mouse to highlight text.

Quick Fix: A system restart is the fastest way to resolve spontaneous input freezes without altering any application settings.

Solution 2

Update macOS and Microsoft Office

Outdated software can cause compatibility issues leading to unresponsive controls.

Solution 3

Use Keyboard Shortcuts for Text Selection

If mouse dragging fails, use keyboard combinations to continue working efficiently.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Seamless Text Editing with WPS Office for Mac

If you continually face freezing, selection glitches, or high resource usage in Microsoft Office, switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and smooth editing experience on macOS.

1. Download WPS Office: Get the free Mac version from the official WPS website.
2. Install and Open: Drag the WPS app to your Applications folder and launch it.
3. Open your files directly: Open your existing Microsoft Office files seamlessly without losing any formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Smooth and responsive text selection and editing experience on macOS.Lightweight design that minimizes system freezing and app crashes.Familiar, easy-to-use interface that requires no learning curve for easy migration.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I click but not drag to highlight text on my Mac?

This usually happens due to a temporary macOS glitch or a background process interfering with mouse inputs. Restarting your Mac or checking for a stuck Shift or Command key on your keyboard can often resolve this.

How do I cut and paste if my mouse won't highlight text?

You can use keyboard shortcuts. Place your cursor where you want to start, hold Shift, and use the arrow keys to select text. Then press Command + X to cut and Command + V to paste.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the text highlighting issue?

Reinstalling can fix corrupted app files causing the issue. However, try updating Office and macOS first via the Help menu or System Settings, as updates patch known bugs much faster than a full reinstall.

Can a third-party mouse cause text selection problems in Mac Office apps?

Yes, outdated third-party mouse drivers or interfering utility software can disrupt the drag-to-select function. Try using the built-in Mac trackpad to see if the issue persists to rule out hardware or driver problems.

Office App Problems