Office for Mac Issues

Fix Text Selection, Copying, and Pasting Problems in Word for Mac

Khadija Khan Oct 20, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to highlight, copy, paste, delete, or format text in Microsoft Word for Mac using the standard click-and-drag method.

How to Fix Text Selection, Copying, and Pasting Problems in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Attempting to edit, highlight, or format document text in Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: The click-and-drag text selection feature is unresponsive, and basic troubleshooting steps like restarting the Mac and quitting Word have not resolved the issue.

Before you start

Ensure your macOS is fully updated and check if the click-and-drag issue is isolated to Microsoft Word or if it is affecting other applications on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Microsoft Word Preferences

Corrupted preference files are a common cause of UI and text selection bugs in Word for Mac. Resetting them can restore normal functionality.

macOS stores user preferences for Microsoft Word in a specific library folder. When these files become corrupted, certain features like highlighting or copy-pasting may stop working.

Quit Microsoft Word

Ensure Microsoft Word is completely closed. Right-click the Word icon in your dock and select 'Quit'.

Access the Library folder

Open Finder. Click 'Go' in the top menu bar, hold down the 'Option' key on your keyboard to reveal the hidden 'Library' option, and click it.

Locate the Word container

Navigate to the 'Containers' folder. Look for a folder named 'com.microsoft.Word' (or simply 'Microsoft Word' on newer versions of macOS).

Move the folder to Desktop

Drag the 'com.microsoft.Word' folder to your Desktop. This forces Word to generate fresh preference files.

Restart and test

Restart your Mac, open Microsoft Word, and try clicking and dragging to select text again.

Safe to remove: Moving the container folder does not delete your documents; it only resets application settings. If this doesn't fix the issue, you can move the folder back to its original location.

Solution 2

Check Trackpad and Mouse Accessibility Settings

Occasionally, macOS accessibility features or hardware glitches prevent dragging and selecting across all apps, including Word.

Solution 3

Boot Mac in Safe Mode

Starting your Mac in Safe Mode helps determine if a background program or third-party add-in is interfering with Microsoft Word.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Mac When Microsoft Word Stops Working

If Microsoft Word for Mac continues to suffer from freezing, selection bugs, or crashes, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with a familiar interface, allowing you to edit your documents without interruptions.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
2. Install and Open: Run the installer package, then launch WPS Office from your Applications folder.
3. Edit Your Documents: Drag and drop your existing .docx files into WPS Writer to instantly resume seamless text editing, selecting, and formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly without system lag on all recent macOS versions.Familiar ribbon interface makes transitioning from Microsoft Office instant with zero learning curve.Free to use with built-in PDF reading, editing, and converting tools.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why won't Microsoft Word for Mac let me highlight text?

This issue is commonly caused by corrupted Microsoft Word preference files, outdated software, or conflicting background applications running on macOS. Resetting your Word preferences is usually the quickest fix.

How do I select text in Word without using a mouse?

You can use keyboard shortcuts. Place your blinking cursor at the start of the text, hold down the 'Shift' key, and use the arrow keys to highlight text character by character or line by line.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Word fix the click-and-drag bug?

Reinstalling Word can fix the issue if the core application files are corrupted. However, you should try clearing your Word preferences and updating macOS first, as these steps resolve the problem faster without a full reinstall.

How can I update Microsoft Word on my Mac?

Open Microsoft Word (or any Office application), go to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts in the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool to install the latest patches.

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