Office Performance Issues

How to Fix Microsoft Word Displaying Typed Characters Out of Order

Khadija Khan Oct 9, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where characters appear one position late while typing in Microsoft Word, which started after installing a new Nvidia graphics card.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Displaying Typed Characters Out of Order

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Typing text into a Microsoft Word document after a recent graphics card hardware or driver update.
Observed behavior: Characters are displayed out of order or one position late in Word, whereas all other applications on the computer process typing normally.

Before you start

Before proceeding with advanced troubleshooting, ensure that your Nvidia graphics card drivers are updated to the latest version and restart your computer to rule out temporary system conflicts.

Solution 1

Perform an Online Repair of Microsoft 365

Use the Windows built-in repair tool to fix any corrupted installation files that might be causing rendering issues in Microsoft Word.

While standard repairs like replacing the Normal.dotm template may not fix hardware-related typing delays, running a full Online Repair ensures that the core application files are intact.

Open Windows Settings

Press the Windows key + I to open Settings, then navigate to the 'Apps' or 'Apps & features' section.

Locate Microsoft 365

Scroll through your installed applications to find Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Office, click on it, and select 'Modify'.

Run Online Repair

Choose the 'Online Repair' option and follow the on-screen prompts to thoroughly repair your Office installation.

Solution 2Recommended

Contact Microsoft Support for Remote Investigation

Because this specific graphics card conflict in Word often persists after standard troubleshooting, contacting Microsoft Support for a remote session is the most effective solution.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Lag-Free Typing with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word continues to struggle with graphics card conflicts and typing delays, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative that ensures a smooth typing experience without heavy system resource demands.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install and Open: Run the installer. Once finished, open WPS Writer to access your existing documents.
3. Edit Without Lag: Open any .docx file and enjoy a smooth, uninterrupted typing experience regardless of your graphics card configuration.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsLightweight architecture minimizes graphics card conflictsFamiliar user interface requires no learning curveFree to use with comprehensive document editing tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my typed characters appearing out of order only in Microsoft Word?

This issue is typically caused by a rendering conflict between Microsoft Word's graphics engine and your graphics card drivers (such as Nvidia). Because the conflict is isolated to how Word processes visual input, other applications on your computer will continue to function normally.

Can I fix the typing delay by disabling hardware acceleration in Word?

Historically, disabling hardware acceleration within Word's advanced options resolved these typing lags. However, Microsoft has removed this specific toggle from newer versions of Microsoft 365, meaning users now often need to rely on driver updates or official Microsoft Support for a fix.

Will replacing the Normal.dotm template fix characters appearing late?

While resetting or replacing the Normal.dotm template is a great troubleshooting step for corrupted formatting or macro glitches, it generally does not resolve hardware-level rendering conflicts like delayed typing or out-of-order characters.

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