Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Text Selection, Copy, and Cut Issues in Word for Mac

John Wilson Sep 29, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to select, copy, cut, move, or delete text using the trackpad or mouse in Word for Mac, though keyboard selection continues to work.

How to Fix Text Selection, Copy, and Cut Issues in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Editing and formatting a document after a recent macOS or Office update.
Observed behavior: Trackpad and mouse text selection completely fails, disabling normal copy, cut, and delete workflows, while keyboard shortcuts for selection remain functional.

Before you start

Navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update on your Mac to install any pending macOS updates, then restart your computer to rule out temporary clipboard or trackpad glitches.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Test macOS User Account

Determine if the text selection issue is isolated to a corrupted user profile by testing Word in a brand new macOS account.

Often, preference conflicts or corrupt files within your specific macOS user profile can interfere with how Microsoft Office applications interact with system hardware like trackpads.

Open Users & Groups

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner, select System Settings (or System Preferences), and click on Users & Groups.

Add a New Account

Click the Add Account button, authenticate with your administrator password, and create a new Standard or Administrator account named 'Test'.

Sign In and Test Word

Log out of your current session, sign in to the newly created 'Test' account, and launch Microsoft Word. Try selecting text with the trackpad to see if the issue is resolved.

Profile Diagnostics: If text selection works normally in the new account, your original user profile contains corrupted preference files. If it still fails, the Office installation itself needs repair.

Solution 2

Back Up Normal.dotm and Reinstall Office

If testing a new account fails, completely uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office is the most effective way to restore trackpad and clipboard functionality.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Editing Experience

If Word for Mac continues to suffer from persistent trackpad selection bugs or requires tedious uninstallation procedures, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and completely free alternative that works smoothly on macOS.

1. Download the Mac App: Visit the WPS Office website and download the dedicated installation package for macOS.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing .docx files directly without any conversion or formatting loss.
3. Edit Without Limitations: Enjoy uninterrupted editing, text selection, and copy-paste functionality right out of the box.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.Optimized for macOS trackpads and mice, ensuring smooth and reliable text selection.Lightweight architecture that uses fewer system resources and avoids complex profile corruptions.Familiar user interface that requires zero learning curve to master.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can I select text with my keyboard but not my trackpad in Word for Mac?

This usually indicates a software communication glitch between the macOS trackpad drivers and the Word interface, often triggered by a recent buggy software update or a corrupted user profile preferences file.

Will uninstalling Office for Mac delete my Word documents?

No, dragging Microsoft Word to the Trash will only remove the application itself. Your personal documents are stored safely on your hard drive. However, custom macros and styles will be lost if you do not back up the Normal.dotm template file.

How do I update Word for Mac to see if Microsoft patched the copy-paste bug?

Open Microsoft Word, click on 'Help' in the top macOS menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. This opens Microsoft AutoUpdate, where you can download and install the latest available patches.

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