How to Fix Unresponsive Drop-Down Menus in Word for Mac
Question details
The user is unable to select items from drop-down menus using a mouse in Microsoft Word and other Office applications.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (Office for Mac)
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to select options from drop-down menus within MS Office applications using a mouse.
- Observed behavior
- Drop-down menus open, but the options cannot be clicked or selected with the mouse, although keyboard navigation continues to work.
Before proceeding with troubleshooting, remember that you can temporarily use your keyboard's up and down arrow keys followed by the Return key to select options in the drop-down menus.
Revert to a Previous Stable Version of Office for Mac
If the problem appeared after a recent Office update and persists across all Microsoft apps, downgrading to an earlier release can restore functionality.
In some cases, specific updates (such as version 16.67) may introduce UI bugs that affect mouse interactions on macOS. If Safe Mode and disabling add-ins do not work, rolling back is the most reliable workaround until Microsoft releases a patch.
Open the Applications folder on your Mac, locate Microsoft Word (and other affected Office apps), drag them to the Trash, and empty the Trash.
Visit the official Microsoft release history page for Office for Mac. Find the installer for the version released prior to your current one and download the package.
Run the downloaded installer. Once installed, open Word, go to Help > Check for Updates, and disable the 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' option to prevent the bug from returning.
Isolate the Issue with Safe Mode and Add-ins
Determine if third-party background applications or Office add-ins (like Grammarly) are interfering with mouse clicks.
Switch to WPS Office for a Bug-Free Mac Experience
If Microsoft Word drop-down menus remain unresponsive on your Mac and troubleshooting fails, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and smooth document editing experience without persistent interface glitches.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the WPS Office website, download the macOS version, and complete the simple installation process.
- 2. Open Your Microsoft Documents: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and select your existing .docx files. They will open seamlessly with perfect formatting.
- 3. Edit Without Interruptions: Enjoy full functionality, responsive menus, and a robust set of editing tools completely free of UI bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only use my keyboard for Word drop-down menus on Mac?
This is a known bug in certain versions of Microsoft Office for Mac where the interface fails to register mouse clicks on UI elements like drop-down menus, even though keyboard navigation (using arrow keys and Return) remains functional.
Will reinstalling Microsoft Office fix the drop-down menu issue?
A standard reinstallation usually will not fix the issue if you are installing the same exact buggy version. You generally need to roll back to an older, stable version or wait for a new patch from Microsoft.
Can third-party apps cause drop-down menus to freeze in Word?
Yes, third-party applications, particularly accessibility tools, clipboard managers, or Office add-ins like Grammarly, can sometimes intercept mouse clicks and interfere with application interfaces.
