Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word Ink Moving When Scrolling on Surface Pro

Steve K Oct 23, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to stop Surface Pen ink from shifting, jumping, or merging with text while scrolling in Microsoft Word documents.

How to Fix Word Ink Moving When Scrolling on Surface Pro

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows (Surface Pro)
Scenario: Using a Surface Pen to write, draw, or annotate inside a Microsoft Word document.
Observed behavior: The drawn ink shifts positions when scrolling, merges with text from different rows, jumps between open Word windows, or unexpectedly toggles between drawing and scrolling modes.

Before you start

Before proceeding with software repairs, ensure your Surface Pen has sufficient battery power and test it in other applications like MS Paint or OneNote to confirm if the glitch is isolated solely to Microsoft Word.

Solution 1Recommended

Perform an Online Repair for Microsoft 365

If the ink shifting issue is specific to Microsoft Word, running an Online Repair can fix corrupted application files causing the rendering problem.

This built-in repair tool will reinstall Office components in the background, fixing display and input glitches without deleting your personal documents.

Open Control Panel

Click the Windows Start menu, type 'Control Panel' in the search bar, and press Enter to open it.

Navigate to Programs

Click on 'Programs', then select 'Programs and Features' to view all installed applications on your Surface Pro.

Select Microsoft 365

Scroll through the list to locate 'Microsoft 365' (or your specific version of Microsoft Office). Right-click it and select 'Change'.

Run Online Repair

Choose the 'Online Repair' option in the pop-up window and click 'Repair'. Follow the on-screen prompts and wait for the process to complete, then restart your device.

Perform an Online Repair for Microsoft 365

Internet Connection Required: Online Repair requires a stable internet connection as it downloads fresh installation files from Microsoft's servers.

Solution 2

Install System and Application Updates

Outdated Windows drivers or Office software can cause Surface Pen compatibility issues in Word. Ensuring everything is up to date often resolves these input bugs.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Flawless Writing and Drawing Experience

If Microsoft Word continues to have ink alignment issues on your Surface Pro, consider switching to WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with stable support for stylus input, allowing you to annotate and draw seamlessly without formatting glitches.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for Windows.
2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word (.docx) document directly without losing formatting.
3. Start Annotating: Navigate to the 'Draw' tab to use your Surface Pen with stable, reliable digital ink that stays exactly where you put it.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsSmooth stylus and digital ink support for Surface devicesLightweight application that won't drain system resourcesFamiliar user interface for a quick and easy transition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Surface Pen ink move when I scroll in Word?

This is often caused by a rendering glitch in how Word maps digital ink onto the document grid, especially after zooming or scrolling quickly. Outdated Office versions or corrupted software files usually exacerbate the issue.

How do I stop my Surface Pen from switching between drawing and scrolling modes?

Check your pen settings in Windows by going to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Pen & Windows Ink. Additionally, ensure that the 'Draw with Touch' option is correctly toggled in Word's Draw ribbon if you rest your hand on the screen.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Word fix the ink shifting problem?

Running an 'Online Repair' from the Control Panel acts similarly to a reinstall and often resolves these issues. If the repair fails, fully uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft 365 is the next logical troubleshooting step.

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