How to Remove Dots Appearing Above and Below the Cursor in Word
Question details
The user wants to remove two persistent dots that appear above and below the blinking cursor in Microsoft Word. The dots remain after restarting and only affect Word.
- Product
- Microsoft Word (Office 2016 Home & Business)
- Device & OS
- Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit
- Scenario
- The user is editing Word documents and needs a clean cursor display without visual artifacts.
- Observed behavior
- Two dots appear above and below the cursor in Word, persist after restart, and do not occur in other applications.
Close all open Word documents and note your Office version and Windows build. You will need these details if the issue remains after Safe Mode and add-in checks.
Run Word in Safe Mode to Check for Add-in Conflicts
Use this first when the dots appear only in Microsoft Word. Safe Mode starts Word without most add-ins and can quickly show whether an add-in is responsible.
Word Safe Mode disables the loading of many third-party add-ins and customizations. If the cursor dots disappear in Safe Mode, the issue is likely caused by an Office add-in or template rather than the Word installation itself.
Press Windows + R, type winword /safe in the Run box, then press Enter.
Open a Word document and place the cursor in the text to check whether the two dots still appear.
Close Safe Mode. If the dots were absent, proceed to disable or remove the suspect Word add-in; if they remained, run Office updates next.
Install the Latest Microsoft Office Updates
Use this when Word Safe Mode still shows the cursor dots or when your Office installation has not been updated recently.
Disable or Remove the Problematic Word Add-in
Use this after Safe Mode confirms that an add-in causes the dots. It lets you isolate and remove the conflicting Word add-in permanently.
Use WPS Office Writer as a Lightweight Word Alternative
If Microsoft Word keeps showing the two cursor dots and you need an immediate, free editing environment, WPS Office Writer is a lightweight alternative with a familiar ribbon layout. It opens, edits, and saves Microsoft Word .docx files without relying on the same Word add-in or display pipeline that can cause this cursor artifact.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office download page and install WPS Office on your Windows 10 computer.
- 2. Open the Word document: Launch WPS Office Writer, click Open, and select the .docx file that shows cursor dots in Microsoft Word.
- 3. Edit and save in Word format: Edit the document in WPS Writer, then click Menu > Save As and choose Word Document (*.docx) to keep Microsoft Word compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do two dots appear above and below my cursor in Microsoft Word?
This is usually a Word display artifact caused by an Office add-in, an outdated Office build, or a display setting conflict. It is not normal typing behavior and often disappears when you start Word in Safe Mode.
Will these dots also appear in Excel or PowerPoint?
In this reported case they appear only in Microsoft Word. If you see similar cursor artifacts in other Office apps, the cause may be a shared Office add-in, display driver setting, or Windows touch/pen indicator.
Does resetting Word options fix the cursor dots?
Resetting Word options should not be your first step. First run Word in Safe Mode and update Office, because the dots are more likely caused by an add-in or an outdated build. If the issue continues, you can reset Word options under File > Options as a later step.
Can WPS Office open my Word document if the dots remain?
Yes. WPS Office Writer can open, edit, and save .docx files as a free Microsoft Word alternative. It uses a different Office engine, so the Microsoft Word add-in conflict that shows the cursor dots does not apply.
