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Fix Space Bar Not Working in Microsoft Word for iPad

Elise Williams Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing a typing glitch where the space bar fails to insert spaces in Word documents until another key is pressed.

How to Fix Space Bar Not Working in Microsoft Word for iPad

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Typing and editing documents using the on-screen or physical keyboard within the Word app on an iPad.
Observed behavior: The space bar stops functioning normally across multiple Word documents, despite working perfectly in other iPad applications and persisting through app restarts and reinstallations.

Before you start

Ensure that your iPadOS is updated to the latest version and verify that your recent document changes are synced to OneDrive to prevent data loss when resetting the app.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Microsoft Word via iPad Settings

Clearing the app's cached data and resetting its configuration often resolves specific input glitches related to Word for iPad.

Since simply reinstalling the app does not always clear deeply cached configuration files, performing a manual reset from the iOS Settings menu is the most effective way to eliminate corrupted input data.

Close all Office applications

Swipe up from the bottom edge of your iPad screen and pause in the middle to open the App Switcher. Swipe up on Microsoft Word and any other running Office apps to close them completely.

Open iPad Settings

Return to your iPad Home Screen and tap on the 'Settings' app icon (the gray gear icon).

Locate Word Settings

Scroll down the left sidebar menu in Settings until you find the list of installed applications. Tap on 'Word'.

Enable Reset Options

Under the 'Troubleshooting' section on the right pane, tap 'Reset Word'. Toggle on the switches for 'Clear All Documents' and 'Delete Sign-In Credentials'.

Sign in again

Return to the Home Screen and launch Microsoft Word. Sign back in with your Microsoft 365 credentials and test the space bar in a new document.

Data Safety Warning: Resetting the app will clear local files that haven't been uploaded to the cloud. Make sure everything is synced to OneDrive before performing this step.

Solution 2

Escalate to Microsoft 365 Administrator

If local troubleshooting fails, the issue may stem from an account or backend glitch that requires official support.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for iPad for Seamless Typing

If Microsoft Word continues to suffer from keyboard glitches on your iPad, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, stable, and lightweight alternative for creating and editing documents on mobile devices without frustrating typing interruptions.

1. Download from the App Store: Open the App Store on your iPad, search for 'WPS Office', and download the application.
2. Open your Documents: Launch WPS Office and easily import your existing .docx files directly from your iPad files or cloud storage.
3. Type Without Interruptions: Start editing your documents with smooth, glitch-free keyboard support.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsOptimized for iPadOS, supporting both on-screen and external Magic Keyboards flawlesslyLightweight app size ensuring fast and responsive document editingFree to use for basic reading and writing tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the space bar only glitching in Word and not other iPad apps?

This happens when the Microsoft Word app's specific input handling files or local cache become corrupted. Because it's an app-specific software glitch, it does not affect your iPad's system-wide keyboard functionality.

Will resetting Word for iPad delete my saved documents?

Resetting Word removes local sign-in data and cached files. Documents that have been synced and saved to OneDrive or SharePoint will remain completely safe and accessible once you sign back in.

Does this issue happen with physical Bluetooth keyboards or just the virtual keyboard?

This glitch can affect both the virtual on-screen keyboard and physical external keyboards (like the Magic Keyboard). Resetting the Word app settings generally resolves the issue for both input methods.

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