Many people choose Microsoft Word as their favorite Word Processor thanks to its easy-to-use interface and reliability. While Microsoft Word usually does not encounter any issues. However, sometimes you might encounter an issue where you cannot type anything in Word at all!
Fix Can’t Type in Microsoft Word
If you are facing this issue, I recommend you check your Num lock and see if that’s the case. Also, try typing something in any other app to ensure your keyboard works properly. Not being able to type in Microsoft Word is usually temporary, especially if you have downloaded a Word document from the internet and need to click the Enable editing button. However, if that doesn’t work, the below fixes will help you get rid of Microsoft Word errors:
- Check your Microsoft Office License
- Remove any add-ons installed
- Repair Office
- Reinstall Microsoft Office
You should have complete access to manage Microsoft Office on your PC.
1] Check your Microsoft Office license
First, ensure that you have a valid license for Microsoft Word. Usually, when the license expires, Microsoft Word will go into read-only mode. As a result, you cannot type any longer.
So, if you did sign up for a trial, there’s a good chance that your trial has expired. However, if this is the case, Microsoft Word will display a message stating the license or trial has expired.
But if you don’t see any such messages, you can verify the license status by following these steps:
- File > Account
- Check if there is a message or prompt about licensing issues.
- Click on Show additional licensing information to learn more about it.
2] Remove any add-ins installed
As you already know, you can install different add-ins to your Microsoft Word application. While these add-ins improve Word’s overall experience, they can sometimes cause random issues. So, removing the Office add-ins and then checking if it solves the issue is a good idea.
To do so, follow these steps:
- First, launch Microsoft Word and click on File > Options.
- Click on Add-ins from the sidebar and select Go.
- Over here, select the add-ins one by one and click on the remove button.
- Once done, relaunch your Word application and see if it works.
3] Repair Office
Repair Office and see if that makes the problem go away.
4] Reinstall Microsoft Office
It is also good that your Microsoft Office is corrupted. To fix this, you can try reinstalling the Office suite. To do so, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.
- Over here, search for Microsoft Office, click on the three dots, and click on uninstall.
- Once uninstalled, go to the Microsoft Store, download Office again, and check if you can type in Word.
So those were a few quick solutions for fixing the can’t type in Microsoft Word error. If nothing works for you, an alternative would be the best choice. There are plenty of similar apps available out there. So it won’t take much time to shift your word experience.
Can’t type in Microsoft Word selection is locked
If you cannot type anything in Word when the selection is locked, then the common causes of the “Selection is locked” message are that you are running an unactivated version of Office or the document is write-protected. To remove the Selection lock, you must activate Office or remove the document protection.
How do you unlock the selection in Word document?
Click in the field that’s locked. This should cause it to be highlighted. Then press CTRL+SHIFT+F11 or CTRL+SHIFT+FN+F11. This command should perform the unlock.
Why can’t I type inside a shape in Word?
There are specific shapes like lines, connectors, and freeform drawings that don’t have space for text. But you can still add text close to the shape. Add a text box, place it near the shape, and type your text in the box. This way, you can include your desired text even when the shape doesn’t support it.
Why is my typing locked?
It’s possible that you accidentally pressed a key combination that caused your keyboard to hibernate, especially if you’re using a laptop. Alternatively, your keyboard may not be properly connected to your system. If you’re using a wireless keyboard, there could be a connection issue.
