Can't insert shapes in Word Document

The red dots you are seeing above and below your cursor could be indicators related to the drawing tools or a specific setting in Word. If you're unable to insert shapes, it may be due to a few reasons:

1. Drawing Canvas: Sometimes, inserting shapes directly into the document can lead to issues. Try inserting a new drawing canvas first. You can do this by going to the Insert tab, clicking on Shapes, and then selecting New Drawing Canvas. After that, insert your shapes within this canvas.
2. View Settings: Ensure that you are not in a view mode that restricts shape insertion, such as Draft or Outline view. Switch to Print Layout view to see if that resolves the issue.
3. Updates and Compatibility: Since you mentioned that this issue started after an update, ensure that all updates have been correctly installed. Sometimes, issues can arise from incomplete installations or compatibility problems.
4. Graphics Driver: If the problem persists, it might be related to your graphics driver settings. You can try adjusting hardware acceleration settings or updating your video drivers as a troubleshooting step.

If these suggestions do not resolve the issue, consider checking for any additional settings or configurations that may have changed after the update.

Thanks for sharing the details, Barry! Try to turn Off “Use Ctrl + Click to Follow Hyperlink” (resets cursor rendering bug)

A recent update caused Word’s cursor rendering to glitch, blocking drawing tools.

• Go to File → Options
• Select Advanced
• Scroll to the Editing options section
• Uncheck: "Use Ctrl + Click to follow hyperlink"
• Restart Word

This resets cursor rendering and often removes the red dots and restores drawing ability.

See if this helps. If you need further assistance just let me know.

Best regards,

Kimberly