Windows 10: Why can't I turn my text cursor indicator off?

I know how to do it, it is turned off and I have shut down and or restarted. I am a novice, so I need to make certain that I am using the correct terminology. For example, while I type, there is the usual flashing cursor; however, if I put my finger on the touch pad, an odd icon appears which is fairly large and a thick outline form T to top, T on bottom which I can move around anywhere I want to it does not affect the cursor which is flashing at the end of my words. I don't know where it came from and why I cannot get rid of it. It is as if I have 2 cursors going at once.

:)

 

The text cursor indicator -

Hi

Welcome to Microsoft community.

I know you're experiencing with the Text cursor indicator on Windows 11. Here are a few steps you can try to turn it off:

1. Open the Settings app: You can access the Settings app by clicking on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen and selecting the gear icon.
   
2. Go to the Accessibility settings: In the Settings app, click on "Accessibility" in the left-hand menu.
   
3. Select "Cursor & pointer": In the Accessibility settings, click on "Cursor & pointer" in the left-hand menu.
   
4. Disable the Text cursor indicator: Under the "Text cursor" section, you should see a toggle switch labeled "Text cursor indicator." Make sure this switch is turned off. If it's already off, try turning it on and then off again to reset it.
   
5. Check other cursor settings: While in the "Cursor & pointer" settings, you can also review the other cursor-related settings to ensure they are configured to your preference.
   
6. Restart your computer: After making these changes, restart your computer to apply the settings.
   

If the Text cursor indicator is still not turning off, there may be a glitch or a different setting interfering with it. In that case, you can try the following additional troubleshooting steps:

1. Update your Windows 11: Make sure your operating system is up to date by installing any available updates. Microsoft often releases updates to address issues and improve system stability.
   
2. Check for driver updates: Outdated or incompatible drivers can sometimes cause issues. Visit the website of your computer manufacturer or the device manufacturer to download and install the latest drivers for your hardware.
   
3. Reset Accessibility settings: If the issue persists, you can try resetting the Accessibility settings to their default values. In the Settings app, go to Accessibility > Cursor & pointer, and click on the "Restore defaults" button.
   

Best regards

Derrick Qian | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

 

The text cursor indicator -

Somehow by accident I turned on the Text cursor indicator. I've followed the instructions and tried to turn it off.. but it's still on. PLEASE HELP

* Changed to a question

 

The text cursor indicator -

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I know you're experiencing these issues with Windows 11. It sounds like you're dealing with quite a few challenges in the new environment.

From your description, it seems like you're referring to the Caret Browsing feature, not the Text Cursor Indicator. Caret Browsing places a movable cursor in web pages, allowing you to select text with the keyboard. It's represented as a large capital "I" with a bar across the top and bottom.

Here's how you can disable Caret Browsing:

1. Press the F7 key. A dialog box asking if you want to turn on Caret Browsing should appear.
   
2. Select 'No' to disable Caret Browsing.
   

If this doesn't solve your problem, it's possible that there might be a more significant underlying issue with your Windows 11 installation.

In such a case, you might need to consider a 'Reset this PC' option, which allows you to choose whether to keep your personal files or remove them, and then reinstalls Windows. Here's how you can do it:

1. Open the 'Settings' app.
   
2. Select 'System'.
   
3. Scroll down and click on 'Recovery'.
   
4. Under 'Reset this PC', click the 'Reset PC' button.
   

Remember, this should be your last resort as it can potentially lead to data loss. Please ensure you back up important data before proceeding.