Has your normal cursor started to shapeshift into the text cursor when you’re browsing the net in Chrome? You’re not the first one to run into this spectacle and you’re definitely not going to be the last, I think.
It’s normal for the text cursor (or insertion point) to appear whenever there’s an editable element on the webpage, such as a comment section or form to fill out.
But some users have reported that their insertion point cursor stays the same way regardless of the elements found on the page, and in addition to that, it’s also blinking. This blinking text cursor seems to be bound to Google Chrome, as it changes as soon as you swap to another application.
This “glitch” or annoyance can be fixed and that’s what we’re here to do. Let’s look at your cursor is acting strangely in Chrome and what you can do about it.
You’re seeing a blinking text cursor in Chrome because Google Chrome’s “Navigate pages with a text cursor” setting has been enabled. You can disable it by pressing F7 in Google Chrome or going to Settings -> Advanced -> Accessibility -> find the Navigate pages with a text cursor option and disabling it.
The issue could also be caused by your version of Google Chrome, try installing the most recent version or an older one if you already have the most recent.
Because the cursor can be activated with F7 in Google Chrome, it’s quite easy to accidentally enable it. Chrome will, however, ask if you really want to activate the function before it turns it on. That’s probably why Chrome is displaying a typing cursor instead of the old mouse-pointer and click-finger cursors.
Why Is There a Blinking Text Cursor Everywhere I Click?
If you’re seeing the blinking text cursor in other applications as well, then you’re probably experiencing the same thing but with a different name.
You see, Chrome isn’t the only browser that has integrated this feature. Firefox has the same feature and a lot of users have reported the same problem when using Firefox.
There’s also an extension called Caret browsing which works on all popular browsers. Caret browsing will turn the regular cursor into a blinking text cursor, turning the entire page you’re browsing into a large text document – basically.
Caret browsing is essentially an extension that allows the user to navigate the page with the blinking text cursor. Most browsers come with the function integrated already, but there are a few users who prefer to use Caret browsing over the integrated functions.
They’re a bit similar. Caret browsing can be turned off using F7, just as the in-built function in Google Chrome.
However, anyone who has caret browsing installed should probably know about it and be able to figure out why the text cursor has appeared. However, some computers tend to have more than one person using them.
Your sidekick could have installed the extension or activated the feature. Check your browser’s extensions to see if Caret browsing is installed.
If none of these things work I would consider running a virus scan. Malware can sometimes cause mice, cursors, and keyboards to start acting out of the ordinary. This could very well be the cause of your problem.
What is the Blinking Text Cursor Called?
The name of the blinking text cursor in your text document is “the insertion point” because it indicates where you will insert text when you type. The text cursor can be moved by pressing the direction keys or by left-clicking on a new spot in the text document.
Conclusion
Google Chrome has a feature that turns your regular cursor into a blinking text cursor, also known as the insertion point cursor. This feature can either be turned off by pressing F7 or by navigating Google Chrome’s settings.
If the issue still persists even after the settings are turned off, find out if the issue is unique for Chrome or if it’s something that happens in other browsers or applications too.
Turn off your extensions one by one to find out if the extensions are conflicting with the mouse cursor when browsing.