Microsoft Acknowledges Classic Outlook Invisible Cursor Issue

Microsoft has already faced issues with Exchange Online flagging legitimate emails as phishing and Microsoft 365 summarizing confidential emails despite DLP policies. Now, a new problem has surfaced in classic Outlook.

According to Bleeping Computer, Microsoft is investigating a bug that causes the mouse pointer to disappear in the classic Outlook desktop client.

Microsoft is analyzing reports across Microsoft 365 apps

The issue was officially acknowledged nearly two months after users first began reporting it online. Many affected users say Outlook becomes difficult or nearly unusable when the cursor vanishes from the screen.

Microsoft confirmed that the pointer, and in some cases the text cursor, can disappear when moving across different areas of the Outlook interface. Even though the pointer becomes invisible, interface elements still react to hover actions, such as highlighting emails in the message list.

Reports suggest the same behavior appears in OneNote and, to a lesser extent, other Microsoft 365 apps, pointing to a potentially broader issue within the Office ecosystem.

The Outlook team is currently analyzing diagnostic data and gathering more details from affected users. Microsoft advises impacted customers to contact their Microsoft 365 administrator to open a support case and submit logs for investigation.

At this time, Microsoft has not shared a timeline for a permanent fix.

Temporary workarounds available for affected users

In the meantime, the company has outlined several temporary workarounds. Clicking an email in the message list may cause the pointer to reappear. Some users report that switching to PowerPoint, selecting an editable area, and then returning to Outlook restores the cursor. Restarting the computer can also temporarily resolve the problem if other methods fail.

Microsoft has yet to confirm when a patch will arrive, but users hope a fix will roll out soon. In related news, a new Microsoft Planner update has started rolling out, bringing interface changes and retiring some previously available features.