Fixing the Vanishing Text Cursor in Windows 10 and 11's Chromium Apps

Ah, Windows. It's that familiar old friend who sometimes plays hide and seek with our tech sanity. If you've found yourself frantically moving your mouse in hopes of summoning back a vanished text cursor, you're not alone in this digital dance! This issue has been haunting users in the realm of Chromium-based applications—Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, to name just a couple of notable suspects.

The Vanishing Act: What’s Going On?​

The elusive text cursor is a particularly tricky customer, poking its head up when it feels like it and disappearing when you need it most. This problem predominantly affects Windows 10 and 11 users using apps built on the Chromium engine, resulting in ghostly apsences right when you're in the throes of typing out an important email or a fiery forum comment. Imagine the cursor disappearing just as you’re about to hit 'send'.
This predicament began gaining momentum with updates in the Windows 11 24H2, where users reported the cursor disappearing in text fields, especially in major platforms like Slack, Chrome, and Edge.

How to Tame the Phantom Cursor​

Don't pitch your laptop out the window just yet! There's a saving grace in the form of a simple registry tweak. Here's how to reclaim your cursor:

• Modify the Windows Registry:
• Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm.
• Right-click on the blank space, choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it OverlayTestMode.
• Set this value's data from 0 to 5.
• Restart your computer to see if the phantom cursor makes its dramatic return.
• Alternative Method Using Notepad:
• Open Notepad and paste the following text:
  

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
  [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Dwm]
  "OverlayTestMode"=dword:00000005

• Save the file with a .reg extension, like fix.reg.
• Double-click the saved file to add these entries to the registry, and restart your computer.
• Switch Your Text Select Cursor:
• Head to Settings > Personalization > Themes > Mouse Cursor.
• Choose any non-default cursor for "Text select" to see if this solves the dilemma as a temporary measure.

Behind the Scenes: Technical Tales​

Now, why is this happening? Chromium-based applications interface with Windows in complex ways. It's the little intricacies of how pointer visibility settings integrate with these apps that can sometimes lead to such quirks. Unfortunately, Microsoft hasn’t officially acknowledged this as a widespread bug, which means official fixes might not yet be on the immediate horizon.
The tweaking of registry settings originated as advice from Nvidia to resolve similar flickering issues caused by updates to graphics drivers, suggesting a broader compatibility issue hanging in the digital ether.

Keeping an Eye on the Tech Horizon​

While the temporary workarounds are there, it's advisable to stay vigilant about updates. Keep an eye on releases from Microsoft, as future patches might roll out to provide a permanent fix to this cursor conundrum. In the meantime, maintain a zen-like patience, knowing that every tech hiccup is just another puzzle waiting for the right piece to fall into place.
So, fellow digital travelers, have you encountered the vanishing cursor? Share your escapades and solutions with us in the comments below. Welcome to the mystical realm of ever-evolving technology, where even a cursor can have an existential crisis!

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Source: Neowin How to fix white or invisible text cursor in Windows 10 and 11