Microsoft says bug in classic Outlook hides the mouse pointer

Source: Bleeping Computer

Issue Summary

Microsoft is investigating a known issue that causes the mouse pointer to disappear in the classic Outlook desktop email client for some users. The bug was acknowledged almost two months after the first reports surfaced online, with users saying that Outlook became unusable after the mouse pointer vanished while using the app.

“My mouse just stopped being visible while I am using Outlook, and this is very, very, frustrating because my permission wasn’t given to make these changes, and now I can’t find anything, can’t open emails, can’t copy and paste, and the list goes on and on,” — one customer noted.

Microsoft statement

Microsoft explained in a recent support document that the mouse pointer (and, in some cases, the cursor) can suddenly vanish as users move it across Outlook’s interface. The issue also affects some users of other Microsoft 365 apps.

“When using classic Outlook, you may find that the mouse pointer or mouse cursor disappears as you move the pointer over the Outlook interface. Although the mouse pointer is not there, the email in the message list will change color as you hover over it. This issue has also been reported with OneNote and other Microsoft 365 apps to a lesser degree.”

The Outlook team is investigating the problem and will provide updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, Microsoft asks affected users to have their Microsoft 365 administrator open a support case with the Outlook Support Team and submit diagnostic log files to assist with analysis.

Temporary workarounds

Microsoft has offered three temporary workarounds:

1. Click an email in the message list – this may cause the cursor to reappear.
2. Switch to PowerPoint, click into an editable area, then return to Outlook – this can also restore the mouse pointer.
3. Restart the computer – if the above methods fail, a reboot should resolve the issue temporarily.

Related recent fix

Last month, Microsoft fixed another classic Outlook issue that prevented Microsoft 365 customers from opening encrypted emails after installing the December 2025 updates.